Like many, you may have been in a funk from this long, cold winter. We have been left feeling lazy, unfulfilled, tired, and grumpy. Now that it’s Springtime, let’s turn that around. Life is too short to be unhappy.
Feel better now – and get your smile back! Get out of the rut and start enjoying your life again with these 7 tips.
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1.) Explore a New Place
One of the best ways to get out of a funk and feel better now is to explore a new place! This can mean going on vacation (which always helps – preferably someplace warm and sunny!), checking out a new restaurant, hiking a cool spot you’ve heard about, or shopping in a small town you’ve never been to.
Just getting out of the house and away from your normal routine will help get your smile back. You’ll see new things and gain different perspectives on the way others dress, live, and behave that you can take as you will. Realize that everyone is going through something, just handling it differently. Take the time to really look around and step away from whatever has been bothering you.
2.) Do Something You Love
Get back to basics and do something that you love and haven’t had the energy or motivation in a while to do. Did you used to go to a ton of concerts and don’t know why you stopped going? Well go! At least get out and listen to some live music. Go for a bike ride and feel the wind on your face, get a little lost. Did you used to paint or knit and don’t know why you stopped? Start up again! Take a class, or dig out all your supplies and get back into it right now.
Sometimes we forget that we were people before having kids, getting married, holding demanding jobs, and living fast-paced lives. It’s so important to have a time and space to be “you” still. You need an outlet to bring your smile back. Make sure to take the time to do something you love and feel like yourself again – and make it a regular occurrence.
3.) Live in the Moment
We are all guilty of rushing life by with our busy schedules. We occupy our time remembering better times, or planning out the next thing and rarely do we remember to be present. Put a conscious effort into living in the moment.
- Take a mindful walk with no phone or airpods, just you and nature.
- Spend an afternoon with your kids – no work emails or phone calls. Get ice cream, go to the park and actually run around with them.
- Sit on the deck and feel the sunshine on your face, listen to the birds.
- Bring attention to the current moment. What are you feeling? What has been weighing on you and how can you change that?
- Practice meditation and breathing exercises. It does wonders to clear your mind and center you.
- Acknowledge all the good in your life. Slow down. Enjoy the life you have built, warts and all.
Quiet the mind and the soul will speak
Buddha
4.) Unleash Your Creativity
Getting your creativity back can be hard when you’re uninspired. So, get inspired! Feel better now by going on Pinterest and seeing what others are doing – you can build a garden just like that, they show you how! You can try watercolor drawing – it may not end up in an art gallery, but it’s fun to learn! Try some DIY home decor, make something out of tree branches or scrap wood. Learn to make candles or soap at home. Rev up your Cricut and start labeling everything in your pantry!
Being creative and using your own ideas to tweak things to your liking and giving your mind some exercise is great for getting out of a funk and getting your smile back. You will feel accomplished because you created something you didn’t have before, and will get the ball rolling for unleashing even more creativity.
5.) Start a New Workout
Working out is about the best thing you can do for yourself. And it doesn’t have to be long, grueling exercises! Learn how to become a runner, start practicing yoga, start taking 1-mile walks after dinner, join an adult kickball team, or a soccer team, or join a fitness class.
Starting a new workout will give you:
- Something to look forward to
- Amazing results like losing weight, better heart health and muscle tone
- Feel-good endorphins
- Activity to help you sleep better
- A way to make friends and meet new people
- A better outlook on yourself
- Your smile back!
6.) Go Thrifting
One of the best things to do when you’re in a slump is to buy yourself a new outfit that you can feel amazing in! I suggest checking out a little thrift store shopping because it won’t break the bank, you can find some really cool pieces, and the pieces choose you! You never know what you will find – and you may get inspired along the way.
When I go thrifting, half the time I don’t even know what I’m looking for. But, I’ll find an amazing dress or super cute romper and think – ooh now I need somewhere to wear this to! And boom. Now I have plans for brunch in NYC because I just have to wear my new romper! HA! Thrifting (or most shopping, really!) can give you something to look forward to – either to wear your new pieces, or to keep thrifting and find cool and unique pieces.
7.) Make Plans with Friends
Now, I mean make plans with friends. The friends you want to see. The ones who make you feel alive, know you best, and that you have the most fun with. Make an effort to see those people. Not the ones that you’ve been seeing out of sheer boredom, necessity, or convenience. Make a girls weekend out of it if they live further away, have an adult sleepover even if they live close! Just make the time to reach out to friends that you miss and value and make plans with them.
Seeing friends that know you best is a breath of fresh air. You can be yourself around them, you can share the good and bad. Sometimes we let life get in the way and don’t make time for important people – we are all guilty of that! So gather up some friends that are sure to make you feel better now and put a smile on your face.
Get Your Smile Back
Life is just to short to be unhappy. There is so much in our lives to be grateful for, to look forward to, and to start doing right now. Once we have some more sunshine and Vitamin D, it will help a lot of us in the Northeast, but use these 7 tools year-round to combat any kind of slump you may find yourself in.
You deserve to have fun and be happy. You are capable of doing anything you want in this life. We have a limited amount of time here, so make it the best it can be – there’s just no time for being unhappy. Start smiling right now and start feeling better today!
