As we face stay-at-home orders, distance from those close to us, and an abundance of downtime, there are still opportunities for personal growth.
Of course, the winter sun schedule doesn't help—and we can fall victim to the effects of gray, gloomy, short days without even noticing. Some days may be beautiful and quiet in all the right ways as you reconnect with yourself and those inside your home or inner circle, while other days, you may find you feel completely deflated and bored of the monotony. Everyone is different, but there are some things you can do at home to improve your mood or the mood of those around you.
Declutter
Disorganization around us can often affect us in ways we don't even realize. Spending time surrounded by clutter can be drawing, and even thinking about needing to address the mess can weigh heavily sometimes. Take a little time each day to declutter the rooms in your home. You may find that it helps to declutter your mind in turn.
Yoga
Yoga is a great way to improve your mood, as it pushes you to move, focus, and take time to be calm and quiet. Even if you don't normally practice yoga, a brief beginner video or chart can help you explore the most basic positions. You may find the stretches release tension, aid tight and sore muscles, and give you a bit of a workout without even realizing it.
Yoga For Uncertainty | Yoga With Adrienewww.youtube.com
Meditation
Meditation can be very powerful. Whether you're trying to develop your mindfulness, spirituality, focus, movement, mantra, relaxation, or something else, it can help you ground you and get out of your head. You should go into meditation with an area of focus but without expectations. Give it and yourself the chance to explore meditation in a designated space and a scheduled time. Clear your mind, starting with a few deep breaths to calm your body.
Daily Calm | 10 Minute Mindfulness Meditation | Be Presentwww.youtube.com
Home Projects
We don't hear the term "feng shui" as often as we used to, but it's the philosophy of arranging pieces in your living space to establish a balance. Take some of the extra time you have at home to readjust your space or work on home improvement projects that will help you to create harmony between you and your environment. Sometimes, a spruced-up space can instill peace and boost a mood as you settle into something different.
Music
Many of us listen to music to enhance our mood, but when's the last time you really let yourself go? Play a song from long ago, and dance like nobody's watching. It sounds cliché, but there's really something to this philosophy. We all have songs that we really jammed to in our younger years, after all. It may not look pretty, but the freedom that comes from really rocking out can be incredibly uplifting.
“I cant talk right now i'm doing hot girl thingz” ; a playlistwww.youtube.com
There are many things you can do at home to improve your mood. Give yourself permission to get a little weird with it. Build a blanket fort, play a game of hot lava. When we grow up, we forget how gratifying some of these simple pleasures were to us earlier in our lives. Regardless of which activities you choose, try to stay in that moment and focus only on the smaller picture. You may find yourself smiling a little more.