If you are an early morning riser - what tips do you use?

I truly believe that happiness is a choice. It might sound strange, but during those times in our lives where happiness is no where to be seen, i believe that we have to take the time to make happiness happen. It takes a conscious effort, and while that can sometimes feel exhausting, it can also be very rewarding.  So lately i have been thinking about those little things in life that i can do make a difference in my day and i thought it would be fun to share those on here.…

It’s all kinds of lovely to get praise from the people around you- but you don’t have to wait around! Sometimes I don’t realize that my internal monologue has been dragging me down until I check it with a few moments of encouragement. It’s a tiny way to start working on changing your world view to be a little kinder, because if you struggle with trusting and valuing yourself it’s really hard to extend those things to others. Even if it feels silly at first, imagine what would your world look like if every time you poured yourself coffee or brushed your teeth, you reminded yourself of some of the natural gifts you posses just by waking up and being yourself?



Sometimes the daily grind can wear through your imagination, which makes it harder to be a creative problem solver and to pinpoint the fun that can be had in an every day situation. A fun way to bring yourself back to a creative place is to create backstories for everyone you cross paths with. Maybe your bus driver is cranky because she was out late with her drag king friends the night before and lost the papers to her 1964 Plymouth after a tense game of mini golf. Maybe your new manager is raising her lover’s baby after he was killed in a tragic storm chasing accident, making her huge cyclone back tattoo now more bittersweet than ever. Who are you to say these things aren’t going on? It’s a fun game, I promise.
Having a great guilty pleasure is amazing, and it can be anything from leaving work to have lunch alone in a quiet place and listen to podcasts to having a day a week when you get into your PJs as soon as your day is over and watch a great chick flick. My own personal list has been rather lacking as of late....its mainly consisted of watching reruns of Glee songs. And it doesnt matter if no one else understands it, as long as you revel in it - It totally counts.


We all have our specific insecurities, but sometimes they’re things that we’ve held onto for so long that they don’t really make sense anymore. Try choosing one of the things that really scares you – a “people will think I’m weird if I _________” kind of thing, and then be the weird kid for an afternoon. Wear that dress you never make it out the door in, strike up a conversation with a stranger, do your grocery shopping without make up, ask a cute boy for his number… whatever it is that you shy away from? Try owning that part of your inner weird kid in an out loud, public way for an afternoon. The world might turn out to be kind, you might turn out to be strong, or it could just be an afternoon of quiet bravery. Either way I bet it will be a great story.



It’s easy to complement someone on what they’re wearing, but it takes a lot more guts to tell someone you admire how they approach life with a sense of humor, or that their selflessness makes you think about ways you could try to be more like them. It’s easy to fall into the habit of addressing surface level things- and don’t get me wrong, there’s a place for that – but it’s refreshing and surprising when you tell someone what you appreciate in their character. I love looking for opportunities where I can stop being polite in favour of telling people what they mean to me. Try it out, it might be your new addiction too.

So please share what things you do to make you happy....Let's create a list!

I thought i would share some tips with you guys on some strategies that i have been putting together to try to help me with this journey. I have collected these from several different sites and books over the past few months.

1. Be Consistent
So i know that this, all on its own, is very difficult. But in order to achieve something, whatever it is, you have to be consistent. You have to exercise consistently, eat healthy consistently, drink water consistently. Tough but true.

2. Focus on what you can do daily
Its the small steps that help you reach your big goals. Try finding one thing you can do a day or a week and stick with it. Be it to eat your 5 a day or simply to stick to your points - pick something and focus on it.

3. Start Small
Something that is small we can do. Something that is huge and overwhelming is a lot more difficult! So, start small and keep it small. And remember, its those small steps and small goals that add up to the big one!

4. Write it down
Or tell someone who you can be accountable to. That is the purpose ( or at least part of the purpose) for my blog.

5. Don't be afraid to try something new
We get board easily. If you don't try something new you might slip back into old habits. Try a new exercise class, a new recipe or a new vegetable. Just keep it fresh!

6. Don't expect too much
We all face set backs. Life is full of them so BE PREPARED. If you are lucky enough not to have come across one yet, then don't dispare. At some point you will. Expect them to arrive at some point, have a plan and carry on.

7. Stick with it
When you do have those setbacks, those bad weeks, then above all else STICK WITH IT. If your plan has been working for the past five weeks and now you have had two weeks of staying the same or even a gain, don't worry. Stick with it.

8. Have Fun
Who wants to do anything that is horrible. So keep with it make sure that you are having fun. Get the family or friends involved, try something new. Have fun.