7 Benefits of a Successful Multi Generational Household. In this day and age, we are seeing more and more multi generational households, and they are thriving. It can be a difficult transition though, but also has a multitude of benefits. It is something that can create beautiful memories that will last a lifetime, and keep those we have lost alive through those memories and traditions. 

I have a cake recipe that belonged to my husband’s grandmother, Una, and it has been passed down through four generations after her. Which means that her memory still lives on, long after she is gone. Creating a thriving multi generational household can do the exact same thing, and help so many people. 

When three generations share a roof, you get a mosaic of experience, energy, and expectation. There’s a grandfather teaching his grandson how to sharpen a chisel. A daughter coaching her mother through a smartphone update. Parents bouncing between childcare and elder care.

It’s beautiful. It’s chaotic. It can work—but only when the home evolves to meet the people in it. Creating harmony in a multigenerational household isn’t about controlling the chaos; it’s about designing for rhythm, responsibility, and respect. It’s about giving the household more than walls and doors—it’s giving it tempo.

Are you ready to learn about the 7 Benefits of a Successful Multi Generational Household? Come on in and let me tell you about them! 

7 Benefits of a Successful Multi Generational Household

Emotional & Social Benefits That Span Generations

Multigenerational living works when it feels less like crowding and more like community. Grandparents aren’t just living in the home—they’re enriching it. Children don’t just witness aging; they form bonds across time. A teenager might hear the same family story told three different ways across three generations, picking up the nuance only memory can offer.

Research has shown that age-integrated communities boost engagement, reduce isolation, and give older adults a renewed sense of purpose. The result? A more emotionally intelligent household, where mutual respect isn’t enforced—it’s modeled daily. Emotional symbiosis happens when every generation feels useful, seen, and heard. That kind of intergenerational glue sticks harder than any home design feature.

Lower the Pressure with Smart Systems

With three generations relying on the same HVAC, the same fridge, the same water heater—failure isn’t a nuisance; it’s a crisis. That’s where smart planning intersects with stress prevention. And that’s why the importance of home warranties explained in real-world terms becomes clear: they cut tension at the source. It’s not about replacing a part—it’s about preserving peace.

If the boiler goes, the fight doesn’t have to. When systems break and coverage steps in, blame and panic don’t take over the room. That’s not just good for the appliances—it’s peace of mind with paperwork. And in a house with 3, 4, or even 5 adults managing life together, that kind of insurance is more than policy—it’s protocol.

Financial Resilience Through Resource Sharing 

Pooling budgets isn’t just for cutting costs—it’s about elevating everyone’s baseline. Families who share mortgages, utilities, and groceries see measurable financial uplift. According to one housing model, pooling resources expands buying power, lowers poverty risk, and increases access to better homes in safer areas. This setup also reduces redundancy: one high-quality vacuum instead of three, one Netflix account, one set of lawn equipment.

Parents can invest more in their kids. Retired grandparents can age in place with dignity. And if someone falls on hard times—layoff, injury, divorce—the family net is already built. The house becomes more than a shelter—it becomes a shared strategy for security. In today’s economy, that’s a radical form of stability.

Zoning for Privacy and Accessibility 

Harmony doesn’t mean constant togetherness. In fact, the best multigenerational homes are built on well-marked boundaries. Bedrooms aren’t just for sleeping—they’re retreats. Bathrooms matter more than you think. Shared kitchens should never become conflict zones.

Privacy planning must consider the unspoken tensions: the in-law who prefers solitude, the toddler whose nap can’t be interrupted, the couple needing downtime. Architects who specialize in these builds know that flexible zones protect privacy and mobility, enabling everyone to live with dignity, not just proximity. It’s a logic-first strategy, not a luxury one. And when it’s in place, relationships breathe easier.

Universal Design That Keeps Everyone Moving 

Design must flex for both toddlers and octogenarians, often in the same week. Universal features—like lever handles, lower counters, and smooth, slip-free floors—serve everyone. What seems like a small detail is often the difference between independence and constant assistance.

Picture this: a grandmother recovering from surgery doesn’t have to ask for help reaching a pot; a child doesn’t struggle to open a door. That’s why wider doorways and accessible kitchens make such an impact in daily life. These aren’t medical necessities—they’re design advantages that quietly empower each resident to move freely, safely, and confidently. When you reduce physical friction, emotional ease follows. The house begins to anticipate, not just accommodate.

Design Harmony Encourages Boundaries 

Privacy isn’t just architectural—it’s energetic. A room’s colors, light, and layout communicate who belongs where, and when. Multigenerational homes benefit from subtle signals that help people feel ownership of space without isolation.

The goal isn’t separation—it’s definition. That’s where intentional layout honors autonomy—by letting spaces carry their own cues. A bright breakfast nook can signal the day’s start. A dim-lit corner can say “this is for winding down.” Soundproofing, too, deserves mention—because boundaries aren’t just visual. When design reinforces rhythm, people follow it without friction.

Shared Living That Fosters Connection 

Dinner isn’t just about eating—it’s about grounding. In multigenerational homes, shared meals spark positive norms that ripple into the rest of family life. One dinner might solve three passive-aggressive conflicts. A table full of food tells every generation: “We’re still here, and we still show up.”

The ritual brings tempo, clarity, and a soft landing. These are moments where traditions take root—a favorite dish, a story told every Thursday, an inside joke that survives decades. Even if someone skips the meal, they see the table and feel the offer. Nourishment isn’t just calories—it’s connection, plated.

7 Benefits of a Successful Multi Generational Household Notes 

There’s no perfect template for multigenerational living. But the homes that thrive are the ones designed for breath—not just structure. They flex where needed, reinforce when necessary, and evolve with the people inside. Emotional health, financial resilience, spatial respect, and built-in rituals—that’s the quartet that makes shared living sustainable.

Each design choice, each policy, each daily rhythm adds up to a home that serves instead of strains. One house. Three generations. Infinite opportunities for connection and repair. With the right infrastructure and intention, a multigenerational home isn’t a compromise. It’s a blueprint for a stronger, smarter, softer future.

7 Benefits of a Successful Multi Generational Household Discussion 

Do you live in a multi generational home? What kinds of benefits have you observed? Did you face any unique challenges that you were not expecting? How did you overcome them? What do you recommend to prepare for this kind of household and lifestyle? Let me know your thoughts and experiences in the comments! 

