Cheer Yourself Up!
© Copyright 2002 by Liz Hekimian-Williams
Would you like to cheer yourself up but don't know where to
start? Here are some ideas to get you started. You can
brainstorm and add more ideas too. Experiment with some of
these until you've made yourself feel better.
Find a favorite little person, like your own child or another favorite
youngster to share 30 minutes with. Read a book together,
play a game, cuddle, tell jokes, or just listen to what happened
in their day.
Get moving. Do some exercise. Even a simple walk around the
neighborhood will do wonders for you. It will stimulate important
neurochemicals in your brain to elevate your mood.
Pet and play with your dog or other favorite pet. Don't have
one?
Have you been thinking about getting one? Maybe you can get
one now... or maybe you can just go visit your local pet shop to
see and pet some cute critters there.
Call your best buddy for a chat. Is it your mom, your spouse, your
neighbor or your childhood friend? It really doesn't matter who, as
long as you usually feel better after you talk with them, they are a
positive thinker and supportive in your life.
Arrange to visit with someone you haven't seen for a while. Plan
to do something fun together.
Take out some old photo albums and review pictures. Often some
of these will bring up pleasant memories for you, put a smile on
your face and lift your spirit. Or, think of it as a memory booster
as you're getting older and exercise your brain trying to recall
things and people of yesteryear again.
Go to the library and roam until you find a book or magazine that
looks interesting. Then check out the item, go home and read it. Or
read it while you're at the library for a change of scenary. No
library card? Every day is a great day to get one.
Go to the mall and watch/listen to the kids who
are visiting Santa.
Some of the things you'll see and hear will likely bring you
a chuckle.
Turn off or get away from whatever you've been working on
that's gotten you stressed out. Force yourself to go do something
else for at least most of a day. Go do something you've been
wanting to do but putting off because you don't have the time.
Just pretend you were deathly ill that day and so if you had been
you wouldn't have been able to do that work anyway. Since
you're not really sick, though, use your strength, and take the day
to do something you want to do instead.
Find some ezines in your inbox that you haven't gotten around to
reading yet and do it. You probably subscribed because you
were interested in it, so finally enjoy a few issues, savor them!
Go get a haircut. A lot of folks feel better when someone fixes up
their hair!
Put some music on and move to that music. Yes, dance. It doesn't
matter if you're alone. Look at it this way, at least no one will
bump in to you or step on your feet. Oh, you're not alone, eh?
Well don't be shy. Get everyone in on the action if you want. Most
kids love to dance and they'll think mom or dad is the best for
having a dance craze party.
Do some fixer upper project you've been thinking of doing or
make some craft project you have in mind. At least go get the
materials for it. You'll feel you accomplished something positive
and have something to look forward to doing on another day. Don't
have a craft in mind? Search on the internet for craft ideas. I bet
you don't need help thinking up fixer upper projects though!
Schedule a date with your mate if you've got one. Look in the
papers and on the internet for ideas of holiday or unrelated to
holiday activities you could do while on your date. Bypass the
holiday shopping for this one. You want to relax, enjoy each
other, and have some fun.
Schedule a date by yourself if you don't have a mate. Take
yourself out to see a new movie, to a dinner theatre, or call some
friends and go bowling, play some air hockey or pool.
Drive to a scenic location and take in the sights. Mountains,
oceans, a lake, the forest, a park, wherever you feel good and
at peace.
Find and read some jokes and riddles, online, or in your Sunday
paper funnies section. Laughter lightens the spirit.
Draw some pictures or write. You can write a story, a poem,
your thoughts, a letter to someone, draw something for yourself,
for your kids, or just to release feelings and channel them into
something. If you don't know what to draw, but want to try this
as a distraction or stress relieving activity, just look around at
some home decor item or picture that you enjoy, and try drawing
that. Don't be critical of yourself, though. Remember, you're just
entertaining yourself, not trying to make a masterpiece.
Look at your surroundings at home, at work, and spend a little
creative time making them more pleasing to you. Change the
furniture or decorative accessories around. Shop for some
new
interesting and pleasing accents to add to your
decor. Then enjoy
your updated surroundings.
Plan a surprise for no special occasion. Surprise someone special
with a card, a gift, something they've been dreaming about, or
something they've been needing.
Spend 10 minutes thinking positively. Think about all of the
wonderful things and people in your life. Think about all the good
things you've done or accomplished. Think of all of your positive
qualities you like about yourself. Treat yourself to a tasty treat or
beverage when you're done thinking about the good stuff to
top it off!
Now add more of your own ideas to try. Then have a great month!
About the Author:
Liz Hekimian-Williams is a loving wife, mom to
three active
kids, a mental health counselor, and founder of Giftsprings.
She provides uplifting gifts and home decor products, articles,
resources and coaching to help others with home, family and
finances.
Shop and free ezine:
http://www.Giftsprings.com Email
author:
Lizrhw@giftsprings.com ©
Copyright 2002 Liz Hekimian-Williams, All Rights Reserved
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Reader comments? Send in some of your special "things I do
to cheer myself up" to share with other readers here. Also you
can share "things I look for when shopping online to get a good
deal and/or to protect myself" - Email me your ideas here and
feel free to include a short signature line if you'd like.
bird-lovers, and an inspirational treasure for the season.
