3 Things You Can Do Today To Have a Great Day

It’s about those little things that can improve your mood within minutes.

Life can be hectic and stressful, but making these little adjustments in your daily life can shift things around.

Sometimes we think we need to make major changes in our lives to be happy, but I realized that it doesn’t have to be that way. By introducing simple rituals throughout the day we can maintain our balance in the long run.

1. Make A “Feel-Good” List

First of all, you need a go-to resource that you can go to at times of stress. I like to call this a “feel-good” list. What you do is write down all the things that make you happy, relaxed, and could cheer you up! It can be as simple as your favorite meal, a walk in the park, or a road trip. Whenever you feel the weight of the world check your list and do what makes you feel good.

Here is my list to inspire you!

Bubble bath
Chocolate-chip pancakes (or crepes with Nutella)
A nourishing smoothie or fresh juice
Thai Massage (or any massage for that matter)
Spa Day
Watching a feel-good movie (eg. Wanderlust or Bridesmaids)
Exploring the city
Checking out a live concert or an art exhibit
Dinner or Brunch with friends
A glass of good wine
Meditation
Yoga or any other physical exercise
Hiking
Road trip
Singing
Dancing to your favorite tunes
Dogs and cats — they are natural healers and function on the Theta frequency which is super relaxing
Going to the beach or spending time by the river or lake
Blowing bubbles

Once you have your list you can simply choose whatever is possible at the moment to shift your mood. I’d even recommend putting those activities in your schedule. By planning those feel-good moments you ensure you’ll have a good day (even if it’s a stressful one).

Got ideas? Comment below and share your feel-good activities, so we can inspire each other!

2. Breathe

Breathwork is one of my favorite tools to get centred and release stress in a very short period of time. I’ve been a Yoga practitioner for decades and have completed my Yoga Teacher Training in 2014. What I loved about the practice is that we did 30–40 day cycles to do certain practices. One of the practices was pranayama or breathwork. I was amazed to see how quickly my state of mind would shift with just a few simple breaths!

Conscious breathing practices are such a wonderful tool because:

You can breathe ANYWHERE!
It’s absolutely FREE!
It only takes a few minutes to see results

Simple, right?

I usually like to start with energizing breathwork like Kapalabhati or the Breath of Fire. I would do it for 10–15 seconds only and it would help me release a lot of my pent-up energy.

After getting it all out I would continue with a gentle practice of Nadi Shodana or Alternate-Nostril Breathing. This practice helps you balance your left and right hemisphere of the brain and on the energetic level, it balances male and female energy.

By doing this practice you bring your whole system into balance. There are several stages of the practice, but the simplest form is good enough.

Step-by-Step Practice:

Close the right nostril and breathe in through the left nostril
Close the left nostril and breath out through the right nostril
Keep the left nostril closed and breathe in through the right nostril
Close the right nostril and breathe out through the left nostril

That completes one cycle. By doing at least 10 cycles you can already feel calm and serenity in your body and mind. Do it longer and experience total bliss! Make sure to breathe slowly and fully, as that helps lower your blood pressure and relax you on a deeper level.

It only takes 5–10 minutes a day to help you feel good. The more you practice the better it gets! This was truly a revelation after doing a 30-day cycle because the results are even more obvious.

When you do this practice you maintain your peaceful vibe longer and it’s harder to throw you off track. Totally worth it!

3. Mindful Moments

This one is for all the busy folks out there! I get it, we have things to do, places to see and who has the time to sit in stillness?

This is why I recommend taking mindful moments throughout the day. It doesn’t have to be a long practice. One minute will do.

Sitting on the bus or in your car? Stop and observe for a minute without judgment or trying to control the experience. When you wake up in the morning, stop before you look at your phone and observe your breath.

It doesn’t take much, yet by bringing your awareness to the present moment you are preserving your energy and boosting your happiness. Once you are in the present moment you can easily redirect your thoughts to more positive things in life and start to appreciate the little things.

These are small adjustments we can do that can help you have a great day no matter what. Staying in the present moment as much as possible, breathing out stress, and taking time to do the things that nourish your soul. I hope these ideas help you have an amazing day!

Want to learn more about Nadi Shodana Pranayama and learn how to Meditate? Check out my FREE Meditation for Beginners Course!