Be happy! :)

I've wanted to write a post about staying positive and being happy but I didn't think I could write one accurately until I knew myself what I did to stay happy. It's taken me a few weeks but I think I've finally figured out what 4 steps I take to keep myself positive and happy!


1. Surround yourself with positive people
I've found that being with people who are happy can make you feel a lot better. I have this one friend who is quite possibly the most upbeat and smiley person I've ever met and I know that if I was feeling down, I could spend time with her and instantly feel better. Your friends and people that care about you want you to feel happy and positive so most of the time they're do anything in their power to help you! If you're surrounded by love and happiness, chances are that you'll feel happier.

2. Take care of yourself
This may sound like a bit of a stupid tip but taking care of yourself is a really important part of staying upbeat and happy. As much as some of us hate it, eating well and exercising is a great way to stay happy. It'll make you feel less sluggish if you're eating healthily and exercise will help release any stress build up you may have and let you relax more. Plus, endorphins are released during exercise which are known to create feelings of happiness and euphoria - perfect!
I think being organised is another was of taking care of yourself. Making lists is a really good way of keeping organised so you can cross something off your list once you've done it. Little things like that mean that you don't have to remember everything so it won't stress you out. Being organised can really help lift a load of your shoulders and keep you feeling positive about everything you need to do.

3. Set yourself goals
Having something to work towards like a goal can be very rewarding. They can be as big or small as you like but personally, I'd set a few smaller ones before going all out on a major one. When you reach your goal you'll feel proud of yourself and you'll ultimately gain happiness! I mean, you can't complete a task and not feel good and happy about it, right? It doesn't even have to be big. Something like taking the stairs instead of the lift for a week is a great way to start (and incorporates tip 2) and can really benefit you!

4. Write down your feelings
Out of all of the steps so far, this has been the one that I've found most useful. Keeping a diary, journal or even a blog is a great way to clear your mind of any bad or negative thoughts. It's also a way for you to express yourself for only you to see. I have a journal app called Private Journal (download it, it's free!) on my iPhone and before I go to bed I always make sure I write down how my day has gone, whether it was good or bad. I try and pick out 1 bad thing that's happened and 1 good thing. There's no point always writing down negative aspects of your life because you'll always be in that frame of mind! Your main aim should be to get rid of the negativity and replace it with positive things.
Alternatively, if you're not very good at putting your feelings into words, maybe try art or any other creative outlet - I promise you it's worth a go!

So there we go. If I only helped one person by writing this then I've achieved something I can be proud of. I think it's little things like this that really make a difference. If something helps you to stay happy, pass that on to someone else - you never know who it may help!

Keep smiling! :)