12 Most Effective Ways to Take Care of Your Mood Daily

Maintaining your happy index is important, therefore you need good mood almost all the time.

Good mood is something that depends entirely on our perception of the world and you can control it.

The point is that this is not an easy task to accomplish but there is nothing impossible for us, isn't it?

If you are ready to become a new better person, then follow these 12 tips.

Most Effective Ways to Take Care of Your Mood Daily

1. Eat well

When all of your body systems function right and your health rarely fails you, this is a great source of good mood. That is why it is so important to take care of what you eat. A sound mind in a sound body, remember that. You should also eat well daily. When you are not eating enough you are most likely to be in bad mood and even depressed. And that is apart from the likelihood of weakening your health strength. The best way is to eat healthy food in proper amount and balance it with enough exercise. You need to eat enough calories so that your body functions properly.

2. Do exercises

Physical exercise is an effective way to stay active, to mobilize your strength and energy. No matter how busy you are, it's possible to find 15 minutes to do a few exercises. I recommend you to start exercising in the morning. Yes, that sounds completely impossible, but honestly, did you try it? Give it a try and you will see numerous positive results, such as good appetite, even hormones level, burst of energy and a general sense of self-respect which will make you go on and on.

3. Make rest a high priority

I advise you to spend some time during your busy day just sitting, relaxing and thinking of something good and pleasant. You will feel refreshed and full of energy so your work will bring you more pleasure. A good night sleep is also important. So, try to sleep at least 7-9 hours at night. Your getting up in the morning won't be a problem if you do so and as a result you will have a bright smile on your face all day long.

4. Look closer who is around you

Look at the people who surround you, there might be a few negative people who spoil your life and influence your mood. Don't be afraid to eliminate them from your life and have space for good, positive people. You should take care of yourself, your mental and physical well-being, so avoid toxic, sneaky people by all means.

5. Communicate

A human being is a social creature; we live among other people and need to get in contact with others. The psychological need of communication is to be fully satisfied in order to feel happy and be in a good mood. So talk to your friends, co-workers, communicate with your family more than you do now. It would be nice to start conversation with a stranger, do it regularly as a means of overcoming modesty and reserve.

6. Give up addictions

First of all, you have to get rid of the most harmful habits like smoking and drinking alcohol. There are also some addictive foods which do not do much good to your health. Among them are sugar, caffeine, processed foods and, of course, all kind of fast food and semis. Just start reducing the intake of these foods and you will see the improvement in your overall health state as well as in your mood.

7. Keep track of finances

As a rule financial pressure is a source of great stress in our life. To avoid it, you should always keep it in order. Choose the best way of tracking finances for you and use it regularly. This way you will be able to manage all your income and expenses and it will help you avoid possibility of being broken.

8. Eat more vegetables

Adding more vegetables to your diet is one of the best ways to make yourself feel better. They are full of vitamins, nutrients, minerals and microelements, and are super delicious, which is also a very persuasive argument. There are many easy recipes worth trying so you will be surprised how easy and wonderful they are.

9. Include fat

Although you have to exclude a lot of harmful foods out of your diet, you should not exclude fats completely. They are essential for our body systems to function properly, they influence hormone production and guarantee brain health. The best sources of healthy fat are nuts, seeds, avocado and wild fish.

10. Try magnesium

Another useful thing is to get enough of magnesium. It has a positive effect on almost every system in the body. Magnesium calms the nerves and helps with stress. I get it from special magnesium supplements as getting it from regular foods is insufficient. Just make sure you consult your doctor before you start adding it to your diet..

11. Avoid sugar and gluten

What is the first food that comes to rescue when you get depressed? Sure, it is a dessert. Even though when a woman commits such a small crime she blames herself for that, it is a repeated scenario. Sugar and gluten are difficult to digest and are considered to be addictive because you want them more as you keep consuming it. If you start to eat less sugar you will notice that you stop even wanting it.

12. Get enough B vitamins

This kind of vitamins plays a very important role in the body systems. B vitamins help prevent depression, improve metabolism and digestion. So make sure that your food is reach in B vitamins or get it from special supplements. Anyway having a proper vitamins balance guarantees you strong health and good mood.