Discover empowering insights and practical tips for every stage of your journey at The Homemaking Wife, where we celebrate and support you in becoming the best woman, wife, and homemaker you can be!

12 Healthy Life Improving Habits are simple and effective ways to start taking real and true control of your life! When you engage in healthy habits, your brain develops an expectation of what will happen and when it will happen. This is a really useful tool to both develop and manage a daily routine that you feel in control of. 

When you are in control of your life, habits, and routine, you are much more able to focus on what is important, accomplish goals, and manage your time effectively. This also allows you to respond to stress and true problems in a much more controlled and productive way. 

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Why are healthy habits essential? Habits shape our attitudes, actions, and decision-making abilities. Habits are small changes that can add up to significant results over time. 

These 12 healthy life improving habits will set a good solid foundation for having a good day everyday and being able to handle the curveballs that life may throw at you. 

Get Up Early 

Allow yourself time to prepare for the day ahead. This gives you time to wake up, enjoy a cup of coffee, and plan the day and what your priorities are without rushing. 

When I feel rushed, I feel out of control, and things don’t run smoothly. This makes me really grumpy, because I’m not honoring my routine and it throws off my day completely. 

Stay Hydrated 

Chances are you are not getting enough water each day! I know that there are times I struggle with this as well. Drinking plenty of water is essential though, because it will help you feel lighter, more clear headed, snack less, and sleep better. 

I love this water bottle. Mine is bright pink, there is no mistaking that it is mine, as it fits my personality. I take it everywhere with me, and I always have ice on hand to fill the bottle, because I love cold water. Knowing these things and my own requirements, like drinking more water if it is super cold, for example, is essential for helping me make sure I’m staying hydrated and not reaching for soda or anything else unhealthy. 

Go for a Walk Every Day 

Getting out for a walk and exercise each day will help you take a break from things, get the blood pumping, and relieve some stress! Just 10-30 minutes per day is enough to make a difference and get you on the road to being healthier! 

You can start slow, and just go for 10 minutes, and work your way to more if you want to. This is a great way to clear your mind, or even focus on creative things. I find when I’m having writer’s block, a good walk will make a difference. 

Plan Meals in Advance 

Planning meals ahead of time is one of the best habits that I can recommend! This is a way to be kind to your waistline and your wallet at the same time. Planning meals means you are not staring at the pantry and trying to find inspiration. Nor are you automatically ordering takeout because it is easy. 

I’ll be the first to admit that I love planning out my meals, and when I forget, I notice! Because I get really irritable with myself for it, and end up just ordering takeout because I’m not only hangry, I’m upset that I failed to plan. 

Adopt a Proper Bedtime 

Having a proper set bedtime will help train your brain to switch off and get a more restful and productive sleep. Pick whatever time works for you, and make it a point to stick to that time every night. 

Having a set bedtime means that you’re allowing yourself to get enough rest each night to wake well in the morning and be more productive. Not getting the proper amount of rest you need can not only ruin your day, it can lead to burnout, and be really harmful to your mental health. 

Plan Your Week Ahead on Sunday 

I am a stickler for my planner and use it daily. The most important time to use it though is on Sunday, because I can look at my week and determine what my priorities are and where my attention needs to be focused. 

I find making a list of tasks and priorities for each day to be essential, then going back to check them off the list as I accomplish each one. Writing things down in my planner, where I have it in black and white, makes me so much more accountable to myself. It means I have no choice but to be honest with myself and really work toward achieving my goals and seeing where my priorities need to be. 

Make Self Care a Priority 

Self care isn’t selfish! Repeat that one out loud with me. You can’t be your best self if you aren’t taking care of yourself. Make your own health and wellbeing a priority, and do so without feeling guilty about it. 

You know the speech flight attendants give about putting your own oxygen mask on before you start to help anyone else? That concept applies to life in general! You can’t help anyone else if you aren’t taking care of yourself first. 

Track Your Spending 

There is nothing worse than getting to the end of the month and wondering where all of your money went. Take control of that by keeping track of your spending, and making yourself accountable. 

The planner I linked to earlier has soooo much room for notes in it, and I often use it to track money on top of everything else. When I pay my bills, if I paid by check, the number. If I pay online, note the confirmation number. This is also a great place to plan meals, or note if I’m eating out so I can pay attention to how often I am. You’ll become a lot more aware of your spending if you’re keeping track of it, and you can make any changes you deem necessary to help save your money. You worked hard for that money, you should know where it is going! 

Cook from Scratch 

I am a stickler for knowing what is in my food, and there is no better way to do that than cooking completely from scratch myself. Choosing fresh over processed and pre-packaged food is not only healthier, it is also much cheaper. 

My favorite recipes are the ones that are made from scratch, but are also simple. I think that is one of the most common myths about homemade food, that it is difficult, time consuming, and expensive to make. But it doesn’t need to be. Simple ingredients prepared well make the best meals. 

Unplug an Hour Before Bed 

Turn off the tv, put your phone down, and any other distractions. Take a bath, read a book, journal, and just relax. Let your body know that it is almost time for bed. 

This will be a huge asset in setting yourself up for a restful quality sleep each night. Sleep is essential to everything we do, let’s maximize the quality of it! 

Journal 

Journaling is an amazing way to get to know yourself better, find out what makes you happy, relieve stress, and keep track of your goals. 

Practice Gratitude 

Learning to practice gratitude is a way to train your mind to focus on the positive things in life instead of the negatives. You’ll likely find that you want for less and are more content than you realized. 

I also have a firm belief that when we see positives, positives will happen. When we see problems, we will find problems. There is no easier way to find problems than to go looking for them and focus on them. By practicing gratitude, it is a simple way to shift that mindset and not automatically go looking for problems in our lives. 

How to Start Practicing Healthy Habits 

How do you break the bad habits and start practicing these healthy habits? Start with being honest with yourself. Where do you need to improve the most? Don’t lie to yourself. 

Figure out why the bad habits are there. 

Set goals and create a plan for how you want to start practicing better habits. A good example is where I talked about my water bottle earlier. I know exactly what I need to help myself drink more water and achieve that goal. Think about how to implement things like that in your own life. You know yourself better than anyone else, so you will know what you need. 

Write your goals down. Use pen and paper, or put them in your planner. Then tell someone close to you about them. I tell my husband about my goals often. That way I’m not only accountable to myself, I’m allowing myself to be accountable to him too. 

