Launching and running your own business is exhilarating but also takes its toll. If you’re feeling the burn in your professional or personal life, it’s possible to feel better every day. The most impactful way to be happy in business and beyond is by journaling and self-coaching/managing your mind, but there are also some things you can do on a daily basis to end the day happier. Here are some ideas to help end every day with a smile.

How to Create Happiness in Your Business and Life

Start Journaling

If you’re trying to figure out how to feel happy in and out of your business again, start by journaling every morning. Journaling helps organize and clear out your mind each morning. Set aside 5 to 15 minutes every morning and just write down all the thoughts that are swimming around in your mind. The goal isn’t to resolve all of these thoughts but to dump them so you can address them later if needed. The journaling process also helps trick your brain into feeling as though you’ve taken action. Seeing everything written out is also an effective way to understand how you’re feeling.

Create a Daily Routine That Lights You Up

Trying to figure out how to find what makes you happy? Start with a daily routine that works for you. Launching and running an online business can feel daunting and taxing. There are big ups and downs in being an entrepreneur, but that doesn’t mean you can’t end the day happier. The big secret here is to find happiness in the journey and not just the destination. You may have heard this expression before, but what does it really mean?

It’s all about finding joy in the day-to-day. You can achieve this by creating a daily routine that positively lights you up. Our daily routines are the essence and core of our business. It takes a little practice to work out a daily routine that works for you but is worth the effort. Here’s how to create a daily routine that lights you up.

Exercise and Spend Time Outside

Science is about spending time outdoors and our health. Spending just 20 minutes at a park can make us happier, less stressed, and even more creative in our business. Prioritizing outdoor time could improve your business happiness by allowing the mental space you need to grow. Couple your outdoor time with some exercise to increase the benefits. The more you release stress, anxiety and get your blood pumping, the more likely you are to come back to your business in a clear space.

Spend Time Meditating

Neuroscience research shows that meditation and mindfulness help dampen activity in our amygdala and increase the connections between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Both of these parts of the brain help us be less reactive to stressors and recover better from stress when we experience it.

The good news is meditation is easy (theoretically!) and you can do it just about anywhere. The trick is to try and clear your mind, observe your thoughts as they come, and… let them go. The purpose of meditation is to practice letting these thoughts go and not listening to everything that wanders into your head. Remember, not everything you think is true (and if the inside of your head is anything like mine, that’s good news!).

Take a Break From Social Media

Sometimes figuring out how to be happy in your own company is about stepping back. Social media can be a powerful way to connect and share your business with others. But it can also lead to feelings of imposter syndrome, inferiority, obsession and questioning every turn you’re making in your life or business.

Research also shows that too much social media can lead to an increased risk for depression, anxiety, and loneliness. The happy news is that even if you promote your business online, it’s okay to take a break from social media. Hire a virtual assistant to handle the task for you, or schedule out your posts in advance in order to take a break from it. Even cutting back to one time a day to check your business posts can also go a long way in giving you the decompression time you need.

Indulge in Physical Touch

If you need permission to indulge in more physical touch and create happiness, here it is: Research shows that physical contact can foster wellness and relieve stress. It also feels fantastic! There are so many ways you can enjoy more physical sensations in your life. Petting your dog or cat and cuddling with your kiddos is one place to start. Intimacy with your partner is also a fabulous way to practice physical touch, so carve out time to get up close and personal. 😉 

Create an Evening Ritual

Just like you can create a daily routine that lights you up, you can also end your day with a ritual that’s designed to please. Read a beloved book and enjoy a hot, steeping tea while you’re at it. A bubble bath with CBD salts is also a fantastic way to unwind. Then, before you wrap yourself up in a towel, use fancy lotions for some extra sensation and stress reduction. 

Evening rituals are also a great way to practice self-care. It’s easy to get caught up in the idea we should only reward ourselves when there’s a reason to celebrate. Instead, honor and celebrate each day as an entrepreneur and all you’ve accomplished, no matter how small. 

Organize Yourself for the Next Day

Getting organized for the next day can give you peace of mind and reduce your stress for the next day. You’ll end up going to sleep happy, content, and ready to conquer any challenges in your business. 

Start by laying out your clothes and review your agenda for the next day. The review process shouldn’t be a cause for stress. It’s a time to reflect on how to prepare for your tasks at hand and feel confident in conquering them.

Review the Day

There’s something powerful about acknowledging your experiences. Don’t let the opportunity slip by to review the current day. Write down a list of five wonderful things that happened today and five things you’re grateful for. These serve as affirmations of those moments that made you feel like your day and business were worthwhile. 

You can also write down what you would do to approach the day differently if presented with the same challenges. It’s not about beating yourself up but about what you learned and how you’d apply those learnings. This can help bring more awareness to how to make your days happier, more productive, creating moments you can be proud of.

Beyond work, think about your personal life. Write down one thing that you absolutely love about your partner,  friend, or family member. And if you need a boost of motivation, another option is to use a quick-prompt journal, like the 5-Minute Journal in the evenings.

Choose What to Dream About

Here’s a fun and innovative idea. Choose what you want to dream about. It takes some practice and doesn’t always work, but try to focus on what you want to dream about. Think about a mini-movie of fantasy, dream, or accomplishment you want to see happen or relive before you drift off to sleep. Even if you don’t dream about it, you’ll end up falling asleep happy. And a sleep story could also be a wonderful way to drift off to dreamland. 

Ending your days happier and content is possible with a little practice and strategy. Focus on the areas that are the most doable and enjoyable to you, and start building a routine that instills more happiness into your life.

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