Improve your mood, even in these crazy times

Want to get out of that funk you're feeling? Anxiety, sadness, fatigue got you stuck?

With everything going on in this world happiness seems to be a daily struggle for many people. Including me!

I find myself feeling lost and worried about where this world is going. It's hard to avoid being bombarded with negative these days. But with a little effort I promise you can get away from it and improve your energy!

Humans are not meant to know everything bad going on everywhere in the world. Our minds (and souls) can only handle so much each day. When big things happen it is nearly impossible to avoid getting sucked into it. Like the most recent big story, Charlie Kirk getting shot and killed. Regardless off how you feel about who he is, no one deserves to be shot and killed. Period. Now everything you turn on is plastered with hate. Either hate for him and his supporters or hate for those against him. It's on the news and social media. Everywhere you go you hear people saying his name. It's literally impossible to avoid.

In times like these I have one sure fire ways to reset my mind, soul and emotions.

When I am really feeling the effects of something going on, I take some time, can be as little as 5-10 minutes, doing something that makes me happy. My go to is gardening, playing with Zeke, watching a funny show, movie or dog videos, or or painting furniture. You can read, exercise, play with your kids or pets, etc. It doesn't matter what that thing is, do it! You'll find after just a few minutes you are more relaxed and not consumed by the darkness. In time you'll start to realize you don't need to be consumed by what's going on in the world to feel informed.

If you feel overwhelmed by everything going on, I have a challenge for you. Turn off the news and get off social media! I don't watch the news, EVER! And you know what? I don't feel like I am missing out. I'm not saying don't stay up on what's going on in the world, I'm simply challenging you to limit your exposure. I know people who turn on the news in the morning and leave it on all day playing in the background of their life. Listening to the news all day is one of the most unhealthy addictions a person can have. No matter what news source you have!

So, if you're one of these people I'm talking about, please test it out for yourself! For one week, limit your exposure to the news. Chose 30 (or even 60) minutes per day to get caught up, THEN TURN IT OFF! You won't get new news by having it on all day. They just repeat the same stories over and over.

If you really want to improve your overall mental health and wellbeing, don't watch the news at all! I avoid it without being completely checked out by subscribing to 1440. I get it in my email every day. It includes all the big news, without the opinions! Just the facts. There are links if you choose to dig deeper into a story. Or you can get the bullet points only. There's stories on sports and entertainment and good things happening in the world. I read it, then move on with my day. (I don't get paid for sharing this) https://join1440.com/

I would love to hear from you about what you do to keep from getting sucked into the darkness everyday. Sharing with each other about how we boost our moods is the best way we can live in this world together. Imagine a world where we spread joy and happiness as quickly as we spread fear and darkness...