Give yourself some time to develop these healthy habits. Be patient! Seriously, be patient with yourself, as it takes 59-70 days to form good habits. You may fail at times. I failed at planning dinner last night, and I was livid with myself. I had to take a step back and remind myself that life happens and I just need to focus on doing better tomorrow. I’ve got this, and so do you! 

Don’t give up on yourself if you fail, make a mistake, or miss doing something one day. Each day is a fresh start, and an opportunity to do better. Own your mistakes, and focus on improvement, and then celebrate it when you are successful. 

12 Healthy Life Improving Habits Notes 

How long does it take to form a habit? It takes an average of 59-70 days to form a habit and that habit becomes automatic. That is why making it a point to be more mindful of good and bad habits is essential. 

What do bad habits do to us? Bad habits can damage our brains! Bad habits can be very harmful to our bodies, our brains, and our mental health. Good habits help us reach goals more efficiently and effectively, while bad habits can make things much more difficult or even prevent success entirely. Habits are a powerful thing! Which I don’t think they get nearly enough recognition for. 

12 Healthy Life Improving Habits Discussion 

Do you practice these 12 healthy habits in your own daily life? Are there parts that you need to improve on? Has this post helped you to start creating better habits in your life? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

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10 Easy Ways to Help Beat Winter Blues. Now that the holidays are over, it is time to talk about the winter blues. Because it is something we all experience and struggle with in one way or another. 

The holidays are both a busy and exciting time. We get caught up in being busy, planning family time, buying gifts, Christmas lights, decorating, parties, and all the other fun stuff that comes with the holidays. 

We don’t really pay as much attention to the fact the air is colder, the sky darker, the trees are bare. 

Then January comes and everything slows down. The decorations come down, we get bored, flu season hits, there are no more parties and delicious desserts to indulge in. 

It is a lot easier to notice just how dark and cold the world is because we have so much more time on our hands. It is easy to become a house hermit and kind of hibernate during the winter months until the weather starts to warm up. 

But after a while, cabin fever can start to set in, we get more antsy, bored, and even cranky with each other. That is what inspired me to create this list of 10 Easy Ways to Help Beat Winter Blues, because I always wonder every year what I’m supposed to actually do in January when there is nothing to really do. 

Once January 1st rolls around and the holidays are officially over, I’m ready for summer. Let’s skip right from January to June, or I think to myself I want to live somewhere where it is summer all year long. This happens to me every year, because I get wrapped up in being busy, my family, friends, and everything else that comes with the holidays. It is really easy to get stuck in a rut and not know exactly how to climb out of it. 

Are you ready to embrace winter? Come on in and let me tell you about my 10 Easy Ways to Help Beat Winter Blues. 

10 Easy Ways to Help Beat Winter Blues 

Go Outside 

I know this one is difficult, because I struggle with it myself. It’s cold, dreary, dark, and just yucky outside. I’d much rather be curled up on the couch under a blanket reading and staying warm. It takes some serious effort to bundle up and go outside for some fresh air. 

The funny thing is that once I actually do it, I’m beyond grateful that I did. The fresh air is amazing, and I stop to appreciate the crisp refreshing air. Sometimes the sun will even make an appearance when I go out, even just for a few minutes, and that makes me smile. Like the sun knew I was going out and needed to see it. It reminds me how grateful I am to see the sunshine. 

There is a reason this is tip number one on my 10 Easy Ways to Help Beat Winter Blues. It really is just that important.

Take Your Vitamins 

Vitamins are absolutely essential in the winter months. 

Fresh healthy vegetables aren’t in season and much less accessible. Plus our bodies often crave hearty comfort food, which often isn’t as healthy as eating fresh fruit and vegetables. 

It is also flu season. Which means that is making the rounds, and if you have children, you know you’re pretty much guaranteed to have a bout of the flu make its way through your household. It is what it is, and there is no stopping it, but taking good care of our bodies will lessen the impact and length of time we are sick. 

Which vitamins do you need? My favorites for winter are vitamin D, C, and Zinc. 

Vitamin D is essential because we are often more deficient in the winter months because we are not exposed to daily sunlight. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to many unwanted illnesses, including autoimmune disorders and has a large impact on the immune system. 

Vitamin C is beneficial in helping to fight off the nasty cold and flu that spreads in the winter months. Vitamin C is also essential to iron absorption. 

Zinc is kind of an all-around helpful vitamin because it supports so many vital body functions. It is good for your hair, skin, and nails, it helps give you energy, supports immune health, and so much more. 

I’m not a doctor, nor do I claim to be anything close to it. But from my own personal experience, Zinc was the one vitamin that really helped me get over the hump of the side effects of Covid and finally start to get better. Because I had almost two weeks of nothing changing, no getting better, not getting worse, just stuck. That was my experience, and one of the reasons I recommend Zinc. 

Blue Lights 

Blue light therapy is something that has been clinically shown to reduce the winter blues and give you more energy. 

Sunlight is essential for many reasons, and it is hard to get enough on cold and dreary days. 

These lights can be set on timers to help you. Use it on your nightstand to help you wake in a happier mood, or use it in the dining room during breakfast to help start the day in the right mood and give yourself an extra boost. 

Eat Healthy 

It is no secret that we tend to overindulge in the winter months, and it isn’t the healthiest choice we make. Our bodies want comfort food, hearty food that sticks to the ribs, and indulgent foods. 

Try to eat more fresh foods like fruits and vegetables to help your body feel more energized.

Being a prepper, I have simple options for food in my house that are processed, like boxed mashed potatoes, for example, or canned vegetables. I’m not a fan in general, but I think they have their place, and will often rely more on the freezer and pantry in the winter months. But I also really try to pay attention to having at least one fresh element on my plate with every meal, and that can be as simple as including a salad. 

Sometimes just being more aware of what you’re missing in your diet will help you include those things more often. Ask yourself when the last time you ate a fresh vegetable or piece of fruit was, and even just making it a point to include those in your meals once a day is better than nothing, and your body will thank you for it. 

Practice Gratitude 

Gratitude is the best attitude to have. 

One of my favorite things to do is take the time to think about Christmas and the memories of it. Remembering my nephew’s face light up when he opened our gifts was simply amazing. 

Thinking about all of my accomplishments over the past year and the progress I’ve made in my own personal development is a great way to be grateful. 

When we are bored, it is easy for our minds to start wandering off in dark directions and start seeing only negative things. I’m bored, the weather sucks, somebody was a jerk to me in traffic, everybody hates me, the list goes on and on. Oftentimes it is stupid stuff that shouldn’t even be remembered in the first place because it doesn’t matter. 

