Feel Happier by the End of the Day, by Jacqueline Muller, LCSW-R

We all have days that seem to drag. Where everything feels out of sorts and perhaps a tad bit overwhelming. How often we forget to consciously recharge our happiness batteries. That’s right battery, inside of us is an energy or life force that needs to be recharged and just as each of us is unique in all that we do and are, so too is the ways in which we make ourself happy.
Making ourself happy must be a priority. It is not selfish to be for self, in fact it is selfless. When we charge our own battery we will find that we are more motivated and available to everyone around us and we are more likely to be operating top of our game.

The following are suggestions inspired by Gretchen Rubin’s book, THE HAPPINESS PROJECT.

Friends
__ call or email one of your closest friends
__ call or email three friends to whom you haven’t spoken in a while
__ track down an old friend who has drifted out of your life
Fun
__ add a fun thing to your calendar
__ better, add a fun thing to your calendar that involves other people
__ best, add a fun thing to your calendar that involves other people doing something outside
Challenge
__ think of a subject that you wish you knew more about (be honest! something that really interests you!) and spend 15 minutes on the internet reading about it
__ take a step toward acquiring a new skill that you want – research Italian classes in your neighborhood, investigate Photoshop
__ if you absolutely can’t think of one single subject that interests you, visit two bookstores (one huge chain, one independent) and browse until some book catches your attention – and buy it
Do good, feel good
__ sign up to be an organ donor, and remember to tell your family
__ give $25 or more to a worthy cause
__ sign up to volunteer or participate in an organization
Energy
__ walk around the block
__ do ten jumping-jacks
__ go the gym or go for a run
Order
__ clear out the space around your computer
__ clear out a closet
__ walk through your house with a garbage bag, and clear clutter until the bag is full of trash; then walk around again and fill a new bag with things to be given away; repeat
Guilt
__ make a dentist’s or doctor’s appointment that you’ve been putting off
__ reach out to a family member whom you’ve been neglecting
__ make something right: apologize, confess, repair, replace, or return something you borrowed
Nagging tasks
__ clean out three old emails that you haven’t answered
__ stop off at the drugstore to buy supplies you need
__ stop off at the hardware store to buy supplies you need
__ fix something broken
Good citizen
__ Throw away someone else’s litter
__ Be helpful to an elderly person or a person with small kids
__ Be friendly to a store clerk who seems grouchy

In addition to the suggestions above, I always like to set the tone for happiness. That can be different depending upon my day and mood, but usually music inspires creativity. Check out this link for background music while you get busy on your happiness project.

Next it’s always best to come up with your own priorities. Think about 6 Key life areas. Print your Happiness Project worksheet HAPPINESS PROJECT WORKSHEET and get busy reflecting, noting and prioritizing.

Last but not least start a GRATITUDE JOURNAL. You can go buy a fancy one or just get a plain notebook you can decoupage and decorate yourself. Each day write down what you have to be grateful for. Start with the obvious, food, clothing, shelter, eye sight, literacy, and keep going. DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY! PEACE!