Taking care of your mood is quite an easy task if you follow these tips. These ways are natural and healthy, I have tried all of them and I can say that they really improve the overall feeling and the mood. Which of these have you already tried and what was the result? Let's share experience and find out if there is something we can add to the list.

14 Things Successful People Do On Weekends

Spencer Rascoff is only 37. Yet the Harvard grad and father of three has already accomplished so much.

He cofounded Hotwire.com and served as a VP for Expedia EXPE +0.63%; he held the roles of CFO, vice president of marketing and COO at Zillow; and in 2008 Rascoff was promoted to chief executive of the popular real estate information site.

Wondering how the Zillow CEO has achieved and maintained his success? His weekend routine has something to do with it.

“My weekends are an important time to unplug from the day-to-day and get a chance to think more deeply about my company and my industry,” Rascoff says. “Even when I’m technically not working, I’m always processing in the background and thinking about the company. Weekends are a great chance to reflect and be more introspective about bigger issues.”

He says he always spends weekends with his family. “Even if I’m on the road on a Friday and have to be back in that same city the following week, I always come home no matter what.”

Here are 14 things successful people do (or should be doing) on weekends:

1. Make time for family and friends. 

This is especially important for those who don’t spend much time with their loved ones during the week.

2. Exercise. 

Everyone needs to do it, and if you can’t work out 4 to 5 days during the workweek, you need to be active on weekends to make up for some of that time, Vanderkam says. It’s the perfect opportunity to clear your mind and create fresh ideas.

“I know an owner of a PR firm who takes walks in the park with his dog to spark ideas about how to pitch a new client, or what angle to take with the press for a story,” Kurow says.

Cohen suggests spin classes and outdoor cycling in the warmer months. “Both are energizing and can be organized among people with shared interests. For example, it is not uncommon for hedge fund folks and Wall Street professionals to ride together on weekends. It is a great way to establish and cultivate relationships based on membership in this elite professional community.”

3. Pursue a passion.

“There’s a creative director of a greeting card company who went back to school to pursue an MFA because of her love of art,” Kurow says. “Pursuing this passion turned into a love of poetry that she now writes on weekends.”

“Successful people make time for what is important or fun,” Egan adds. “They make space for activities that add to their life balance.”

4. Vacation.

Getting away for the weekend provides a great respite from the grind of an intense week at work, Cohen says.

5. Disconnect.

The most successful people avoid e-mail for a period of time, Vanderkam says. “I’m not saying the whole weekend, but even just a walk without the phone can feel liberating. I advocate taking a ‘tech Sabbath.’ If you don’t have a specific religious obligation of no-work time, taking Saturday night to mid-day Sunday off is a nice, ecumenical time that works for many people.”

6. Volunteer.

“I know a commercial real estate broker who volunteers to help with cook-off events whose proceeds are donated to the Food Bank,” Kurow says. “The volunteer work provides a balance to the heavy analytical work she does all week and fulfills her need to be creative — she designs the promotional material for the nonprofit.”

Cohen says a lot of successful people participate in fundraising events. “This is a great way to network and to meet others with similar interests,” he says. “The visibility also helps in branding a successful person as philanthropic.”

7. Avoid chores.

Every weekend has a few have-to-dos, but you want these to take the minimum amount of time possible, Vanderkam explains. Create a small window for chores and errands, and then banish them from your mind the rest of the time.

8. Plan.

“Planning makes people more effective, and doing it before the week starts means you can hit Monday ready to go, and means you’ll give clear directions to the people who work for you, so they will be ready to go, too,” Vanderkam says.

Trunk agrees. She says successful people plan their month and year because “if you get stuck on short-term lists you don’t get anything big accomplished.”

9. Socialize.

“Humans are social creatures, and studies of people’s experienced happiness through the day finds that socializing ranks right up there, not too far down below sex,” Vanderkam says.

Go out with friends and family, or get involved in the local community.

“It has been demonstrated that successful people find great satisfaction in giving back,” Cohen says. “Board membership, for example, also offers access to other successful folks.”

10. Gardening/crafts/games/sports/cooking/cultural activities.

This is especially important for those cooped up in an office all week.

