I’ve been feeling a bit like I’m not myself. I’m trying to be positive and upbeat, but I can feel myself getting easily annoyed, having a short fuse or saying things that I don’t mean (although it could also be from still catching up on sleep from World Cup victory parties). The daily grind. This couldn’t describe better my commute, work, gym routine. It’s much more challenging and difficult it is from what it used to be. The new normal.

So, when I got home Tuesday night, I browsed through my various self-help books and pulled out “365 days of happiness”–a book that has “instant happiness boosters” for every day of the year. I flipped to July 15: Buy flowers for yourself. Not needing to be told twice, this is already on my checklist for the weekend.

July 16: Make a list of ways you are spending your time and money. Then, make a list of things your heart is longing for. See if the two match, and if they don’t, figure out how can you bring them closer together.

I love lists almost as much as I love self-help books.

Time and money
Work
Train
Gym
Getting settled in apartment

Heart is Longing For
Outdoors
Friendship
Helping Others
De-stressing
Feeding my spirit

I decided to test it out on Wednesday to see if adding some small changes could instantly boost my happiness and change my attitude.

I woke up ten minutes early and did some sun salutations and yoga stretches in my living room. The long, bright windows make me feel like I’m outside as I bend and breathe and twist.

I made a daily affirmation to smile at everyone. Every day, I go on my way, not looking at the faces of others I pass. Everyone else looks down or at their phone too. So many people passing each other, but making no connection. And it’s amazing how contagious a smile can be.

I put on my “pumped up” playlist full of songs that always pump me up.

When I got to work, I asked my co-worker about the walking trail nearby. Instead of eating lunch in the cafeteria, I went on a walk through the woods. And I can’t believe I didn’t ask about this trail sooner! It was such a great way to have a mid-day mind clear.

Instead of my normal train home, that is usually crowded and hot and slow, and annoys me beyond belief at the end of a long day, I opted for another train. Although this one requires me to walk a bit more, it was much more pleasant to ride on, and it eased my nerves immensely.

I found that a few small tweaks, along with opening my eyes to my interactions with others, made me so much happier. By the time I made it to German class and my walk home after, I was smiling, humming, literally almost dancing down the street….smelling in the scents of flowers, smiling at strangers.

I’m not saying I’ll be like this every day, but I definitely think just making a couple of small changes in my monotonous daily routine helped when I needed them. Adapting is a continual process, so I’m sure even my pumped up playlist, new train route and walking trail will get stale someday. Then I will find new alternatives.

As for helping others: Researching volunteer organizations is my first to-do when I get Internet.

I read today’s happiness booster before I went to bed last night. July 17: write, call or reach out to an old friend. Funny, when I had gotten home, I had written letters to a couple of people. Hopefully they will get an instant happiness boost when they get my letters soon!