YOUR “HAPPY” BASKET: DISCOVERING WHAT’S IN YOUR “HAPPY BASKET” AND MAKING SURE IT’S FULL

Depending on how you’re using the word “happy” it can have many meanings; the oxford dictionary describes “happy” as feeling or showing pleasure or contentment, having a sense of trust or confidence (in a person, arrangement or a situation), satisfied with the quality or standard of, willing to do something…. Among various others

Regardless of how you use the word “happy” or what you are describing at that moment as “happy” there are commonalities to this word, to this feeling… it is a descriptive word we use when we are content, pleased, confident, trusting, satisfied…when we are fulfilled and feeling “whole”, when we are feeling at peace with ourselves and our environment.

Our “happy” is influenced by many things; it is influenced by our physical feeling of wellness, it is influenced by our mental feeling of wellness and it is influenced by our spiritual feeling of wellness…. And all of these in turn are influenced by many factors, for example:

Our physical and mental feeling of wellness is influenced by factors such as:

Our dietary intake and how well we are nourishing our body; giving it all of the vital nutrients and minerals it needs to function at it’s best
Our activity level; ensuring that we are moving, exercising and getting our heart pumping
Our sleep hygiene; ensuring that we are getting adequate, good quality sleep to allow our body, and our mind to relax, recover and rejuvenate
Our feeling of accomplishment and enjoyment; everything from work and school to hobbies and recreation time

Our Spiritual feeling of wellness is influenced by factors such as:

Our feeling of closeness and connectedness with family and friends
Our feeling of connectedness to our environment, to nature
Our feeling of connectedness to “ourselves” and where we are in this current “moment” in our lives

Our physical wellness is influenced by our mental and spiritual wellness and our mental and spiritual wellness is influenced by our physical wellness; with one being dependent on the other and each individually being dependant on our dietary and lifestyle habits and routines.

So in order to foster your own “happy” you have to make sure that you know what’s in your “happy basket” and that it’s full! It’s important to ensure that your “happy basket” is full of what is going to foster your physical, your mental and your spiritual wellness.

Take a moment to take an inventory of your “happy basket”…. Toss out what’s not influencing your “happy” and toss in more of what may foster your “happy”, such as:

A well BALANCED dietary plan, ensuring that your body is receiving all of the vital nutrients it needs for optimal health and wellness. It’s important to incorporate all of the following into your well BALANCED dietary routine:
Carbohydrates (complex)
Proteins (complete)
Vitamins
Minerals
Good quality drinking water
Healthy fats and Essential Fatty Acids
Fibre

* knowing when you may need to add supplementations into your routine and how to do so safely is also vital to your optimal health and wellness

Make good quality and adequate sleep a priority; set a bedtime, relax before bedtime, empty your thoughts and “to do list” on a piece of paper before bedtime.

A good collection of effective stress management techniques; find what works best for you and be sure to incorporate them into your daily routine. Whether it be a nice warm relaxing bath at the end of a long day, an early morning walk or jog, a good workout at the gym, mediation or yoga or an afternoon spent with your favourite person …. Discover those healthy and effective strategies that work best for you

Finding that nice work/life BALANCE. Making sure that you are setting those boundaries and limits… leaving “work at work” and fully enjoying your home and family time

Making time for the things you love, giving yourself the time to read, write, create, design, build, garden, volunteer, travel …whatever it is that BALANCES you

So take an inventory of your “happy basket” and start filling it up with your “happy”!!

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