“For the pure joy, some folks find great satisfaction in creating beautiful gardens,” Cohen says.

Kurow knows an attorney who uses her weekends to garden and do mosaics and tile work to satisfy her creative side. “Filling her life this way enables her to be refreshed on Monday and ready to tackle the litigation and trial prep work. Artwork for her is fulfilling in a way that feeds her soul and her need to connect with her spiritual side.”

Bridge lessons and groups can also sharpen the mind and often create relationships among highly competitive smart professionals, Cohen says. “I once saw a printout of a bridge club’s membership list; its members were a who’s who of Wall Street.”

Theatre, opera and sporting events can also enrich one’s spirit, he adds.

11. Network.

“Networking isn’t an event for a successful person, it’s a lifestyle,” Trunk says. Wherever they go and whatever they do, they manage to connect with new people.

12. Reflect. 

Egan says truly successful people make time on weekends to appreciate what they have and reflect on their happiness and accomplishments. As Rascoff said, “weekends are a great chance to reflect and be more introspective about bigger issues.”

13. Meditate. 

Classes and private instruction offer a bespoke approach to insight and peace of mind, Cohen says. “How better to equip yourself for success in this very tough world?”

14. Recharge. 

We live in a competitive world, Vanderkam says. “Peak performance requires managing downtime, too–with the goal of really recharging your batteries.” That’s how the most successful people get so much done.

Successful people know that time is too precious to be totally leisurely about leisure, Vanderkam concludes. “You’re not going to waste that time by failing to think about what you’d like to do with it, and thus losing the weekend to TV, puttering, inefficient e-mail checking and chores. If you don’t have a busy workweek, your weekend doesn’t matter so much. But if you’re going from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day, it certainly does.”

Full article at Forbes

Beat the Monday Blue

In studies conducted with US participants, results have shown that suicides are more likely to occur on Mondays than any other weekday, and not surprisingly, the amount of suicides are the least during weekends. It is also revealed that Monday depresses the most people compared to any other days of the week. Seems like there is a reason behind the term ‘Monday Blues’ after all.

It probably wouldn’t come as a shock to you that a UK research also found that most sick leaves are also taken on Mondays. As to why Monday is a particularly moody day, well, it’s pretty obvious that we’d end up a bit down when returning to work, especially after a fun and rested weekend. In reality though, the real reason may be more than meets the eye.

It turns out that Monday Blues could be a case of biological emotional cycles that determine our ‘biological’ moods. In other words, it’s not the negative feelings we have of going back to work that’s making us blue, but periodic mood shifts that go by the week. Fortunately for us, there are a few simple things we can do to help minimize the ill effects of Monday Blues.

1. Have Something To Look Forward To On Monday Nights

What is it that keeps you going from Monday ’til Friday? Weekends! You’d probably be thinking about the weekend getaway with your buddies, daydreaming about the sea breeze and the golden sandy beaches that awaits your arrival; no doubt these thoughts would help make the time pass faster.

The same theory thus, should also apply to your Mondays. Plan something for after work so that you have something to look forward to. Monday is probably just the start of a hard week ahead, so you deserve an exciting event at the end of the day to motivate you while you work.

If you feel that you’d be too exhausted for a night out, consider doing something at home; something relaxing. Taking a long bath while indulging in soothing music and a homemade aromatherapy session should lessen the stress you are facing at work or after a long weekend, partying.

If you make it a habit to go home to relax every Monday evening, sooner or later you’d not see each Monday as a taxing day. Rather, it will become the day that you’ll long for. Monday doesn’t have to be the most painful day of the week; it is only so, if you focus on it.

2. Prepare Monday’s Work On Friday

This one seems like common sense, but people don’t seem to heed it. It is a case of instant gratification versus delayed gratification. Yes, Friday is the day when we can finally say take a breather and count down to the weekend. But in reality, some of us have already ‘closed shop’ by midday, and simply thinking about plans for the weekends.

The result? We leave Friday’s work to pick up on Monday,and we face a double whammy when we return to work after the weekend.

