5 Dolce Vita Tips to Spring into Happiness!

Photo by Hannah Summers of ’italmacro’

As Spring begins to decorate the earth’s canvas with fresh lime-colored sprouts and blushing purple buds, I want you to take equal care to decorate the beautiful canvas of your own life, by giving it a much deserved boost of joy. Let me give you some ways to make Spring of ‘O7 a brand new start on the road of personal happiness. Here are five important lifestyle modifications, which you can commit to at the rate of one per day, to see some phenomenal changes in your life as you continue to practice them week after week:

1. Get Active. Winter brings lethargy and sedentary seclusion. I want you to purposefully do the opposite for six weeks. Get up, get out, and get moving. Go out dancing, fast walking with friends, prepping the garden, going on community hikes. Balance your energy and beat off the blues with activity!

2. Put it in Order. That’s right—either throw out the clutter or put everything in its place. Your choice, but you do NOT have the option of letting it drag your energy down from here on in. You’ll see how much clearer your mind gets when you simplify your surroundings.

3. Write the Worries Down and Get some Zzzz’s! As one who has had my share of worrywart middle-of –the nights, I can tell you this one works. Keep a little spiral worry notebook on the table next to your bed, and whenever your nightmares threaten to rob you of your much needed beauty sleep, outsmart them by writing your worrisome thoughts down, and promising you’ll get back to them in the calm light of day. This ritual relaxes the mind and lets you drift back off.

4. Socialize Big Time. The number one predictor of happiness and well-being isn’t money, Honey—its feeling connected to other people. And it’s never too late to make new friends, even if you have been living the life of a semi-hermit up until now. I like to tell my clients to start a “regular ritual”, for example at a café that you can frequent the same time each afternoon, giving you a chance to gradually get familiar with the other regulars.

5. Put HAPPINESS First! Molto importante if you want to be happy, it has to be a priority in your life. Most of us don’t think we deserve happiness and so we barely put it at the forefront of our agendas. No time like the present, and here is how: whenever you feel negative emotions, switch over immediately to different, more positive thought. Think of a person you love, a recent great time you had with friends, or the compliment your boss gave you just the other day. Hold on to that thought until the darker thought dissipates. It will. And the next time you feel gloomy, repeat the process until it become second nature.

Visit the website of Dr. Raeleen D'Agostino, Ph.D. for more about living la dolce vita.

Raeleen D’Agostino Ph.D