Start taking notice of positive things in your day instead and be grateful for them. When you focus on the negatives, that’s all you’re going to see. When you focus on the positives, that’s what you’re going to see. It is all about your mindset and what you allow yourself to see. 

Enjoy Family Time 

Time spent with family and friends is worth every single second of it. During the slow winter season, take time for the people in your life. 

Play board games or watch old movies together snuggled under a blanket. 

Put down your phone and spend quality time with the amazing people in your life, and focus on being grateful for that time. 

I am constantly grateful to have a friend to reach out to when I’m feeling alone, they’ll come pick me up and I can go cuddle their two amazing puppies. I get to simply relax, do whatever I want, and just be there. In the winter time, this is essential to me, and I know to ask for that help. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your family and friends and ask to spend time with them. It is good for everyone. 

Start a DIY Project 

During the winter, we all want to stay inside where it is warm and comfortable. Why not utilize that time to do something productive? A great DIY project could be the answer! 

I always have a list of projects that I want to work on, and never enough time. Or, I don’t make enough time, which is closer to the truth than I don’t have enough time. How are you utilizing your time? Is it spent on your phone aimlessly scrolling through social media? Or are you using that time to do something productive? If you say you don’t have time, stop and think about how your time is spent each day. 

You can also use this time to clean and declutter since you’re inside the house. A clean space is a happy space, so there is no reason not to tackle a decluttering project you’ve been avoiding. 

Another great option is taking the time to learn a new skill or start a hobby. If you want to learn to crochet, this is the perfect time to do it! Try something new. You may be great at it or fall in love with it. You never know. 

The best part about everything I’ve talked about in this category is the feeling of accomplishment you’ll get when you are finished. That is one of my favorite ways to beat the wintertime blues, finding something to do, finishing it, and knowing I accomplished something. That is just one of those unbeatable feelings. 

Take a Winter Getaway 

Sometimes the cabin fever just gets to be too much and you need a change of scenery. Check out areas near you, within an hour or two, that you can take a weekend and escape to. 

Spending a weekend away may be just what you and your family need to refresh and recharge, and go back to daily life with a much better attitude. 

In the winter, travel and tourism is at a low point, so a weekend getaway may not be as expensive as it is in the peak of summer, and that means you save some money! You don’t need to spend a fortune, you just need a little escape. 

Throw a Party 

Chances are you are not the only person experiencing wintertime blues and hibernating. Your friends are likely in the same boat. 

Why not drag them out and help them by throwing a party? Celebrate everything, because life is too short not to, and we really don’t need a reason to throw a party. Just do it. 

Have all your friends bring a potluck style dish, choose a theme, play some great music, laugh, and have a good time. Sometimes hospitality and a comfortable space is all you need to provide. The rest takes care of itself. 

Put Down Your Phone 

When we get bored, it is really easy to just open our phones and open social media for some mindless scrolling. That mindless scrolling usually yields at least one interesting article, which has a ton of comments. So what do you do? You start reading the comments to see what others have to say, despite the article not being all that fabulous once you read it or glossed over it. But the comments are always more interesting. 

Before you know it, you’ve lost an hour reading comments as people argue with each other, become keyboard warriors, and call each other names. Now you’re in a foul mood because you found at least one egregiously infuriating comment and you don’t understand how one singular person could possibly be that stupid to say what they did. 

Raise your hand if this has ever happened to you. If you’re not raising your hand, I’d vote you’re lying to yourself here. Because it has happened to everyone, and I’m not shaming you here, as I’ve done it myself. I’m totally guilty of going down the rabbit hole that is social media. 

That is why I say to put down your phone. Take a break from social media. When you’re bored, that is the absolute last point when you should be scrolling through social media and getting lost in it. Because it isn’t going to improve your mood or chase away the winter blues. It is going to exacerbate the problem. Because you’ll end up reading negative comments, comparing your life to your friends, beating yourself up for things that don’t even matter, and thinking everyone on your friends list has a perfect life except you. 

Take a break and focus on yourself, your gratitude, and the positive things that are happening in your life. You deserve to be happy, and you won’t find that happiness or gratitude on social media. You’ll find it in the people actually in your life, your friends and family, your hobbies, your own self-confidence, and so much more. 

10 Easy Ways to Help Beat Winter Blues Notes 

10 Easy Ways to Help Beat Winter Blues. Winter is a difficult time for many people. Be kind, because you never know what someone else is struggling with. Be kind to yourself as well. It is okay to have struggles and reach out for help and support. Don’t be afraid to talk about it. 

I really hope these 10 Easy Ways to Help Beat Winter Blues have helped you in your own journey through the wintertime. It is a weird time, and I’m always ready for summer once the holidays are over. But we still have time before we get there. I want to make that the best time, and I want the same thing for you. 

10 Easy Ways to Help Beat Winter Blues Discussion 

Have these 10 Easy Ways to Help Beat Winter Blues helped you? Is there anything you would add to the list of tips to help other people? What is your favorite way to beat the winter blues? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

6 Great Ways to Let Go of Anger. Are you angry at someone in your life? Have they hurt you and you’re struggling to let go of that anger and hurt? 

We all get angry. It is a completely natural and normal reaction to circumstances. I’ve been there plenty of times, as I am sure you have as well. This is something that I’m struggling with right now, and the reason I felt the need to write about it. How do you let go of the anger that is consuming you? Through these 6 Great Ways to Let Go of Anger!

People won’t have time for you if you are always angry or complaining.

Stephen Hawking

Lately I have been paying more and more attention to the energy of the people around me and how it affects me. Certain people make me feel refreshed, supported, loved, and happy. Others make me feel angry, exhausted, and suck the energy out of me, and I need to either censor myself or simply be quiet because of that negative energy. 

When I’m around people with a negative energy, I find myself angry. It feels like their energy was passed off to me and it is upsetting. Or something they said sticks with me and really affects me, making me angry. That is what inspired me to create the 6 Great Ways to Let Go of Anger, to help others as I help to heal myself and work on this aspect of my life.

The Cycle of Anger 

Before we look at the 6 Great Ways to Let Go of Anger, let’s talk about the cycle of anger first. I firmly believe that when we understand the cycle of things, it is much easier to notice and start working on before it becomes overwhelming and difficult to handle. 

Event Trigger 

The best remedy for a short temper is a long walk.

