LAUGH. Family life can be funny. Kids say hilarious things.
Pay attention and write those gems down. Next time you
need a lift, read them. Need more ideas? Look at funny
family videos or photos, hang out with lighthearted
friends, watch a silly movie or read a humorous book.
FOLLOW A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE. Studies find that people
who lean on an inner belief system are happier. You
don’t have to be religious to be spiritual. You can feel a
connection to spirituality through helping others, nature,
yoga, music, art, personal meditation or journaling.
Michelle Hovick, a mom of one, says the “Elevation”
church app is one of her favorite spiritual gateways to a
mood shift.
PRACTICE GRATITUDE. In a gratitude study at Eastern
Washington University, researchers found a positive
correlation between gratitude and happiness. “We
have found that grateful individuals tend to be happy
individuals and that grateful thinking improves mood,”
the researchers reported. Try writing down three things
you are thankful for each day––small moments count
too.
GET A GROOVE ON. Whether she participates in a Jazzercise
class or switches on upbeat dance tunes in her kitchen,
Jessie Mallicoat, a mom of three, says, “If I'm in a bad
mood, I put on some ‘dancy’ music and it usually helps.”
In fact, studies find that dancing boosts the body’s
feel-good endorphins. Dancing has even been found to
reverse depression and increase self-confidence.
Set boundaries. Moms who are happier make conscious
decisions on a daily basis about who and what is allowed
into their lives. Switching to this way of thinking is
empowering. You don’t have to be harsh or hurtful to
accomplish this goal. Politely decline invitations that
don’t fit with your priorities and limit interactions with
negative individuals.
ACCESS GOOD CHILDCARE. Seek reliable childcare in order
to feel secure pursuing personal interests, maintaining
routine health check-ups and enjoying date nights with
your partner. A positive marriage contributes to the
overall emotional health and happiness of your family.
Having trouble finding a sitter? Check out SitterCity.com,
Care.com or ask other parents for references.
AVOID COMPARISON. Parenting philosophies that work well
in one family may not work well in another. Thanks to
the influx of information at our fingertips, parents have
no shortage of advice. Decide which strategies make
sense for your family. And beware of spending too much
time on social media if you’re starting to feel like you
don’t measure up. “Being happy with yourself and how
you parent is key to accepting other moms and how
they parent, which creates a more supportive parenting
community all around,” says Mandy Yokim, mom of two.
Freelance journalist, Christa Melnyk Hines and
her husband are the parents of two boys. She finds
happiness in historical romance novels, sunny days
and chocolate chip cookies. Christa is the author of
Confidently Connected: A Mom’s Guide to a Satisfying
Social Life.
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