Have you noticed yourself feeling a bit unhappy lately? Check out these simple self-care activities that can help to bring you a sense of happiness and calm amidst the hustle and bustle of life!
DAILY GRATITUDE JOURNAL
How do you practice gratitude in your life? What are you thankful for?
SAVORING
Have you ever felt like you missed out on an enjoying an activity because you were distracted, worried about something else, or rushed? What does it mean to you to “savor” an experience?
EXERCISE
What’s your favorite way to be active? How do you feel after you’ve finished a workout?
KINDNESS
What is one way that someone has shown kindness to you this year? How can you show kindness to others?
SOCIAL CONNECTION
Do you feel connected to others around you? How have your social activities and relationships changed over the course of this year?
PRAYER
How often do you turn to prayer when you’re feeling unhappy? How do you feel after you’ve turned the situation over to God?
APPRECIATION
Has anyone told you how great they think you are? Have you ever told someone special about the positive ways they have impacted you, and just how much you appreciate them?
USE YOUR STRENGTHS
What are your strongest character strengths? How do you determine what they are?
SLEEP
How much sleep do you get on an average night? What kind of things interfere with you getting a restful night’s sleep?
SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
What are your experiences with meditation? What role does scripture play in your happiness? How do you use the power of scripture and meditation when you’re feeling stressed, unhappy, or disappointed?
CHOOSE YOUR FAVORITE
After learning about these 10 different faith-based and research-based ways to combat mental and physical stress, which sounds the best to you? Which one would be the most enjoyable or transformational to you? Which one will you benefit from the most? As you reflect on these ideas, look over the list and choose the one that stands out to you the most.
CUSTOMIZE YOUR PERSONAL HAPPINESS PLAN
Now it’s time to use what we’ve learned to customize your personal happiness plan!
First, plan your experiment: use your favorite faith-based or research-based activity you selected to try in your own life.
Second, start doing it! Practice your chosen activity daily for 4 weeks. Use your own preferred way to track your participation.
Finally, reflect on how the experiment went. Where have you noticed improvements in your mood, attitude, relationships, or health? Keep your practice going and continue to build on your positive progress!