Joseph Joubert

This is the event or situation that starts the cycle of anger and provokes an individual to react. This can be different for everyone, but here are a few very basic examples: 

• Getting cut off in traffic driving to work. 
• Having a bad day at work. 
• Feeling disrespected or ignored. 
• Someone says something hurtful or insulting. 

Escalation 

Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness.

Jason Thurber

Anger starts to appear on your face, like widening of the eyes, pupils becoming more dilated, or knotting your eyebrows. Your voice also changes pitch, for some going higher and some going lower, along with muscle tensing. Heart rate and blood pressure increase. 

Once this starts to happen, the chances of being able to calm down decrease once the escalation phase has been reached because the body is getting ready for a crisis. 

Crisis 

There are two things a person should never be angry at, what they can help, and what they cannot.

Plato

This is the phase where your body is ready to act. Think fight or flight response and you choose to save yourself from potential danger, either physical or emotional. 

The ability to be rational is greatly reduced at this point because anger instincts take over. A person may become a danger to themselves or others at this point. 

Recovery 

Bitterness is like a cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean.

Maya Angelou

In this phase your body starts to gradually settle back down into a normal state. This means that the anger has been released by now, and the adrenaline surge drops and reasonable thinking starts to return. 

Although during this phase, it may be easy to become triggered all over again, and the response even more severe than the original one because you may be trying to analyze the anger, and not quite be ready to yet. 

Depression 

Whatever is begun in anger ends in shame.

Benjamin Franklin

In this phase, a person returns to their senses and normal behavior happens. The body recovers balance as the heart rate and blood pressure returns to normal. 

This is where we try to analyze the event that caused the anger and triggered a response. You may experience feelings of guilt, regret, embarrassment, and depression. 

Anger is a very powerful emotion, and can be both complicated and harmful if not managed properly and dealt with in a healthy way. 

6 Great Ways to Let Go of Anger 

Look at Both Sides 

For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Nobody is perfect, and relationships are messy. We all screw up and cause anger and hurt to other people around us. It happens, and we can’t always stop it. 

But what we can do is look at both sides and perspectives. Your anger toward a person and situation isn’t the only side here. That doesn’t make what someone did to you acceptable or mean that you’re willing to tolerate it. Your feelings are still completely valid. 

But when you can step outside of yourself, your feelings and emotions, to look at it from another perspective, you can gain some insight into the situation and better understand it. When you are able to do that, you become more compassionate and forgiving, and relationships may be easier to repair because you are not holding onto that anger. 

This isn’t an easy step, trust me. It takes practice, and certainly isn’t an overnight process. But nothing easy is ever worth doing. It is a valuable tool that once mastered, will serve you well throughout your life. 

Find Inspiration in Others 

Anger is a momentary madness, so control your passion or it will control you.

G.M. Trevelyan

When I am struggling, I often go back and read my own blog posts, because they almost always stem from personal experience. I just read my affirmations about setting boundaries because I’m struggling with a family member trying to control my life and choices. It really helped to remind me that I can set my own boundaries and it is perfectly okay to do so. 

I also have a friend who is nothing but positive energy. He wants the absolute best for me and my husband, Nathan. We often call each other to talk about goals and these are the kind of calls that inspire and refresh me when they are done. 

I also find a ton of inspiration from Laura at Cycle Breaker Parents, and many of her posts have helped me sift through my feelings and emotions in order to forgive and continue growing. 

Ask for Help 

Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.

Mark Twain

I am well aware that I’m not perfect, and make plenty of mistakes. Oftentimes more than once because habits die a long, slow, and painful death. No matter how much I’m working on myself, I still backslide at times. 

When I struggle with anger or wonder if it is justified, I will ask other people in my life, explain the situation and ask for their opinion, to see if part of the problem is me and I contributed to the situation. If I’m part of the problem, I owe it to both myself and whoever I’m angry with to own my own responsibility in the situation. 

I have a couple of trusted friends who are brutally honest, and that is exactly what you need as well. Don’t ask somebody who is just going to agree with you because that is what is expected, or they think is expected. Remember that the goal is to gain clarity and move away from anger, not toward it. 

If you don’t have friends like that, consider seeking out a therapist, counselor, or even a pastor to help you navigate through your anger and help you work toward moving past it. At some point, we all need to let go of the anger and blame and take responsibility for the behavior and role it plays in making or breaking a relationship. That is true growth and you owe it to yourself to do so. 

Cut the Cords 

I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him.

Booker T. Washington

Sometimes when we are hurt by someone repeatedly, it may be in your best interest to cut ties with them and simply move on. Or you can also seriously limit your time and interactions with them, giving them less and less opportunities to hurt you or continue hurting you. 

I have one family member who is a serious drain on my energy. Like sucks the life out of me with their negative and nasty attitude, especially when it comes to talking about my writing and my blogs. After I talk to this person, I end up in a foul mood, it causes migraines and exhaustion, and it takes me at least two days to recover and return to a peaceful place within myself to sit down and write and produce useful posts. 

I have found that I have to limit my time spent with them, just for my own sanity. I’m not quite ready to cut them out of my life yet, but limitations and boundaries are absolutely essential because this happens every time I interact with this specific family member. 

I’ve also unfollowed this person on social media. We’re still “friends” on social media, but their posts do not show up in my feed. So whatever passive aggressive bullshit they post isn’t affecting me or continuing to anger me because I can’t see it. Don’t be afraid to mute, silence, or block people both on social media and in real life. Sometimes it becomes a necessity. 

Let Go of Fear 

Anger dwells only in the bosom of fools.

Albert Einstein

Having a conversation with someone who hurt you can be scary. But pushing past your fear and standing up for yourself is empowering and will boost your confidence. 

Ask yourself some important questions before going into the conversation: 

• What is your purpose for having the conversation? 
• What do you hope to accomplish? 
• What would be an ideal outcome? 

Fear is just an emotion, don’t let it hold you back. Just because you’re afraid doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have the conversation. When you’re uncomfortable, that is when you grow the most. Get comfortable being uncomfortable and embrace that. 

Seek Out Helpful Resources 

He who angers you conquers you.

Elizabeth Kenny

I love working on myself and my personal growth. I’ve been focused on this for the last year or so, and it has made huge differences in my life, my personal relationships, and just my overall energy and happiness. 

Resources could be books, classes about anger management, personal development, gratitude, or anything else you want it to be. It could be as simple as journal prompts to explore your feelings on a deeper level that you go back and read from a different mindset a day or two later. 

