6 EASY and Super-manageable Ways to Stay Positive

Let's get real. You are stuck inside some building right now, either with people you (used to) love or by yourself. You're trying to find ways to pass the time but you somehow end up in front of the TV... again. You thought this break from work would actually be beneficial because you would be able to "get a lot done at home," but it takes literally all of your energy to put the third pot of coffee on.

The truth is, copious amounts of coffee and wishful thinking just won't cut it during this Covid-19 lockdown. If you are looking to climb out of this slippery slide of sadness, try these 6 really-super-easy ways to boost your mood and keep the good vibes flowing all day long.

1. Surround Yourself with Things you LOVE

We are all weird. Yet, so often we compromise our happiness by carefully selecting decorations, appliances, and clothing that cause the least amount of insult to the people around us. Maybe your partner doesn't absolutely love the pink-fur handcuffs you have hanging from the mirror in the car. Or maybe your Pheobe-esque portrait of a woman doesn't make your family all that happy. What do you do? You politely put the unwanted object away and continue living an uninspired life for the happiness of others.

Why are you wasting any time compromising your happiness for the opinion of someone else? If you like your pink handcuffs, you should hang your pink handcuffs on prominent display for all to see! If your creepy, 3D portrait scares your family, turn on a scary movie and really blow their socks off. If the people in your life don't accept your "stuff," it is usually a reflection of their own issues. Maybe it's time for an honest conversation with those you care about to discuss how you should be able to express yourself honestly, openly and without judgement. Take it from Marie Condo: keep things in your life that spark joy.

2. Stay Standing

Have you ever had a ton of energy, a good mood, high-vibrations... and then sat down for more than like, 5 minutes? What happens?

All of your energy goes away, a headache starts to form, you get tired, lazy and the rest of the day is essentially ruined.

Am I right?

The only way to get yourself off of the couch again is to treat yourself to some coffee and chocolate and then you... go back to the couch..

I KNOW you have gone through this cycle before, and you wonder how all of your energy and good intentions could have suddenly disappeared. But it is NORMAL. When you sit down, you are telling your body to relax and heal. The body listens and starts to take your energy to heal, digest and do all other sorts of bodily things. Before you decide to sit down and relax, check in with yourself and decide if you've accomplished everything you wanted to accomplish. Get all of your goals checked off before you sit down to relax because it will be twice as hard to get back up again. Accomplishing goals is a vital part of staying positive.

3. Do something that inspires you

It's hard to find time in the day for a hobby. Sometimes our lives completely take over and we end up going to sleep before we've even realized we've woken up. Try to make it a non-negotiable to do something that inspires you each day. For me, that involves my crystals and blog. I always make time to write, answer questions on Quora, check out other blog sites, order crystals for myself or for resale, etc. Using and studying crystals is a big passion of mine so I MAKE TIME FOR THAT SH*T. It makes me happy. Find YOUR thing. Do it and make it a top priority in your day.

4. Have morning and night routines

This point is important... and the one thing on this list I struggle with. As soon as I wake up, I want to get things done so I go, go, go... and burn out at noon. I don't take the time to mentally and physically get myself into a position of optimal success. Ivan, my partner, on the other hand, DOES. He has a non-negotiable 2-hour morning routine which involves stretching, a mini-workout, drinking green tea before eating his yogurt, listening to his favorite talk show (it is something that I don't necessarily listen to but it sparks joy for him! #pointnumber1 See how that works?) and calling his mom and grandmother. All of this before starting his day. At night, he puts on his creams, reads the news and watches a show that he likes. The same routine. Every day.

And he is CONTENT, y'all. I try to convince myself that by waking up early and jumping into a work-sprint that my terrible non-routine lifestyle works, but it truly doesn't. Take it from Ivan: have a routine.

If you need some tips and tricks on making your perfect daily routine, take a peek at this article by Lifehack.org.

5. Drink water

Idk how many posts on the internet talk about this but it is mega-truth:

YOU HAVE TO DRINK WATER

And more than you would think. WebMD places the numbers at 11 or more cups a day. Just get a huge glass jar and a metal straw and sip on nature's sweet liquid all day long. You'll be amazed at how many headaches you'll avoid.

6. Everything happens for a reason

I know some people hate this idea: that fate has somehow determined our lives for us and there is nothing we can do to change it. Take it from debate.org where 58% of people believe we control our fate and 42% believe we have no control. Those are tight numbers, and neither side of this online-debate is wrong. There is no correct answer to the question.

I am asking you to think about this in a different way. Instead of the pre-determined, life-is-prison attitude, just ask yourself "What can I learn from this?" There are so many good and bad things happening to you at every moment of every day. If you ask yourself "what can I learn from this," you'll discover truths about yourself that you otherwise wouldn't and you will be able to come to terms with everything life throws at you. You will always take a lesson from each moment of your life which will make life easier to deal with.

As always, feel free to check out our online store and get a better idea of my favorite hobby at www.gemsprite.com.

- Stephen Butler, CEO

Gemsprite

Stephen is trying to focus on his daily routines