Attitude is everything in my business…in my personal life…and, frankly, in everything I do. I believe my positive attitude is my superpower! And I know it begins with my habit of starting each morning saying, “Today is gonna be a great day!”
While launching every day in a positive manner will inevitably boost your mood, there are plenty of things you can do all throughout the day to help contribute to a better sense of overall well-being for yourself. Here are a few of my favorite tips:
Listen to Some Good Music—and Dance!
We’re always afraid that someone might be watching, aren’t we? But sometimes, the best thing you can do is put on your favorite playlist, pop in your headphones, turn it up as loud as it will go and just take the time to enjoy some good music.
I recommend that you have different playlists for different things. My airplane playlist, for instance, is soothing and helps me relax and even sometimes fall asleep. My running playlist is high energy—for when I want to dance in the street while I’m exercising. I even have a “bad mama jama” playlist for when I’m prospecting. The songs boost my attitude and put me in an energizing mood. I’m forever adding new songs to my playlists as well. Keep your ears open for tunes that make you happy (and send me your favorite songs, too!).
Take Time for Laughter
Kids laugh a lot more than adults do. We should spend more time laughing! I suggest having your go-to YouTube video, movie, sound bite or favorite comedian on standby for this purpose.
If you want to have a good day, you need to make sure it includes laughter. To that end, also work on spending more time with the people that bring you joy. Alternately, you could get a dog, because mine is essentially bottled joy.
Find a New Adventure
We get so set in our routines that we forget to break the habit do something we’ve never done before. One of the things Shane and I like to do is park in a random neighborhood and go for a walk. If you live in a big city, go park somewhere new and just get out and start walking. You never know what kind of adventures you’ll find by doing something a little out of the ordinary and breaking your routine.
With my career, I live a lot of my life on the road, so I have to work hard to never make it feel like I’m just “traveling.” There are a few things I do to turn my business trips into “mini-vacations”:
- I never eat dinner in the hotel; I always ask for recommendations to good local restaurants, and
- I try to do what the locals do—like finding a local park for my run instead of using the treadmill in the hotel gym.
I personally like to avoid chain restaurants in general, and I find that Yelp is a great way to find new adventures (or TripAdvisor, when outside the U.S.). Inspiration for new experiences can come from anywhere though. For instance, any time Shane and I see a food show where they’re making something we’ve never made or had before, we’ll go find that type of restaurant somewhere so we can try it. Open yourself up to something new!
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
We simply do not put enough emphasis on the importance of getting a good night’s sleep! The more you’re getting a good night’s sleep, the better off you’re going to be. Experts say that we should get between 7-8 hours of sleep per night, but people never do, do they? It’s because we don’t set ourselves up for success by having restful routines. If you have a tough time getting going each day, you may find that a purposeful nighttime routine can be just as important as a healthy morning routine.
I suggest you turn off your electronics at night. Set an alarm for what time you’re going to start getting ready for bed and create that downtime for yourself so that you can get a good night’s sleep. Have a cup of tea, take a hot shower, read a good relaxing fiction book…whatever works for you.
Hug Someone!
I was watching a program on Superbowl Sunday a few years ago where a superfan approached Joe Namath and asked to shake his hand. Instead, Joe opened his arms wide and said, “Hugs are healthy—may I, please?” And it was just so cool to see Joe Namath—a sports legend—realizing how healthy hugs are and understanding the value of giving someone a hug.
I personally try to hug two people per day (aside from my husband). We don’t realize how important it is to just touch someone. And of course, some people don’t want physical contact and the thought of hugging two people a day would make them panic. But if you’re not one of those people, this is one of the best ways to improve your mood.
So hug your friends at work, hug your family, hug your neighbors. When you see people, instead of just waving or shaking their hand, give them a hug. HUGS. ARE. HEALTHY. If Broadway Joe can be a hugger, you can too!
A good attitude can make all the difference in how you face your work (and your life in general). By employing these five simple suggestions, I think you’ll find your days instantly brighter and your mood greatly improved.
Until next time—go sell some stuff!
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