Simple Things To Do To Increase Your Happiness

In life, we are given two choices each day: make the most out of every situation that is thrown your way, or decide to be overwhelmed with each situation & focus on the negatives. Now, life does not come with a manual and every emotion is valid. However, even when you have a bad moment or day, you can start fresh again, to make the next moments much better! How do you do that? The best and easiest way to start is by focusing on simple things to do to increase your happiness. Life is short and I believe that we need to make every minute of it count. What can you do today to improve your overall happiness? Here are some simple things that you could incorporate: 

Make sure you are taking care of yourself

Before anything else, you absolutely need to prioritize your health and wellness: both your physical health and your mental health. It can feel necessary to keep up with the fast-paced nature of how the world operates now, but doing so will cause you to get burnt out very quickly. Instead, approaching each day with a slower mindset that allows you to put your needs first, will benefit you and your happiness greatly. Wake up each morning and focus on what your body and mind need, to take on the day with ease. Sunshine? Coffee? A nutritious breakfast? 30 minutes of exercise? A shower? Figure out how to fit it into your daily schedule! I understand that life gets busy and that it can be challenging to fit everything into each day, but prioritizing what your body wants and needs will help you get everything else done throughout the day, instead of feeling majorly sluggish and burnt out once that first cup of coffee wears off.

Get sunshine

How many of you sit in front of a computer all day long? Getting outside to soak up the sun and fresh air is very, very important. The sun especially has a huge impact on your happiness and health, too. Think about it: do you feel happier sitting inside, or when the sun brings warmth to your body and when you can feel the crisp wind on your face? Personally, I feel so much better when I am outside regularly. Even if this means just taking a break from work to stretch my legs and get some sun. Huge bonus if you can take your work outside! 

Downsize

Do you ever feel like you have too much and it is weighing you down? This looks different for each person, but maybe it is too many things, too large of a home, or too many things on your schedule. If this sounds familiar, consider downsizing. Get rid of things that you don’t need, in order to make more room in your life for fun and growth. Buy a smaller home that is not taking all of your money and that you do not need. Figure out what it is that you need, and only keep that - the things that bring you joy and happiness. If you do decide to downsize, it will be an undertaking, but it will also be so worth it. Get help along the way and use services to help make the process easier. Consider it Moving can help if you do not want to tackle a move on your own. They help with residential moving and Commercial Office Moving Long Island, too.

Photo by Krystal Pratt

Exercise

Moving your body is a sure way to improve your mood and overall happiness. Need a simple thing to do to increase your happiness? Here you go! Find time to exercise. This can mean a one-hour weight lifting session, or it can mean taking a walk, jogging in the park, jumping on a trampoline, or taking a 30-minute yoga and stretching class. As long as you are moving your body in a way that makes you feel good, that is all that matters!

Make sure you have a job that you like

Doing something that you love (work-wise) makes such a huge difference when it comes to your overall happiness levels. Most people spend so much of their time at work and around co-workers, and it truly does affect how you are as a person. If you do not have a job that you like right now, find a way to improve your work situation, no matter if it is finding a new job, or addressing whatever is holding you back at your current position (if possible). Life is too short to spend 8+ hours each day at a job that you dread.

Consider therapy

Therapy is a pretty taboo topic with a lot of people, but having someone to talk to who isn’t connected to a situation can help you see your situation(s) from an outside point of view. It allows you to really dive deep and work on improving yourself and your happiness, which is a great thing. If you are struggling with depression, anxiety, your relationship, or anything in between, you might want to at least consider going to therapy! You never know - it might just make a huge, great difference in your life.

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5 Ways to Change Your Life Around

How many of you are stuck in the grind? The constant to-do list and the never-ending circle of waking up early, going to work, coming home to make dinner, and then doing it all over again? Are the weekends too short and do you feel like you can never catch up on stress and sleep? I know how you feel. If you feel like this, it’s time to change up your life and intentionally make it better! Here are 5 ways to change your life around for the better:

Put an emphasis on your wellness

Life doesn’t slow down for us and unfortunately, we are not getting any younger. While this is not a bad thing, it also means that how we treat our body throughout the years, is going to directly translate into how we feel now and in the future, as well. When you were younger, you probably did not care much about your health and wellness at all. That’s okay and pretty normal for the average person. The good news? You have the ability to change it - to change how you take care of your body now, so that you can start feeling better and continue feeling great for years to come. When it comes to health and wellness, I truly believe that preventative care is more affordable, better for you, and it keeps you feeling as great as you possibly can for years to come.

