The Diaries Of A Sweaty Girl

So recently we moved to Indiana while my husband pursues his dream in dental school and I am so, so proud of him! However, sometimes it's hard because my day-to-day life is determined by me. 

Let me explain. I work from home and have a dog that I love, but being in a new place and staying at home the majority of the time, I have to really determine how my day is going to go. I have had hard days when I am not in the best mood, but I have found that when I do these four things that I am automatically put in a better mood for the day. 

1. Exercise

Now I know what you may be thinking: everyone talks about exercise. But it doesn't have to be hard core-- just getting out and walking. I like to take my dog for a walk because I feel like I'm getting out of the house, taking in the weather and becoming healthier. If someone could sell exercise in a pill, they would be rich because exercise has so many positive outcomes. It releases endorphins that make you feel happier and lifts depression, it calms anxious nerves, it clears one's mind and it makes you look better as well which boosts your confidence. So get out and boost your mood!

2. Create a "Happy" Playlist

I have made a "happy" playlist on my Spotify and it's crazy what it can do for your mood! Anytime that I'm recognizing I'm feeling down, I put that playlist on with a bunch of feel-good songs and it automatically boosts my spirit! 

3. Focus on ONE thing you want to get done that day

I used to overwhelm myself with big lists that I needed to get done everyday. I would wake up and be completely anxious with everything I had to do. I started choosing just one project a day I was going to focus on instead of the list of things that I knew I needed to get done throughout the week. Just think of the biggest thing you need to get done today. The other day for me it was laundry. I had put it off for days and it had piled up. So I said, "Today that is what I am going to get done." The motivation to do other things will follow but it will give you such a sense of accomplishment for what you have done instead of focusing on the million other things you didn't get to. 

4. Gratitude Journal

This one is easy! I started a gratitude journal a few years ago and it has changed my days completely! Even if I had a rough day, at the end of the day I write down 5 good things that happened that day. Sometimes they're as simple as, "I got the laundry done today". This will quickly help you realize truly how good life is. 

Now go out and have a better day!!!

Hope these help!! What are some things you do to have a better day?

Xoxo, 

Emmaline 

Recently, while talking to my mom, I realized a big problem that we have in our world today, specifically in this era. That is the fact that we are not truly living our lives. We are often consumed and living based on what other people think, receiving unsatisfying, and short lasting false senses of happiness. No, you may not think so -- but then again, either did I.

My Senior year of high school I was tired. Engulfed in a world of a million different things, people and ideas, I was "happy"-- but not truly happy. I realized that I was living my life at the will of other people and other things. Now I don't know if that is because of my own traits, things that happened in my life, or because of having hyperhidrosis, but I found that there was no one to blame but myself. I found that pleasing other people was making me despondent, without even realizing it. It wasn't until the end of that year, when I finally said, "no" to someone, that I realized I had been taken advantage of by others, but mostly by myself. My lifelong tendencies to please other people finally became recognizable, and I decided to make the most out of my life.

Coming out to college I developed more of a back bone, free to do what I wanted to do with my life, and what made me happy.

However, a few weeks ago, without realizing, I had fallen back into the trap. Dealing with the recent breakup was fine, but it wasn't until the other day that I contemplated my happiness and realized why I wasn't the happiest I could be: I was living my life for other people. Trying to gain a sense of "happiness"-- but it was fake, and unsatisfying. I decided then and there to make a change. 

Project: Happiness, I thought.

I began to write fiercely, sweat dripping down my palms, channeling my emotions into something good. Making myself better. I made a list. Goals, if you will. Things that make me truly happy. Things I want to accomplish here at the university, in my religion, with my family, my health, and with my friends. 

Then I made a schedule. I filled up my day with things that were just for me and my truest happiness and took out the things that weren't.

Instead of Facebook, I scheduled in reading a book or talking a walk. Spending just a little more time in my religious studies. Taking the time I would be watching TV or tweeting, to calling a friend or a family member, or writing a note and expressing my love for them. Importantly, I created spending more time on campus, learning, studying, growing. I began to leave my phone at home, simplifying my life, and call me old fashion but guess what? It has been SO nice. I have found I am able to focus more and be more in the moment with people and myself.

I realized in this life changing moment, that I could live for myself, and not for others. Now don't misunderstand. Living for others is different than living for yourself to then give of yourself to others. This is crucial to progress. We must be our own converts to happiness first.

I realized that everything we do in our lives is too often based on what other people think, trying to impress others, and creating this false sense of "happiness" that becomes a viscous cycle and actually binds us, not letting us live. Think about why we do the things we do, and why we say the things we say. Think about technology: why do we post on Facebook? To get recognized? Do we want to impress someone else? Or are we looking at other people's lives, comparing ourselves, and then feel the constant need to post about our own lives, to get the reaction or attention from the world. In breakups- are we trying to "bump into" our ex? Post on twitter to have them think we've "moved on" or that we are "so happy". We are living for something else. People involved deeply with drugs, alcohol, eating disorders-- these are all false senses of happiness, that never last.

These things do not bring us true happiness.

Today I challenge you all to do more of what makes you truly happy. If that's starting completely over, simply not bringing your phone to dinner, making more good use of your time, waking up a little earlier, make progress toward the things you REALLY want in life. After all, it's yours. And it can be GREAT. Don't let the world or other's tell you otherwise.

Today, I challenge you to live.

Thank you for reading.

Sweaty and Hawt.