If the past events have demoralized you and you’re feeling negative, you must know that you aren’t alone. Appreciation for things around must have diminished significantly during the ongoing pandemic, which, in turn, calls for a mood change. While this phase of your life might have been abnormally demanding, individuals commonly have difficulty finding happiness and contentment in normal life. And because of this, the 1900s saw the evolution of the concept of positive psychology. This field aims to answer questions such as why finding happiness sometimes is hard or even if there is a way to help individuals lift their mood and outlook towards life.
The answer to the second question is Yes. You can make a lot of difference to better your quality of life and live a more fulfilled life as you desire.
Try this recipe which is a mixture of 3 physical and emotional strategies. Do experiment with each of these choices for a week. Finally, assess whether at least one of these methodologies makes you happier and don’t forget - Continue doing it!
Go outdoors and get active: Fresh air and exercise are deadly. If you’re immunized against COVID-19, do take the chance to go outside, remove your mask, and get going for a rigorous workout. Following a daily, strict fitness regime can surely do wonders to your health and wellness, including your state of mind. Aerobic activities such as biking, hiking, running, etc., can help reduce stress and help you achieve a good mental state in life.
Furthermore, continuous muscle activity, as in muscle contraction in a repetitive pattern while doing aerobic activities, increases the serotonin chemical levels in the brain, which, in turn, results in helping you maintain a good mood over time. A study revealed that simply 90 mins a week of physical activity showed positive changes in the mood similar to an antidepressant. When combined with medication, a workout can also help resolve psychological conditions that have been immune to various other therapies.
How much movement should you strive for?
Research study reveals that preferably you must aim for a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity workout, 5 days per week, or a strenuous 20 mins workout, 3 times per week. Also a fast 10-to-15-minute stroll can help improve your state of mind, at least for the short-term.
Find joy in small things first:
Day-to-day satisfaction is an important element towards a happy life. And, don’t let external factors - small worries, like a bad conversation with someone, you having a bad day at work affect your mood. Don’t let external factors control you! Research reveals that taking the time to value small moments in life can make you really feel better. In fact, these little moments take up a significant space in our memories and in our lives henceforth.
Limit your decisions:
It seems so dreamy when you see someone around you having endless options in life. But the truth is, the more diversity in choices one would have, the more will be the factors causing stress and worries. Being happy does depend partially upon choices- after all, it would certainly be very demanding not to have any control over your life. But research has discovered and proven that individuals with more alternatives are more vulnerable to developing regret and negative feelings. You do not have to make several choices all day long. I can rather ease you out. Do not permit yourself to second-guess the choice once it’s made. Also, when making these decisions, try to refrain from looking back. Because remember - you can’t change the past, and you can’t control your future.
So, the happiest will be the person who lives in the Present and leaves no stone unturned to make each present moment special.