When summer rolls around, we find ourselves seeking out a certain type of book – one that’s a fun read, that transports us to another place and goes perfectly with an afternoon by the water (even if that water is just our bathtubs after work). 

If you’ve got a vacation coming up and want some ideas for books for the plane or your beach bag, look no further! These ones come with a stamp of approval from the EveryDay Happy Team. 🙂 

We have a hunch you would do anything for your friends. After all, a good friend is priceless! Friendships are what bring us joy in the good times and comfort in the bad. 

And as much as we need “our people” for community and connection, we also need to find friendship from within — because you’re with you from beginning to end and you’re the one person who will always be there, no matter what.

When you picture your goals, hopes, and dreams in life, do you think, “Yes! I can make it happen!” Or, does your mind go straight to the negative? “Nah, that will never work out.”

Yeah, sometimes we think that way, too. Even the most optimistic people go through negative patches, where it’s hard to find a glimmer of positivity. Especially when you’ve been thrown curveballs, like a job loss, breakup, or an overall bad day. 

If someone asked you, “What’s holding you back from your dreams?” you may be quick to say,  “I don’t have the time,” or “Life gets in the way,” but we have a hunch it might be something else. It might be your fear of the “F” word … Failure.

While we don’t mean to, often we hold ourselves back from going after a big goal or dream because deep-down, we have a fear that things won’t work out. We worry, “What if my plan wasn’t such a good one after all?” or “What if I can’t do all I thought I could?” Sometimes we’re even afraid of what happens if we succeed.

Happy Earth Day! Today, we’re feeling inspired to take extra care of Mother Earth. After all, it’s our home, and now especially, it needs our help. 

It’s easy to feel helpless when thinking about climate change and the massive changes that need to happen to turn things around – but try to fight that feeling! There are so many things each of us can do that can have a big impact. 

Here are five small things that you, (yes, you!) can start doing today that over time, will help us all have cleaner water and air, and less waste.

While we’d love every Friday to be joyous (and every day for that matter!) life happens, and we’re bound to encounter stormy days and low moments where wearing a smile on your face doesn’t come naturally. 

But even though melancholy moods and flat-out bad days happen, there are real, positive things you can do to feel even a tiny bit better. (Of course, if you feel especially down, it’s always a good idea to seek help!) 

Here are five of our favorite ways to lift your spirits on gloomy days.

It’s easy to start the year off with high spirits and ambitious goals, but then get so caught up in the day-to-day that you lose focus of what you want to accomplish. We’re now officially one-quarter of the way through this year and whether the weeks are flying by, or you can’t believe it’s only April, each and every one of us can benefit from a little self-check-in. 

So pour a cup of coffee or glass of wine and take a moment this weekend to connect with Y-O-U and what you want to achieve in 2022.

When you were little, do you remember the rush you’d get when you rolled down a grassy or snowy hill or slid down a slide? Most of us haven’t felt that rush in a while. Whether it’s because we’re too busy, we’ve forgotten how, or we’re not in the mood, “fun” gets put on the backburner. 

But fun isn’t just for kids — it’s crucial for adults too. When we’re having fun, we release stress and live in the moment. We step away from the heaviness and mundane and create more joy and ease in our day. 

There’s a lot going on in the world, and you take on a lot too. With that comes a huge mental load. A heavy mental load can make us feel exceptionally overwhelmed and anxious, and be a serious drain on your energy and happiness.

That’s why today we’re sharing five ways to lighten your mental load, so you can experience more joy and ease in your every day.