Stress can result from both the negative (such as trouble at work or school) and positive (planning a friend’s birthday party) events in your life. Nobody is a stranger to stress; however, if you experience stress long-term, it can negatively impact your health. Take steps to control stress and allow yourself to be more fun loving. Stress can be controlled by exercising regularly, resting and relaxing enough, eating a healthy diet, and treating yourself to something special.
The activity that makes you happy can differ tremendously depending what type of person you are. Extroverts can find their happiness by seeking crowds and being in the center of attention, while introverts may find their energy in solitude. Whatever the activity, you need to figure it out yourself and then just do it. [4] X Research source If you love the outdoors and enjoy the nature, go hiking, skiing, running, swimming, or bicycling. These are easy-to-do activities that require little planning and equipment and you can easily do by yourself. Or try something new and go horseback riding, rock climbing, parasailing, backpacking, etc. You may surprise yourself and find an inner happiness you never knew existed. If you are the type that requires company and/or encouragement to try new things, ask your friend or spouse to come along. Finding a new hobby to do together can be a great way to bring your fun-loving side up too.
Choose exercise activities that you enjoy. Some people associate exercising with going to the gym or physical education class, but that is only a small fraction of what exercise can be. You can go walking, hiking, dancing, bicycling, or jogging, or you can play tennis, golf, racquetball, or some other sport. Not only will exercise improve your health and make you feel more energetic, it also helps you to become happier, more positive, and less anxious. [6] X Research source Engage in some form of physical exercise at least 3-4 times or 150 minutes per week. [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
Avoid foods high in sugar and low in nutrition (called empty-calorie foods), such as pre-packaged meals, chips, sodas, and candy bars. These foods actually decrease energy levels after providing a very short energy boost. [9] X Trustworthy Source Health. gov Online collection of health and fitness standards set by the U. S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Go to source An ideal mix of ingredients to eat includes foods that provide complex carbohydrates, are low in fat, and contain moderate amount of protein. Spread your daily calories evenly and avoid skipping a meal only to have a huge meal later. If possible, eat five meals a day, keeping the amount of calories in a day where you want. Do not skip any meals. This will cause a loss of energy. Your body needs food to keep going in the same way a vehicle needs gas to keep going. Also, drink plenty of water. Dehydration leads to low energy. Drink 8-9 glasses of water each day. [10] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
Caution: caffeine is known to cause sleeplessness and jitteriness. The amount of caffeine you would need to consume to experience these effects differs from person to person and depends on your sensitivity to caffeine. The majority of healthy adults can safely consume caffeine in the amount of 400 milligrams (mg) a day.
B vitamins and iron are extremely important for your body’s ability to create and use energy. Vitamin 12, vitamin 6, thiamine, niacin, and folic acid support your body’s energy metabolism, while iron is needed for healthy red blood cells that are responsible for carrying oxygen. Deficiency in B vitamins and iron can lead to anemia and fatigue. [13] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School’s Educational Site for the Public Go to source If you are not getting enough of these and other micronutrients in your diet, consider taking a multivitamin with iron and essential B vitamins.
Make sure you get enough sleep. Set a regular bedtime and stick to it every night, even during the weekends. If you need to adjust your bedtime, make small daily increments (15 min earlier every night) until you achieve the target bedtime. Also, wake up the same time every morning. [15] X Trustworthy Source HelpGuide Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. Go to source Avoid heavy meals and too much alcohol just before bedtime as these might make sleeping more difficult. If you suffer from insomnia or sleep disturbances, it can lead to fatigue and lack of motivation. However, fatigue can also be a sign of a more serious health condition. If you don’t get energized by getting enough sleep and good nutrition, you should get evaluated by your doctor. [16] X Research source
During yoga poses, breathe deeply to bring fresh oxygen to your blood. This will stimulate your nervous system and make you feel more energetic. Try the following breathing exercise: sit on the floor with your spine straight. Breathe in through your nose and count to four. Then exhale while counting to eight. Repeat. Try the Uttanasana yoga pose, which is an energizing forward bend: start by standing and bending forward and down. Keep your knees slightly bent and allow your upper body to hang toward the toes. Breathe deeply, while allowing your spine to lengthen.
If you are sad, you may also suffer from low enthusiasm, lethargy, and/or low self-esteem. If you are feeling low in energy, drive, and hope, it is more challenging to be fun-loving. Sometimes beating sadness can be as easy as leaving the house and diverting your sadness to something positive and fun. When you are feeling blue you might keep yourself isolated and avoid spending time with others. If you find yourself spending all your time alone at home, force yourself out of the house. You can go shopping, walking, or catch a funny movie at the theater. Anything that gets you out of the house and spend time with your friends and family will do. The hardest step is to leave the house, but once you do it and are out, you can often find yourself forgetting the sadness and enjoying life. If you cannot beat your sadness, consider seeking medical attention to determine if you may suffer from depression. Your doctor can prescribe antidepressants to treat depression. Seasonal depression is a common condition; an estimated 6. 7% of U. S. population suffered from at least one depressive episode in 2013. [19] X Trustworthy Source National Institute of Mental Health Informational website from U. S. government focused on the understanding and treatment of mental illness. Go to source Caution: serious, untreated depression can lead to suicidal thoughts. If you or someone you know suffer from depression or a depressive episode, seek help immediately.
You may not always be able to control your external environment, but you can control your inner thoughts. Even in tough situations, thinking positively can help you overcome barriers and release your fun-loving side. Seek situations that bring out the best in you and then learn to transfer that feeling to situations that might not bring out the best in you. This way you can learn to think positively even in situations that might normally bring out negative thoughts. Focus on what is good in your life and write it down on a paper. Then carry that paper with you. When you find yourself down or unhappy, read through that list and try to change your negative thoughts to positive thoughts (e. g. , the glass is half full, not half empty). You can also break free from negative thoughts by telling yourself “I can” and not allowing disrespectful people or bad situations bring you down.
In order to honor yourself, you need to accept yourself for who you are. Only when you understand who you are and can embrace that person, can you bring your fun-loving side up. To learn to honor yourself, list your biggest achievements on a paper (e. g. , graduated from school, had children, bought a house, climbed a mountain, achieved a personal goal, etc). Then, focus on those achievements and allow yourself to gain respect for yourself through them. [22] X Research source
Often times we keep ourselves contained in a zone where we are comfortable, but that does not mean that is the place we are happiest. Allow yourself to try new things, take chances, and have fun. However, there are limitations to what you can and what you should do and you should never try or do things that cause harm to you or others. To break out, first understand your comfort zone and how you tend to stay in it naturally. Once you understand your comfort zone, change your normal way of thinking and acting and slowly break out of it. For example, start by making a list of all the things that you do to avoid uncertainty (e. g. , are there situations that you avoid, do you check on your kids constantly, do you suffer from lack of trust). [24] X Research source Once you have your list, start by picking the small items that you can do to break out of the cycle (e. g. , go to a place you have never visited before, seek situations you normally avoid, allow yourself to be more trusting). Keep a record of all the times you succeeded in your goal and what happened (e. g. , what happened when you visited a new place or pursued an unfamiliar situation).