Don’t ever be afraid to work on yourself and your own personal development to help you grow, learn about yourself, and handle emotions in healthy ways. 

6 Great Ways to Let Go of Anger Notes 

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.

Buddha

6 Great Ways to Let Go of Anger. Letting go of anger can be difficult. Forgiveness can be the same way. Because it feels like when we aren’t angry with someone who hurt us, we are allowing or condoning their negative behavior. But that isn’t the case, not by any stretch of the imagination. 

Getting rid of that thought process by letting go of the anger is challenging. But letting go of your anger, just like forgiveness, isn’t for the person who hurt you. It is for you. It is to move past that hurt to bigger and better things. Because your anger likely doesn’t affect the person who hurt you. Holding onto it hurts you though, and that can be exhausting. 

Carrying around negative emotions like anger, hostility, resentment, or even refusing to forgive is simply punishing yourself every day for someone else’s actions that you can’t control or change. Why punish yourself for the actions of someone else? Do you really think you deserve that? Because I certainly don’t think so. You are in charge of your own happiness, and sometimes achieving that can be as simple as letting go of the anger you are feeling. 

I know that everything I wrote here in these 6 Great Ways to Let Go of Anger is often easier said than done. I totally get that because I’ve been there. I’m struggling with anger right now and letting go of it, because I trusted the wrong family member and it backfired on both me and my husband. I’m working on putting these tips into practice right now, and it is taking practice, lots of practice. 

But just because it takes practice and patience doesn’t make it impossible. It is totally possible to be angry and then let it go. I think I owe it to myself to let go of that anger I’m feeling because the family member who caused it doesn’t deserve half as much of my time and energy as I’ve given to their actions and words and my anger centered around it. 

Don’t let the fact it takes practice and patience with yourself stop you from letting go of the anger you’re experiencing! You can handle this, and then move on to bigger and better things that deserve far more of your time and attention. Keep working on yourself and improving. You got this. Seriously, you got this, and I believe in you and your strength. 

6 Great Ways to Let Go of Anger Discussion 

To be angry is to revenge the faults of others on ourselves.

Alexander Pope

Do you find yourself angry with someone and are struggling to forgive them for their actions and how they made you feel? Is letting go of that anger difficult for you? Have these 6 Great Ways to Let Go of Anger helped you in any way? Let me know your thoughts in the comments and if I can help support you on your journey to letting go of anger. 

10 Easy Alternatives to Doing Nothing are simple ways to look at a day in a more positive way instead of thinking that you did nothing. How many times have you had a restful or productive day, and the first thing you think at the end is, “I did nothing today.” 

But that simply isn’t true! You did things, and things that are healthy for you, for your mental health, and even your physical health. That is why I created this list, as ways to look at “doing nothing” in a real, true, and positive way. 

My husband, Nathan, inspired this 10 Easy Alternatives to Doing Nothing list for me. I work almost constantly with four blogs. There is absolutely no shortage of things to do everyday. Yet there are days when he comes home from work and we talk about our day, and I’m like, “I didn’t do shit today.” This is often said in a very negative context, as I’m irritated that I didn’t feel like doing anything and wasted my day. 

Nathan always tells me that’s perfectly okay. I don’t need to work every single day, and that it is healthy to rest. Of course, I still feel like I’ve just done nothing and wasted my day. Which prompted me to really evaluate the way I look at quote “doing nothing” and change my perspective, and that is why I created this 10 Easy Alternatives to Doing Nothing list to help you and also to remind myself that it isn’t simply “doing nothing.”

I was telling him about this post last night and how he had inspired it. He was a bit surprised. It reminded me that even small simple conversations can have a lasting impact on someone. Or maybe it is simply exactly what they needed to hear in that moment. Never ignore or blow off the impact of conversations, as you never know if it means something to someone else.

10 Easy Alternatives to Doing Nothing 

I rested 

Rest is healthy. Resting allows you to be ready for the next day. Are you getting enough sleep? Sometimes you just need to stop to rest and relax. That may not even mean sleeping, it simply means not being busy, decompressing, and relaxing. Relaxing is rest. Rest is a state of physical, mental, and emotional relaxation that allows our body and mind to recover from stress. 

Here are the seven types of rest that you should be paying attention to within your own life and habits. Are you giving yourself room to rest in all of these areas, or do you need to make one a bigger priority? Think about that in your life, and start making rest a real priority! 

If there is a specific type of rest that you need in your life, I recommend writing it down. Schedule an activity listed below to help you get that kind of rest. Make it a priority by writing it down and making it happen. Schedule it just like you would an appointment. It is an appointment with yourself. 

Physical Rest 

• Stretching
• Taking a nap
• Getting a massage
• Taking a break
• Going for a walk 

Mental Rest 

• Turning off your phone
• Avoiding social media 
• Practicing meditation 

Emotional Rest 

• Spending time alone
• Avoiding stressful situations 
• Talking to a close and trusted friend 
• Practicing self-care 
• Journaling 
• Spending time in nature 

Sensory Rest 

• Turning off the tv
• Closing your eyes 
• Spending time in a quiet room 
• Taking a bath
• Listening to calming music
• Practicing deep breathing

Creative Rest 

• Taking a break from work
• Pursuing a hobby you enjoy, or trying a new one
• Engaging in an activity you enjoy (this can be drawing, painting, knitting or crocheting, cooking, or anything else you want it to be) 

Social Rest 

• Spending time alone
• Avoiding social situations
• Spending time with close friends and family 
• Having a solo picnic, hike, or lunch 
• Practicing self-care 

Spiritual Rest 

• Meditating
• Praying 
• Engaging in a spiritual practice you enjoy
• Spending time in nature
• Practicing yoga
• Volunteering for a cause you care about 

I chose not to make plans 

Not making plans means you know how to say no to things you don’t want to do, and that is exactly what you did. You should always be proud of this! 

Choosing not to make plans is a great way to set healthy boundaries for yourself, give yourself time alone to recharge, and be ready for the next day or week. 

Choosing not to make plans is not “doing nothing” either. It is choosing not to make plans. Don’t let anyone convince you that you’re doing nothing and therefore free to make plans. You should simply be saying something like, “I’m not making plans for this day/week right now.” 

I recovered from the day/week 

Oftentimes a busy day will catch up with us later in the week. I was out for ten hours on Monday, and loved it. But I didn’t sleep nearly enough the night before. It finally caught up to me a couple days later, and I was simply exhausted. My body was grumpy, and demanded that I rest and recover. 

