This is one in a series of monthly articles from Gretchen Rubin’s book: The Happiness Project
To launch the new year and my happiness project, I decide to focus on
boosting my energy. More vitality, I hoped would make it easier for me to stick to all my happiness-project resolutions in the future months … Outer order, I hoped would bring inner peace. What’s more, I needed to clear away metaphorical clutter; I wanted to cross tasks off my to-do list. … Studies show that by acting as if you feel more energetic, you can become more energetic.
I get it! Energy or having energy is the driving force behind so many areas of our life. Without it, we cannot move forward — at least not in the physical realm.
Gretchen picked some areas where she desired to make changes to increase her vitality:
- Go to sleep earlier: Near bedtime, she suggests to stop working to slow the mind; dim the lights and turn the heat down. A few light stretches also help prepare the body for sleep.
- Exercise better: It is widely accepted that regular exercise boosts energy levels.
- Toss, restore, organize: Eliminating clutter cuts down housework by 40%. Sorting and either throwing away or giving away things you no longer need is exhilarating! Try the “one-minute rule”: Whatever tasks that could be done in less than one minute, get done immediately. For example, filing away a document, putting the clothes in the hamper, etc.
- Tackle a nagging task: Often, the most difficult part of doing a task is just deciding to do it and getting started.
- Act more energetic: Act the way you want to feel. “Fake it till you feel it” is very effective.
So which areas resonate with you, calling you to act on? For me, it is ‘exercise better’. I tend to be a bit of a couch potato (or computer chair potato?!) — especially in the wintertime. I am going to incorporate exercising better with acting more energetic because they seem to go hand-in-hand for me!
Who will join me along the way to creating more vitality this month?
One thought on “January Happiness Project: Vitality”