If you want to change your life around, start with your wellness. There are so many things that you can do to improve your health and wellness - and a lot of things are free! Drink more water, start walking around the block or in a park, meet up with friends and talk, garden, add more vegetables into your diet, switch to higher quality protein, and more. These are just a few ideas - you figure out what you can do individually to put an emphasis on your health and wellness.

Choose to see the good

You have a choice every single day - to focus on the good, or to focus on the negatives in your life. While focusing on the negatives might be easier, what does it really do, other than make you feel down? Does it benefit you at all, to focus on the negative? No, I don’t think so. You have to try to focus on the good - even in the worst of situations. It’s called the glass half full perspective and it makes a huge difference in your mood, your overall happiness and life, and in the people around you, as well.

Take a risk

One of the best ways to change your life around? Take a risk - even a big one. Sometimes, changing your life around means getting out of your comfort zone, which can be tough, but also so good for you. And keep in mind: you don’t have to do it alone. Have friends and family members there to support you, or if you need extra help, hire it out. For example, if your “risk” is moving to new city, like moving from NJ to NY, hire help. Trust me - you’ll be glad you did not tackle it alone. There are plenty of great moving companies out there that can take the stress off your plate. Bluebell Relocation Services is one that focuses on NJ to NY moving, but they also do so much more like packing services, moving within each city, commercial moving, fragile item moving, and more.

Taking a risk - no matter what it is - has the potential to be life changing, in a GREAT way! Get out of your comfort zone and push yourself to do great things, that will make you happier.

Evaluate how you are spending your time

This is a big one - evaluate how you are spending your time. In the scheme of things, our lives go by in a blink of an eye. Do you want to spend hours each day in a daze, scrolling through your Instagram, or would you prefer to spend it with your friends and family, doing the things you love? I don’t know about you, but I want to make the most out of each day. If you feel the same way, consider evaluating your time. A good starting place is your phone: there is a way to see exactly how many minutes or hours you are on it each day, and it even breaks it down into what apps you are using. You could also keep a running list of how your day and time is spent. Do this for a week or two and then go over it and see what you can do to use your time more wisely + improve your happiness. Every person will be different and maybe TV time is one of your biggest priorities. If so, make sure you are getting that in! But, if you are someone who values more connection with family and friends, or outdoor time, evaluate your time and then see how you can add even more of that connection in.

Love the people you are around

This is another big one: love the people you are around hard. So many people have to learn this the hard way, but if you haven’t learned this lesson in life yet, hear me out. There is no guarantee of tomorrow. I know that we are all so busy and life gets the best of us sometimes, but your people (and yourself) should come above everything else. Live life with no regrets and love your people hard. 

Organic Spa Magazine's 2017 Experience Wellness & Travel Media Event

Organic Spa Magazine's 2017 Experience Wellness & Travel Media Event took place on April 17th, 2017 at the Conrad Hotel in NYC. Guests enjoyed a media luncheon, symposium of beauty, wellness and travel, and latest products from top brands. 

Checkout the highlights from this year's event, including KPS Essentials, Aura Cacia, Fire Cider, NeoCell, Meadowood Napa Valley, Columbia Skincare, MyChelle Dermaceuticals, Nubian Heritage, Pura Botanica, J.R. Watkins, and Boiron. 

This was the first time I was introduced to KPS Essentials, and I was blown away by their skincare line. My skin was beyond glowing after my facial, which products included the Brightening Cream Cleanser, Probiotic Toner, Renū Face Cream, Renū C + Serum, Antioxidant Repair Serum and Vitamin C Lip Treatment. KPS Essentials products are formulated with food-grade, gluten free, 100% organic ingredients.

Aura Cacia is my go-to for creating DIY bodycare, and has now launched Home Care Essential Oil Blends for creating home cleaning products. The four blends include Down to Earth, Keep It Fresh, Main Squeeze, and Petal Power.

