Find a comfortable place to sit. Put one hand on your belly and one on your chest. Breathe in deeply from your belly, so that your stomach extends out but your chest stays in place. Hold this breath for a couple seconds and then breathe out. Repeat this sequence until you find a steady rhythm. Try to do this practice for 10 minutes every day.
Lifts your mood by flooding your brain with endorphins and serotonin, which are “happy chemicals” in the brain. [4] X Research source Boosts your energy and reduces fatigue. [5] X Research source Improves sleep, even chronic insomnia. [6] X Research source Reduces your risk for diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. [7] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
Play sports. Go for a swim. Pack a picnic.
Do what you love to do. This could be anything from playing darts on the weekend to landing your dream job as an accountant.
Volunteer at a soup kitchen or another community service organization. Donate to your favorite charity. Offer to help friends and family members with finances, home development, or babysitting.
Keep a gratitude journal. People who have a gratitude journal feel better about their lives as a whole. Each day, write down what you’re thankful for. See the positive side to challenges. For example, if you have a noisy neighbor, this can improve your patience and ability to deal with irritation.
For example, if you identify with a particular religion, find a good church, temple, mosque, or synagogue to attend. For more examples, join a sports team or a reading group.
Draw, color, or paint. You don’t have to be amazing; you’ll get the benefits of catharsis and engaging your imagination either way. Dance. Join a dance class or just make a habit out of dancing to music in your home. Play an instrument. Guitar, piano, and other instruments are a great way to express yourself through music.
Forgive yourself if appropriate. You probably didn’t have the same knowledge that you do now. [16] X Research source Let go of your anger. Write about your inner rage privately. No need to hold back or censor yourself because no one will see these thoughts. It’s important to not keep your angry feelings bottled up inside and let the negativity fester. [17] X Research source Accept what has happened. Playing events over and over in your mind only continues the cycle of hurt feelings. Acceptance and moving forward helps to begin the healing process so you can focus on your future. [18] X Research source
Seek couples counseling if you feel like your marriage or relationship is falling apart. Ask for forgiveness if you’ve hurt someone. Be sure to accept responsibility for your actions. Write a letter to the person expressing your desire to reconnect. Social isolation is a huge source of discontentment in life. Avoid isolating yourself, so that you can have the social connections necessary for true peace of mind. Participating in a shared activity is a great way to connect with others. You could volunteer, take a class, join a book club, or exercise in a group setting. [20] X Research source
When you forgive, you are allowing yourself to heal because you are letting go of your grievances and negative judgements. [22] X Research source Holding onto grudges can negatively affect you by bringing anger and bitterness into every new situation, not being able to enjoy the present, losing connection with others, feeling like your life lacks meaning, and becoming depressed or anxious. [23] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source A good exercise is to write down the names of people you’re angry at and the reasons you’re angry. You can then say “I forgive you” to each of the people. Lack of forgiveness can hurt you more than the other people, so do this for your own sake.
Make plans that you will stand by. Make sure when you’re in the planning process that it’s what you really want. For instance, if you want to move to a new place, make sure it’s somewhere that you’d enjoy living in terms of culture, food, political affiliation, etc. Start with small, reasonable steps. Avoid planning to move across the country this coming weekend. If you do want to move, start small by researching housing options, school options, and more. Involve the other people in your life. Don’t do it all on your own. Enlist help from friends and family members. If you want to move, ask what they think and see if they will help you pack up.
Avoid being in denial. It’s easy to make excuses for the people we enjoy being around, but ask yourself how you feel after you’ve spent time with them. Ask yourself if you actually want to spend time with them or if it feels like you have to. Ask yourself if you expect something from them that you never get. Identify what you get out of the relationship. Even toxic relationships have some kind of draw, or you wouldn’t be in them. Maybe the person makes you feel comfortable, even if they hurt you. Maybe they buy you things to make up for their negative behavior. Find alternative sources. The likelihood is that you can find other ways to fill these wants and needs for yourself. You don’t need to stick around in a friendship or romantic relationship that’s toxic; you can find the same perks elsewhere without all the baggage. Try meeting new people.
