Self Improvement Saturday - 10 Things to Improve Your Life Right Now!

Saturdays always seem like a great day to get everything done, until of course I run out of time. Maybe if I was more organized or purposeful or made a list of "some" of the things that need to be done and commit to doing them before Sunday, maybe that would work. 

Saturdays also seem like a perfect day to try to do better to improve on myself as it were.  Now I just let you in on the fact that despite by best attempts, I pretty much never get everything that "should" get done on Saturday actually done - on Saturday (sometimes not even on Sunday). Knowing this, I am spending a few minutes searching the Internet for some ideas to help me (and you if you'd like) improve my life and my self -- well right away! 

Here's a few of the things that I have found: 

Things to Improve Your Life Right Now! 

1. Have a set place where you ALWAYS put your keys (and your cell phone).
     I hang my keys on a hook and use my cell phone as my alarm clock - it helps!

2. Leave work at work 
     I need to work on this one - no work email at home. I like to be helpful and efficient 
     at work but need to remember to safeguard my home time too. 

3. Clean off your desk or work space. 
Although it is often hard to find the time for those of us who weren't born with the 
naturally fastidious and organized genes, finding a way to keep things clean and tidy 
at your home and/or work space does make you feel better and work better too.     
Every once in awhile, just take a few minutes and give it a try. There are some great ideas on the best ways to set up and organize your desk at Life Hacker. 

4. Create a morning routine. 
    This is less important right now with Summer break upon us, but for my family it is 
     going to be imperative come fall if we want to be successful. We have a school year
     routine in the mornings, just not a good one. I am committing to working on this bit-
     by-bit to make improvements and a plan to implement when the time comes. Making
     my meals the night before and showering then too would be major improvements. 

5. Laugh more and often (and right now for no reason).
    I just did it and you can too! I was afraid to laugh out loud as a teenager for fear my 
    laugh would be the funny thing. But these days, one of the benefits of gaining wisdom
    with age... I laugh a lot more and a lot louder. Who cares what others think. I know
    laughing (as long as it isn't at some one's expense) is a great thing to do! Great article 
    on the importance of humor here by Dr. Terry Gordon. 

6. Keep on dreaming. 
    I have been in the same job for over 11 years now and I enjoy it but I also enjoy and 
    feel revitalized by my dream of having my own business creating and selling my photo 
    art. I think it is the thing that is truly making me happy and feeling alive these days.
    You can still live the life you are living but have some dreams to reach for too! 

7. Stay connected.

    Whether you are partial to phone calls or emails, hand written letters, note cards 

    or social networking -- find and remember the people you care about. It is easy to 
    brighten your day and someone elses by picking up the phone or sending a card to let 
    them know you are thinking about them in the mail. 

8. Hug someone - often. 

    I hug my kids regularly throughout the day and plan to continue doing so until they just 

    won't allow it. I admit my hubby and I used to hug at the end of the work day with a 

    special lift me off the ground kinda hug. Just now thinking we should get back to it. 

9. Single-task once in awhile.

    Take the time to slow down and really concentrate on whatever task is at hand every 

    so often. Really focus on washing those dishes, or mowing that grass. Get into the 

    rhythm of what you are doing and stay purposefully focused. You don't have to multi-

    task all the time. 

10. Try to embrace yourself as you are as well as how you wish to be. 

      Do whatever helps you to love yourself. It is important for you and for those around

      you too. And you don't have to accept that you will always be just as you are. You 

      can also embrace that you are a work of art that is evolving and ever changing. 

Mama Zuzi

It's Self Improvement Saturday: 10 ways to lift your mood

I've been thinking since yesterday just the heck what to post on Self Improvement Saturday (today)! At first I thought I'll do something such as write a few pages in my novel and let people know I did it. I still might do that but honestly it's pretty boring to anyone but me. And so I decided to make a list! 

In this case, I'm going to give out some ideas on Self-Improvement Saturdays probably most of the time. You can take 'em or leave 'em. You can save them or share them...whatever floats your boat.

As someone who has struggled for years with bouts of depression, I am often trying to figure out how to improve my mood. All of us have our ups and downs. And to be honest, while I'm feeling down for those folks affected by the awful Oklahoma (and other states) tornadoes in the last little while, it is hard to be in anything but a good mood in Portland, Oregon today as it is our 2nd sunny warm-ish day in a row! It is just beautiful out. 

But back to the task at hand, which is: 

10 ways to lift your mood* 

1. Get outside:  If it is sunny and warm, all the better but even a good walk in the rain could improve your mood -- just don't stay in bed all day. 
2. Treat yourself: to a treat. Head for your nearest Baskin & Robbins or DQ, or make some cookies. If sweets aren't your thing, have something that is. 
3. Play some music: Preferably loud. Find some tunes that remind you of middle or high school or any good time of your life. Or just turn up your favorite radio station. 
4. Reread your favorite book: or go find a new one. For me it would be "A Room with A View."
5. Watch some TV: Get out of bed and on to the couch. Find a great TV series (on Netflix, Hulu or at the video store) to immerse yourself in for awhile to get out of your own thoughts and worries. I have had great days enjoying episode after episode of "Doc Martin," "Psych," "The West Wing," "Without a Trace" and "Golden Girls." 
6. Hang with animals:  Snuggle up with your favorite cat or take your pooch to the dog park. If you don't have your own pets, try to visit a friend who does.
   
7. Take yourself to the movie: I have often done this one for my own birthday when everyone is working and I've taken the day off. Go see what you want, when you want and enjoy!
8. Play: It isn't just for kids. Get on your bike, skateboard or lace up some skates. Better yet head for the local park and swing on the swings -- with abandon!
9. Smile: Whether you feel like it or not and no matter what you are doing, even if it is just hanging out in bed playing on the computer. It tricks your brain into thinking you are happier than you are. Fake it 'til you make it ;-)  
10. Sing: Probably not "Swing Low Sweet Chariot."  Go for something upbeat and even a little quirky. Some of my favorites are Christmas carols any time of the year (especially in Summer) and things like "Come On, Get Happy" by the Partridge Family and "Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina & the Waves!

*If nothing is working and you are still feeling persistently down and seriously depressed, you may need to talk to a therapist or medical doctor and/or get medication. If for any reason you are considering harming yourself or someone else, call 911, visit any emergency room or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for help right away. 

You matter. Please take care of yourself! 

Now go and enjoy the day! 

Mama Zuzi