Monday, May 2, 2022

6 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HAVE A BETTER WEEK

A few simple steps can make or break the type of week or day you're having. Having a good week for me is usually based on how I'm feeling and my overall mental state. Your mood tends to spread to all other areas of your life so chances are if you can improve both your mindset and the week you're having, you'll likely see everything else improve too. Most of us don't feel rah-rah every single day which is totally normal and a part of life. The key is to switch things up + find ways to put a little extra pep in your step. Here are a couple of little tricks that almost always put me into a better mood. They're super easy tweaks you can make to your day to day that don't require too much extra effort or energy because let's face it, we could all use a little more of that too.

How-to-have-a-great-week-the-Kristen-diary-blog

+ DON’T WORRY, DON’T HURRY - Something I’ve learned about myself is that I HATE feeling rushed or late. It can throw off my entire mood and sour my day. I often catch myself in chaos, rushing around from one place to the next. During these times I can actually feel my body in a constant state of stress and feeling like there's never enough time to get things done. The biggest area this affects me in is early in the morning before work. I’ve learned that if I’m running out the door to get to work, it can throw off my entire day. I feel irritable, less productive, etc. I’ve gotten a lot better about this lately and while I love sleeping in as long as possible, I wake up a few minutes earlier now to allocate extra time. It doesn’t seem like much but even an extra 5-10 minutes makes a world of difference. For me it’s valuable to have enough time to get ready, have a relaxing breakfast and some me time before I have to go in to work. If you've ever felt like this, try getting up just a tad earlier and giving yourself a little more time to relax. I swear it helps! 

+ CLEAN YOUR SHEETS & BEDDING - Are ya’ll tired of hearing about this one yet? Lol. There is something about keeping your bed fresh + clean that really makes a huge difference mentally. It’s a total pain (ya’ll know I hate making the bed!) but I like to change my sheets and bedding every week. Not only is it hygienic, there’s something relaxing about going to bed and waking up in a fresh and cozy bed. I think it’s a simple pleasure that adds to your overall mindset.

+ CLEAN YOUR CAR - Like your sheets, having a clean car is life changing. I’ll be honest that I don’t stay on top of this as much as I’d like to but it really is the best thing. There’s just something about getting in a spotless car that makes you feel like you have your sh*t together and can do it all. I also find myself overthinking about how much I need to clean my car when it’s a mess, lol. It will make your life better!  

+ GET OUTSIDE - Spending a few minutes outside and in the sun everyday is a guaranteed mood booster. Whether you're feeling stressed or just want to relax, the fresh air always does good. 

+ TREAT YOURSELF (TO SOMETHING HEALTHY) - Treating yourself is a great motivator or pick-me-up that can add some excitement to your week. I think a lot of us associate a “treat” as a guilty pleasure or something that’s a “cheat” which is why you should shoot for something that won’t compromise your goals. Whether it’s a new purchase or eating out, looking for healthy ways to treat yourself that still align with these goals is key. For me, this could look like taking myself out for lunch and buying my favorite salad. Even though I’m trying to eat healthier, I can still splurge on something I love that aligns with my goals. It will help you to feel good, have more excitement and still stay motivated because you kept your promise to yourself. 

+ JAM OUT - The type of music I listen to definitely changes depending on my mood. I've also found the reverse to work as well-- I can shift my mood based on the songs I listen to. To put me in a good mood, I always opt for something upbeat or an old throwback I love. It keeps me in a positive mindset or helps put me in one when I'm feeling the blues. This playlist has been making me feel more motivated and confident lately-- I'll link it here.

Although super simple, adding these to your current routine can make your week and days better. I think the general idea is to give yourself a few little luxuries here and there to help you relax and deal with whatever comes your way. They make a world of difference in my life so I hope you'll try some of them out. Let me know if you already do any of them or if you have a tip you recommend I try! 

What do you do to relax?