We’ve all gone through a lot of turmoil this past year, with a global crisis taking over our lives at the beginning of 2020. This crisis compelled us to be confined to our homes for almost the entire year.
This was something that nobody had expected even in their wildest dreams. However, the pandemic has taught us a lot of important lessons too. We got to know the importance of mindfulness, living in the moment, and never taking anything for granted, and being careful.
We are now about to enter into the next year. Now is the time learn something new that will fill us with contentment and long-lasting joy.
Here are 10 things to do in 2021 to make it the best year yet:
1. Start Waking up naturally
This might sound strange, but it is possible to wake up without an alarm clock. If you try to practice a routine of sleeping on time and waking up at the same hour every day, it is possible to wake up naturally.
So wake up naturally to start your day with a positive vibe.
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2. Exercise daily
As we all know exercising helps to build up our mental and physical health. So, try to do whatever makes you move. You can do some simple exercise like dancing, jumping on the spot, or you can go for a walk, or run by plugging your earphones in.
Make sure that you’ve included 20 minutes of exercise every single day as a daily dose of your happiness.
3. Eat breakfast
We are in such a hurry in the morning that we forget to eat our breakfast. This is not a good habit. We should start enjoying a nourishing meal packed with our favorite foods.
4. Practice meditation
It is very important to keep our mind calm, and at peace. Practicing meditation for about 15 to 20 minutes every day is a healthy practice that everyone should follow.
Some research shows that our brain releases an anti-anxiety chemical called GABA when we practice meditation or yoga.
A study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that there is a 27 percent increase in the GABA levels after an hour of meditation.
5. Begin every morning with a smile
Beginning the day with a smile is the best thing to do. We know it might feel like an ordeal to smile for the first thing every morning but you can push yourself to do it.
You should tell yourself that it’s going to be a day full of happiness and satisfaction, and put on that wide smile on your face. It might sound silly, but trust us, it can set the tone for the rest of the day!
6. Start writing
Jot down the best things that have happened to you during the day. This helps in training the mind to find positivity on hard days.
7. Get enough sleep
To stay healthy and positive, it is very important to get enough sleep. A good 7 to 8 hours of sleep is important for happiness.
When you don’t get enough sleep your hippocampus (the seat of pleasant and neutral memories in your brain) doesn’t function properly.
Thus, your sleep-deprived brain tends to recall fewer positive memories and a higher number of negative memories.
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8. Drink water
Drinking water is not a new thing to be suggested to be healthy throughout your life. The first thing you should do in the morning is to drink a glass of water.
Keep drinking water at regular intervals throughout the day. Many researches suggest that those who drink “more than enough” water consider themselves very happy, as compared to those who don’t.
That’s because even a 1.5 per cent loss of body fluid can cause fatigue, anxiety, headaches, and an unwillingness to take up challenging tasks.
9. Keep a Focus on one task
We always function on an auto-pilot mode and perform tasks like machines which leads to confusion and lack of concentration. The key is to focus on one task at a time. Multitasking affects your focus and causes stress.
