Thanksgiving marks the home stretch until the new year, and for many, starts a stress-filled season packed with personal obligations and a race to achieve career goals pledged for 2016. The next month will be busy, but remember what the flight attendants warn during their pre-flight announcements: You need to take care of yourself before helping those you are traveling with. In order to make the most of the remainder of 2016, you’ll want to celebrate life and the achievements you’ve reached. Remember to take good care of yourself.
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Write down what you’re grateful for. Take a few minutes each day to recognize the positive things that happen, and write them down. This trains your brain to be more positive by looking for the good in life rather than the bad. Shawn Achor, an award-winning Harvard professor, speaker and author of several best-sellers including “The Happiness Advantage,” found that when people wrote down three positive things for 21 days, it did improve the participants’ productivity and outlook. It takes just as much energy to think positively as it does to fall into the pit of negativity.
Exercise. Exercise results in the production of dopamine, a chemical said to improve your brain’s activity and your mood. By adding a walk, workout or any aerobic activity to your daily routine, you stimulate your brain and produce happier, healthier thoughts. Creating this new exercise ritual doesn’t require money, just your time commitment. Simply re-allocate 30 minutes a day to include an activity that gets the blood pumping. And it isn’t just your brain that will benefit. You may find you have more energy, too.
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Unplug. All the time you spend on social media is cutting into your self-esteem. Take a vacation from your technology by turning off notifications and letting your networks know you’re taking a break. Not only will you feel better, you’ll probably gain some respect, as well. Most people don’t have the fortitude to go very long without being connected. And with your newfound free time, there are many things you can do. One option is to practice meditation. Meditation is nothing more than self-reflection, deep concentration and some quiet space. When you slow down, you can focus on the things that are important and now you’ll have the energy to make them happen. Our hectic lives, filled with multi-tasking and balancing personal and professional priorities, need a good old-fashioned timeout.
Share your appreciation. When you take an extra step to articulate your gratitude to others, it’s a win-win. It doesn’t take much time or energy to tell a colleague why you appreciate the work they’ve done or to thank someone for going above and beyond. These random acts of kindness are like small gifts. Your words go a long way to build confidence in others and are greatly appreciated. Acknowledging the good work done by others can lead to many positive outcomes, from proving your leadership skills to encouraging your colleague to push even harder on the job every day.
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Volunteer. There are many ways you can provide assistance this time of year. Nonprofits, hospitals, schools and churches all offer opportunities for you to support your community. The most gratifying volunteer opportunities are those that align with what is important to you. But no matter what you volunteer to do, it tends to put things into perspective. You may enjoy feeling appreciated by helping those who are in need. You may also discover the many things you take for granted and should be grateful for.
One final reminder: Success does not equal happiness. Do you believe that more money or a promotion will get you on the right career path and end your stress? The problem with thinking this way, according to Achor, is that once you do get the job or more money, your brain resets the goal for happiness and never reaches the point where it allows you to feel happy. Instead, focus on being happy every day. Remember to honor what you have and the life you are living. One of the keys to sustained happiness and success lies in knowing what to do to reprogram your brain to celebrate the positive parts of your life.
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5 Ways to Take Care of Yourself This Holiday Season originally appeared on usnews.com
