6 Habits That Are Guaranteed to Put You in a Good Mood

It’s a small thing, but a house with fresh blooms just has a way of livening up the space—and your mood. Plus, it doesn’t have to break the bank. Whether it’s one or two stems (minimalist vibes), a bunch of rosemary or a small bouquet of carnations (they’re back in style, seriously), a little goes a long way.

An empty stomach is the biggest bad-mood catalyst. But if your kitchen is filled with healthy, yummy snacks, you can easily avoid a low-blood-sugar-impulse buy that makes you feel yucky. The best way to stay stocked? Pick a day of the week that you always go (we like Sunday) and build it into your schedule.

When you have no time to yourself, you can feel like you’re trapped between other people’s needs. This one can be tough to do when people depend on you (hi, kids), but make time to anchor yourself in your own thoughts. We love waking up early to make coffee and read the paper. It’s amazing how much more grounded you’ll feel.

There’s no better feeling than checking something off your to-do list. Give yourself a bunch of easy wins by making daily checklists and delightfully knocking them off one by one. Paying your electric bill has never felt more satisfying.

It may seem shocking, but there was a time when you didn’t have a cell phone, or a computer, or a cell phone that was a computer…and everything was fine. Disconnecting from the invisible world that’s constantly pulling you in for an hour or two a day will help you feel more present, and help you focus on what’s truly important. (Like that amazing book you’ve been meaning to read for the last three months.)

Whether it’s your work wife, another parent at the park or your dog walker, acknowledging that you’re grateful to those around you with small gestures—a soda, a doughnut, a coffee—spreads the love. They feel better, and you will, too. Is that a smile we see?