I definitely need to get myself one of Aura Cacia's USB Essential Oil Diffusers

Fire Cider Apple Cider Vinegar & Honey Tonic

NeoCell presented media guests with Collagen Sriracha Deviled Eggs, Almond Strawberry Collagen Cupcakes, and Mango Coconut Chia Pudding.

NeoCell's products include Biotin Bursts and new Ceramides Skin Hydrator

Meadowood Napa Valley showcased luxurious products from the Meadowood Collection, also used for spa treatments at the Meadowood Spa.

Columbia Skincare showcased their Probiotic Milk Cleanser, Probiotic Concentrate and Probiotic Complex.

MyChelle Dermaceuticals introduced their new launches, including the Quick Clean Micellar Water cleanser, Sun Shield Liquid Tint SPF 50, and Perfect C™ Pro Serum

Nubian Heritage African Black Soap Collection

Pura Botanica

J.R. Watkins

Jet Lag Relief pellets and Coldcalm tablets are new from Boiron

- Kim Weling

Organic Spa Magazine's 2016 Experience Wellness & Travel Media Event

On April 25th at the Mandarin Oriental, the 4th annual Organic Spa Magazine's Wellness & Travel Media Event had an amazing lineup of skin care and spa sponsors. Sponsors included Riviera Maya, Aura Cacia, NeoCell, The BodyHoliday, ilā, Columbia Skincare, Rosewood Mayakoba, Fire Cider, Violets Are Blue, Menla Mountain Retreat Center, Pyore, Boiron, Canyon Ranch, Deer Lake Lodge & Spa, MyChelle Dermaceuticals, New Life Hiking Spa, Healing Hotels of the World, prAna, Plume Hair & Lash Science, AEOS, Reserveage, Pevonia Skincare, Skinveda, Kaelen Harwell, everclēn, Kosmatology and Parissa. 

Check out the highlights from the event below. 

Pyore (pronounced "pure") use the purest plant-based oils like Moringa, Jojoba and Argan for their rich nutrients. Pyore also uses natural ingredients such as green tea and coconut water in their fruit-based products, for cleansing, moisturizing and exfoliating your skin. 

ilā has a variety of products, from shampoos and conditioners to day creams and face serums and candles. 

NeoCell Biotin Bursts is one of my go to products. The high potency chews have 10,000 MCG Biotin in every bite. The Brazilian Acai Berry flavor makes it taste just like candy, so I always look forward to eating one. It promotes hair, skin and nail health, and are low in sugar, free of gluten soy and artificial flavors. 

During the media event, I was introduced to NeoCell's Derma Matrix Collagen Skin Complex and Keratin Matrix Advanced Hair Repair. 

Aura Cacia essential oils is another one of my go to products, for using when I make DIY products like exfoliating scrubs and bug spray. Aura Cacia provides many DIY skincare recipes, including one they had given out for a hair protecting mist. Aura Cacia also introduced their Essential Oil Aromatherapy Mist Diffuser, Skin Care Oils (Soft & Smooth, Renew & Recover, and Shield & Hydrate), and Essential Oil Discovery Kits. 

Aromatherapy Associates Miniature Bath & Shower Oil Collection - this set is perfect to bring with you for travel 

Menla Mountain Retreat Center, in the Catskills, offers various hiking, meditation and yoga retreats, as well as spa services at Mahasukha Spa

Violets Are Blue - their signature line includes soaps, scrubs, facial serums, body cream, deodorant and more. 

Fire Cider can be taken as a daily tonic, either taken as a spoonful or diluted in water or tea. Apple cider vinegar has many benefits, including weight loss, lower blood sugar levels, heart health and improved symptoms of diabetes.

MyChelle introduced new sun protection products including an Sun Shield Clear Spray with SPF 30, Cucumber Cooler Soothing Spray and Sun Shield Clear Stick with SPF 50.  

Oscillococcinum homeopathic medicine is great to have around the winter season, to combat those flu-like symptoms. Calendula Cream is perfect for healing cuts, scrapes and sunburn. Arnicare Gel, is useful for mosquito and bug bites. 

Deer Lake Lodge Health Resort & Spa in Montgomery, Texas

Canyon Ranch Health & Wellness Resorts

Columbia Skincare

- Kim Weling