Listening to your body when it tells you to do things like rest, sleep, drink more water, and just relax is a form of self-care. Take care of yourself by listening to your body and what it needs. 

Giving yourself time to recover and recharge is not lazy, it is productive. 

I shortened my to-do list 

I can’t tell you how many times I start the day with big plans to accomplish as many things as I possibly can, and my ideas are far bigger than what I can actually handle. When I realize that, it often feels like failure. Like I’m a terrible person because I can’t do everything on my to-do list. 

But here’s the thing. Nobody is perfect, nor should you be trying to be. Shortening your to-do list means that you’re aware of your own capabilities and are making healthy choices. There is always another day, and things can be done the following day. They’ll still be there waiting for you to cross them off the to-do list. You don’t need to do everything in a single day. 

There is nothing wrong with shuffling your to-do list around to be shorter today, and add whatever you took off of it today into the rest of the week. I’ll be honest and tell you that I do it all the time. I prioritize what is essential for today, and the rest can wait for another day if I’m just not feeling it today. 

I had a mental health day 

Mental health is just as important as physical health, if not more important, in my opinion. Because it is much easier to ignore your mental health needs than it is your physical needs. 

Taking a mental health day is not being lazy or doing nothing. It is doing exactly what you should be doing to take care of yourself to avoid burnout. 

When I start feeling restless and anxious, I know it is time to take a mental health day, because those things prevent me from being truly productive with my work and writing. It frustrates me when it happens, because I always think I should be able to do it all. But the reality is I still need a day here and there to recharge and give my best work. Don’t ever be afraid to take a mental health day, and don’t apologize for it. There is no need.

I took a nap 

I really wish I could cash in on all of the naps I refused to take as a child. That is something I would tell my childhood self if I could. Take the nap. Take all the naps! Love them now, because you’ll want them as an adult. 

Taking a nap is such a healthy way to stop and let your body recharge for the rest of the day. It doesn’t need to even be a long nap. Set an alarm and take a power nap for 20 minutes, and then keep right on going with the day. As long as your nap doesn’t prevent you from sleeping later in the night, you’re doing just fine. Enjoy that nap! 

I had Covid not too long ago, and it took me almost a full month to completely recover and be back to normal. One of the things I noticed was that as I started to get better, I wanted to do a million things because I hadn’t been able to for so long. My body wasn’t quite ready to go as fast and hard as my brain wanted to. I needed to nap after a busy day. So I did. I let myself crash for however long I needed, then got up and went about the day, and slept great that night. 

I watched a show I love 

Taking time to watch tv that you enjoy is relaxing and a healthy stress relief. Don’t overdo it by spending a week in front of the tv while binging ice cream all day, obviously. But tv in moderation is a great thing. 

It is a healthy stress relief, it can inspire creativity, it is entertaining, and it is a way to keep you engaged and sitting still if that is something you struggle with. 

There is nothing wrong with watching tv and catching up on a show you love. For me, it actually puts me to sleep at times and helps me nap. But it will also wake me up, so it ends up being a great power nap. 

I had a day with myself 

I talk about the importance of date nights with my husband, and that you should also be dating your spouse if you have one. But you should also be dating yourself! 

Take yourself out to dinner, out to a movie, go to a park and read your favorite new romance novel, or go for a hike. 

The important thing is that you get comfortable being alone and spending time with yourself. Not only will spending time alone boost your confidence, it will allow you to get to know yourself on a deeper level, and will allow you time to rest and relax by putting yourself first and doing things you enjoy without having to deal with anyone else. 

I recuperated 

Recuperating means to become well again or get something back you’ve lost. This can mean your strength, health, and more. When you recuperate, you heal and recover. 

Taking the time to recuperate is absolutely necessary and should not be avoided. You don’t shame yourself or anyone else for it after an injury, right? Why do it in regards to your mental health? Or without some great story and significant injury? 

We should be normalizing recuperating after a stressful and busy week, to be better prepared and ready for the following week. 

I had some time out 

I love the memes on social media that say I’m putting myself in time out. Don’t let me come back until my attitude changes. But in all seriousness, taking a time out is such a great thing. It isn’t a punishment, nor should it be viewed as one. It should be viewed as making a healthy choice for yourself to step away from things that are disrupting your life or causing issues with your health in any way. 

This means that you’ve pushed yourself up on your to-do list and made taking care of yourself a priority. It’s helpful to reduce stress, improve your health, and give yourself a better overall quality of life. 

I’ve found when I end up in a cycle of overthinking, that it is time to put myself in time out and just settle, so I don’t let my mind spiral out of control. 

Time outs should also be given to others who are proving to be toxic in your life. Just take a time out from them for a bit to come back to yourself and heal if needed. I found I’ve gotten really comfortable saying I need a timeout from someone in my life and why. This doesn’t mean I don’t like them. It simply means that I realize when something or someone isn’t healthy for me at that moment, and I need to step back and give myself some space. 

10 Easy Alternatives to Doing Nothing Notes 

I despise the culture we live in where we are taught that we need to be busy being busy. If you’re not constantly busy and being consumed by it, you’re lazy and just doing it all wrong. 

But that isn’t the case. You need to slow down. Take time for yourself, learning to be more intentional with the way you spend your time. That is why I created this 10 Easy Alternatives to Doing Nothing list, as a way to not only teach you how to take time for yourself, but also to serve as a reminder for me when I start saying negative things like I did nothing today. 

Because I’m just as guilty as you are for not only saying I did nothing, but allowing myself to feel guilty for it, instead of simply saying I took a day for myself and owning that fact without apologizing. 

I feel that we should be normalizing taking the time to rest, reducing stress and anxiety, talking about mental health, and not apologizing for it, or allowing ourselves to be labeled as lazy or selfish for doing so. Stop saying “I did nothing” and instead say things you did from this list. It sounds so much more productive, and it is the truth. You didn’t just do nothing. You did something, and you did exactly what you needed to in order to recharge yourself to be prepared and ready for the next day or the next week. 

10 Easy Alternatives to Doing Nothing Discussion 

Do you feel guilty for “doing nothing” with your day? Or do you look at it from a more positive perspective? Are you using these 10 Easy Alternatives to Doing Nothing, or is there a specific area that you want to take more time for? How can I help support you making yourself a priority in your life through these 10 Easy Alternatives to Doing Nothing? I would love to help you in any way that I can. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Self improvement is a long journey, and one that I don’t think is ever truly finished. But it is also something that we should be making a priority in all of our lives. 

