How to Stay Positive: 5-Minute Things You Can Do to Improve Your Happiness

how to stay positive

We all rely on quick fixes.

Human beings need immediate satisfaction. There are plenty of distractions to keep us busy all the time, like careers and children, but what happens when we want to stay positive despite the stress of day-to-day activities?

Are you interested in learning more about how to stay positive?

These are a few wonderful 5-minute things you can do to improve your happiness right at this moment. Take a look and see which ones you want to try for yourself!

1. Write in Your Gratitude Journal

Writing down your thoughts and feelings can attribute to improving your happiness. One of the easiest ways to do this is to start a gratitude journal.

Keep this journal on the side table in your bedroom. Wake up each morning and write down at least three things that you are grateful for at that moment. It’s also a good idea to write down three more things that made you feel grateful at night right before you head to sleep to recap your day.

Writing in a journal is not just a fun ritual for children.

Add “starting a gratitude journal” to your to-do list because it can be something to look at when you get older, too. Having a journal of your thoughts and ideas can keep you focused on your goals for the future. Celebrate your small achievements when you jot down a few reasons why you feel grateful each day.

2. How to Stay Positive By Reaching Out to a Friend

Have you spent any time reaching out to a close friend lately? We spend so much of our time on our phones and we often forget the importance of face to face interactions with our friends.

Social interaction is crucial for your physical and mental health, too. You should aim to find time in your week to meet up with your close friends to catch up over a cup of coffee or grab a bite to eat at your favorite restaurant.

Put down your electronic devices and look forward to spending face to face time with one or a few of your close friends.

Your health will improve over time, too.

People live longer when they feel close ties to their friends. Social isolation is associated with obesity and depression, which are two negative factors that would ultimately harm your health down the road. Talking with a friend is just one of the many ways to stay positive and improve your overall happiness right now.

3. Hang Out with a Pet

Another great way to feel happy in just five minutes is by hanging out with a friendly pet. Even if you have to walk across the street over to your neighbor’s house to find a furry friend, take the minutes necessary to cuddle up with a cat or dog close by.

Pets will also make you feel less stressed. Did you know that cats can make you chill out?

Feline friends are important to have around if you want to feel happy as soon as possible, too. Cats can also affect your blood pressure in a positive way.

Cat owners have a 30 percent less chance of dying from a heart attack. Hanging out with a furry cat friend will relief your stress and anxiety for the better.

4. Blast Your Favorite Music

Listening to music is a simple way to improve your mental health. When you face a mid-day slump, why not crank up your favorite tunes to feel good in minutes?

Music can also help you transform your mood. Music will immediately lower your levels of stress-related hormones like cortisol. Music will also activate every region of the brain.

Listening to your favorite songs can improve your mood because it enables you to feel calm. Of course, listening to different songs can affect different people.

Some people enjoy listening to hard rock, such ACDC tunes, while others enjoy more classical pieces to feel at peace. People seek out their soothing songs from every single type of genre in the music world.

5. De-Clutter Your Room or Office Space

One more tip for boosting your mood in five minutes is to de-clutter your space. If your bedroom looks less than organized, you should consider taking the time out of your day to get rid of some old things.

Donating your old items will also make you feel instantly happier knowing that you will be making others feel great with your unwanted things. De-cluttering your space can make you feel accomplished, too. Accomplishing a goal is another way to stay positive for the entire length of your day.

De-cluttering a room in your home will make you feel much happier once you are done, too. Think about all of the fun things you will find along the way.

You can search through your room and regift items to friends and family that you forgot about overtime, which can also be excellent mood boosters.

6. Treat Yourself

Every once in a while you need to treat yourself to something special. Treating yourself can also immediately boost your mood in minutes.

Whether you want a to buy yourself those shoes you’ve been staring at online for weeks or are looking for a quick coffee pick me up, treating yourself to a tiny little luxury can make you feel fantastic.

Treating yourself doesn’t have to be extreme. You can easily treat yourself to a quick back and shoulder massage if you head to a quiet space and massage yourself. You can also treat yourself to a manicure or pedicure at the end of the week before the weekend starts to get in a relaxed state of mind.

Looking For More Ways to Improve Your Happiness?

These are just a few of the many 5-minute things you can do to figure out how to stay positive in your life, even when things feel chaotic at times.

If you are looking for even more tips and trips on improving your happiness, be sure to check out the ImagineUWeb Blog for advice.