Your Calm Friend? She’s Doing This …

So far this year, there’s no shortage of things to be stressed about (we could list them out, but really, who wants to read that?!). And while we wish we could wave a magic wand and get rid of everything that’s stressing us out, it’s just not possible (that letter from Hogwarts never did come …).  But what we can do is work on managing our stress and feeling calm, even when life gets chaotic. The best way we’ve found? Meditating. Meditation has been shown to reduce stress hormones and help you feel calm and focused. It can even help with physical signs of stress like tension headaches, high blood pressure and insomnia. Lots of people (including us!) have been using it for years to help deal with everything life throws at us.  But like any new habit, meditating can feel challenging to start and stick with. So if you want to give it a try but aren’t sure where to begin, we have some help:  Start with an app. One of the easiest ways to begin is with guided meditation, and apps like Headspace, Calm or Healthy Minds Program (a free one!) offer plenty of options. Just plug in your headphones and let the app lead you. From there you can always develop your own meditation practice, or keep going with their guided sessions, whatever works best for you. Give yourself time. It’s possible you’ll feel some improvements after your first meditation, but realistically it takes at least a few sessions to notice a difference in your stress and mindset. Commit to meditating for at least 10 minutes a day for at least 10 days and hold yourself to it. After that initial time, you can evaluate how you’re feeling and whether you want to make changes to your routine.  Get an accountability buddy. True, meditating is generally a solo activity, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get support from a friend. If someone you know is also interested in getting started, make a pact to check in on each other and offer encouragement. You could have a daily text, “Finished your meditation yet?” and share what’s working for you or any struggles you’re having along the way. Go ahead and share this post with a friend or two to see if they want to be your accountability buddy. Stressful situations will always pop up in our lives (think how boring things would be if they didn’t!), but with meditating you’ll be better prepared to handle that stress and stay cool, calm and collected.  Here’s to less stress and more calm! XO, Emily and the EveryDay Happy Team   Quote du jour “To experience peace does not mean that your life is always blissful. It means that you are capable of tapping into a blissful state of mind amidst the normal chaos of a hectic life.” ― Jill Botte Taylor Read and Listen to More Like This  7 Ways to Relax When You’re Not Used to It How to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed and Start Feeling Fulfilled The Secret to Better Sleep How to Live With Intention in 2022 10 Rules For A Happy Life   *We love all of our picks, and if you make a purchase, we may get a little something back. Thanks for your support!  

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Why it’s Time to Try Something New

Why it’s Time to Try Something New

How long has it been since you tried something new? 

Whether it’s walking into a new fitness class, signing up for language lessons, trying out a new hobby or activity, or even attempting to cook a new meal, breaking from routine and trying something new makes us come alive. 

Trying new things makes us step outside of our comfort zone (which isn’t always easy!). But doing so not only spices up our day, but reminds us of just how capable we are.

Why Boundaries Are a Good Thing

Why Boundaries Are a Good Thing

Most of us are good people and enjoy making others happy. We like saying “yes” to what people ask of us and overall try to be pleasing. (After all, we’re human and want to be helpful and liked!) So, it can feel natural to drop what we’re doing, lose sleep, and turn our schedules upside down to accommodate others. 

The problem? Sometimes when we say “yes,” especially to the same people, again and again, we find ourselves doing things that don’t actually work for us, bending over backward, and ultimately feeling resentment, regret, and even taken advantage of. 

How to Get the Most out of Your Mornings

How to Get the Most out of Your Mornings

Do you wake up refreshed and ready to take on the day? Or does your morning routine feel more like something you schlep through until you take that first sip of heavenly coffee?

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How to Be Grateful When Life Feels Hard

How to Be Grateful When Life Feels Hard

When life feels especially hard, or we’re just trying to get through the day, it can be challenging to see all the good that’s happening around us. Or worse, it can feel like there isn’t anything good.

You may already know the benefits that come from practicing gratitude, but even with all the good it does, during tough times, it’s easy to fall off the gratitude wagon and to focus on everything you don’t have vs. all that you do.