I’ve been a fairly organized person my whole life, so it wasn’t until recently that I realized how it has had a positive effect on my overall happiness. While spontaneity can contribute to spikes in happiness, actually taking the time to plan things can keep those happiness levels strong and steady! Whether it’s work, school or day-to-day life, setting aside time to do a specific task makes it more likely that it will get done and will, in turn, make your life a whole lot simpler.When you plan ahead for things, it can alleviate stress and tension throughout your day. 1 I suggest having a planner or writing down what your plans are somewhere to keep yourself organized; it’s nice to have it all in one place. When my planner is organized I feel like I can take on the world! Knowing what you have to do in advance and organizing a time to do it makes whatever task you have ahead seem totally manageable. You got this!2
Here are a few things I like to plan out?
- Set out my clothes for the next day: Every night before I go to bed, I give myself a few minutes to choose an outfit for work the next day. This makes my mornings quicker and easier because I don’t have to think about what to wear. I just grab my outfit I laid out the night before and I’m good to go!
- ‘Me’ time: I always, always, always make sure I have time in my busy times just for myself. As a naturally introverted individual, I recharge during my alone time. Since I work all day around people, making sure I have my ‘me’ time each day is essential to my happiness.
- Make meal plans: Cooking at home is so much easier when you know what you want to make ahead of time. When I don’t have a meal plan written out for myself, I tend to just pick up the phone and order take-out. Planning out my meals keeps them healthier, and allows me to save money I would otherwise be spending on take-out!
Taking a little more control of your life allows you to thoroughly enjoy each moment. Planning might not sound like the most exciting way to boost your happy levels, but it is certainly effective!
Article Sources:
1http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/10-simple-habits-help-you-become-happier.html
2http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/5-reasons-why-taking-extra-time-to-plan-each-day-will-make-y.html