I suggest that you bring the coming Monday’s work to this Friday. This will not only minimize the dread you’ll face on Monday mornings, but also keep your mind off work during the weekend. At the very least, if you plan out Monday’s workload on Friday, you’ll feel less overwhelmed come Monday. Planning ahead can help you cope with Mondays and maintain your productivity levels for the rest of the week.

3. Socialize

Humans are social animals. Even if you are an introvert and prefer to keep to yourself most of the time, you still need some social contact once in a while. Engaging in a conversation stimulates the mind enough to actually kick-start it for the day. If you dive straight into your work the moment you reach the office, chances are that your brain is still trying to ‘wake up’. Like a car engine, your brain needs to warm up before it can function optimally.

Other sources would suggest waking up earlier, getting some sunlight, or finding something to laugh about, etc. The idea is to freshen up your mind before you start work, so that you’ll get enough motivation and energy to face yet another demanding Monday.

I suggest socialization here because there’s nothing more invigorating than the exchange of ideas and opinions via conversations. The conversations need not be ‘deep’ in nature; even a simple chat about how the weekend was spent can wake up all your senses and your mind for the day ahead.

4. Re-conceptualize Mondays

This one is a little tricky because it has a lot to do mind over matter. Ask yourself: why does Monday have to be blue? Just because everyone says so? Well, it doesn't have to be. Yes, you should ‘reprogram’ the way you see Monday. Monday may be the day we have to drag our feet back to work after an awesome weekend but if you look at it as the beginning of a great week ahead, the thought can empower you and propel you to a great start.

As it is with other things in life, it is a matter of seeing the glass half empty or half full. You can be overwhelmed with all the duties and deadlines you are in charge of, or you can be enthusiastic about the responsibilities and goals thrown upon you.

If this doesn't work for you, my fifth and final tip, the simplest and most counter-intuitive solution could just be the answer to your Monday woes.

5. Accept It

Monday blues is like a Chinese finger trap; the more you struggle, the tighter it gets. In other words, fighting the blues only makes it worse. The solution to both Monday blues and the finger trap is surprisingly very similar. For the finger trap, you just need to relax your fingers and push them further in. The trap will then loosen and you’ll get your fingers out. As for your Monday blues, just accept that it’s a dreadful day and that you’ll probably feel a bit tired and down.

Think about it: Monday is already a miserable day and you’re still thinking of ways to stop yourself feeling that way? It will only exhaust you further. Why not go with the flow and cope with the stress? Time passes by quickly when you don’t dwell on it.

After awhile you wouldn’t even remember that Mondays are supposed to be blue. It’s just the day after the weekend when we all have to return to work.

How do you cope with your Monday blues? Share your thoughts about the phenomenon and how you cope with the first-day blues in the comments section. Have a great week ahead and Cheers!

Source: HongKiat.com

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18 Ways to be more positive at work

Commute
Listen to  audio books, podcasts or inspirational music on your commute.

Arrive Early
Arrive early and focus on the tasks required today.

Emails
Avoid checking emails first thing. Focus on tasks in hand and periodically check emails through the day.

Time Usage
Are you making the most of your time? Focus efforts on what matters most.

Planning
Schedule your day and set out achievable objectives.

Break Times
Plan breaks into your day to allow recovery and re-focus on your tasks.

Meetings
Walking meetings help focus. Leave the meeting with clear and achievable objectives.

Health & Well Being 
Exercise is proven to reduce stress and the resulting feel good factor can boost your productivity, while leaving you in a healthy mindset

Pace Yourself
Rushing tasks will create more errors that inevitably you will have to re-do.

Be Positive
Infuse positive emotions into your work and colleagues and enjoy the contagious nature.

Support
Share your achievements with others and support the results of colleagues.

Compassion
Remain compassionate to negative colleagues. People are usually negative for a reason.

Collaboration
Never to be afraid to ask for help. Collaborate with others to achieve mutual goals.

Office Politics
Don't get bogged down in office politics. Focus on what is needed to move forward.

Boring Jobs
Bite the bullet and face mind numbing tasks head on.

Criticisms
Understand any criticism aimed at you and use the feedback to improve your work.

Holiday Days
Try different activities on your days off. Variety is the spice of life and leave you in a more positive mood.

Adapt
Business changes to survive. Make sure you are open and adaptable rather than resisting change.