Setting up a schedule to plan monthly tasks is an excellent way to keep your self improvement a priority and hold yourself accountable to working on it. 

Why is Self Improvement Important? 

Working on yourself is the only way to achieve new goals. Improvement and change are the first steps toward goals. Staying the same doesn’t improve anything. 

Making a conscious effort to improve yourself in any way will have major positive effects on all aspects of your life. These effects will immediately help you to start growing as a person, so you can experience real and true self growth. 

This is how you become the best version of yourself and the best woman that you can possibly be. 

Here are my favorite 7 monthly self improvement tasks. 

Reflect on Your Progress 

Reflecting on your progress is so vital for self improvement and personal growth. 

Take some time at the beginning of each month and reflect on the previous month. Sit down, look at all of your goals, plans, and everything that happened. How do you feel about it all? Reflect on that. 

Once you have evaluated and reflected on the previous month, it is time to re-evaluate your goals and plans for this month. This is an amazing opportunity to change any actions or steps that are not working for you. If you’ve reached all of your goals or are ready for new ones, you can start planning how to take those on. 

If you feel overwhelmed, you can cut back on some steps or things that are making you feel that way. 

It is also important to note that you should be celebrating any and all success you’ve had in the previous month as you reflect on all of it. But I feel it is equally important not to beat yourself up for anything that you feel you’ve missed or failed on in your goals. Because it isn’t a failure. That is where restructuring your goals and continuing to work on them is vital. Setbacks happen, and that’s ok. 

I have looked at my planner weekly and scheduled blog posts, and I’ve used more white out this month already because things happen and I have to change my goals as I go at times. Think of restructuring your goals as needed like white out. It’s perfectly okay to need it and to use it. 

Start a 30 Day Challenge 

30 day challenges can be created or found for literally any area of your life. I see people doing reading challenges all the time on social media, or physical fitness related challenges. But 30 day challenges aren’t limited to just those things. Think about where you can do one that would be beneficial in your life. 

It is also important to note that once you find a challenge that fits, you are free to modify it to fit your needs and goals. I like to use the challenges I find as more of a guide or outline to create something that fits into my life. Remember what I said earlier about white out and making changes? You are free to do the same here. 

Pick a Skill to Work On 

What is one skill that you want to work on and improve within your life? Picking one each month to focus on and improve will be really beneficial. If you can’t think of one to improve on, you can always pick a new skill to learn and put your focus on as well. 

Once you have a list of skills you want to learn or improve on, pick one for the month. Make a list of actionable steps you can do throughout the month to work on growing or improving that specific skill. 

Set Goals for the Month 

Setting goals is essential in life! Daily goals, weekly goals, monthly goals, and annual goals.

I highly recommend using a planner so you have everything right in front of you, in black and white that you can look at each day. 

I strongly believe in the power of keeping goals visible. That is why my planner is essential. I can’t ignore it, but it isn’t hard to find or see either. This helps to keep me motivated and accountable to myself. 

It is also important to discuss setting reasonable and attainable goals. Don’t set yourself up for failure by setting unreachable goals. Because that is setting yourself up for failure, and that isn’t fair to you. 

Plan Time for Hobbies and Fun 

This sounds weird, I know. But I think it is an essential part of self improvement. You know the iconic phrase, “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” right? It’s iconic, sure. But there is a lot of truth to it. 

I’m not saying you’re going to try to kill your family with a hatchet. But seriously, you have to take the time to have hobbies and things that bring you joy. I call that self care, and self care is part of self improvement. 

By prioritizing fun and enjoyment, you are taking care of yourself. Otherwise you’re just going to suffer from burnout and you can’t improve on any aspect of your life if you’re feeling burnt out. It just isn’t possible. 

If this is an area of your life that you struggle with, start putting it in your planner. Failure to plan is planning to fail. So be sure to write it down, so you can look at it when it’s time to evaluate and see if you made enough time for your personal interests, hobbies, and self care in the previous month. 

Find a Self Improvement/Non-Fiction Book to Read 

Self improvement, self help, and any other non-fiction books are a really simple yet helpful self improvement task. 

This is an excellent way to learn new techniques and ideas for working toward bettering yourself. You can easily make this task specific to your life by picking self improvement books that are focused on the things you feel drawn to and what you want to work on learning or improving on. 

Not a big self help type person? I totally get and understand that one. What I’ve done is replace one fiction book, just one, with a self improvement type of book each month. One per month is a totally reasonable goal for me, and I’m not overwhelmed with it and still can enjoy reading, as that is a change of pace from my normal reading. 

Set a Daily Habit and Action Plan 

The last step is to make a daily habit and action plan. 

Life isn’t one big goal, achievement, or event. It is a bunch of small things that add up to become the big thing. How do you achieve the big one? You do the small things. 

I firmly believe in the power of setting daily goals and tracking my daily habits. 

When you look at the big goal, think about the steps you can take each day to reach that goal. Then start tracking these and they will become habits. Track them in your planner so you can see where you can improve when you evaluate your previous month. 

7 Monthly Self Improvement Tasks Notes 

This year I have really started doing these things myself and follow this list. Evaluating, re-evaluating, setting new goals, and celebrating success have all been essential to my self improvement journey. 

I also think this list can apply to any area of your life, not just personal development. We should all be evaluating our goals and taking steps to achieve them in every facet of our lives and focus on improving and better ourselves. Otherwise we remain stagnant, and that is just useless to me. 

Focusing on improving yourself is a great way to love yourself and be respectful of yourself, which I believe is an essential part of your happiness. 

One of my favorite quotes is, “life is uncomfortable for two reasons. One, you’re staying in your comfort zone. Two, you’re stepping outside your comfort zone.” For me, I would rather be uncomfortable because I’m stepping out of my comfort zone and improving every aspect of my life to the best of my ability. 

7 Monthly Self Improvement Tasks Discussion 

Has this list of 7 monthly self improvement tasks helped you to steer your journey toward becoming your best self in the right direction? Would you add anything to this list? Are there areas that you need to improve on? Do you have success to tell me about so I can celebrate with you? Let me know your thoughts on the 7 monthly self improvement tasks in the comments! 

15 Ways to Improve Your Mood Daily. We can all use a boost to our mood every day, and these simple ways to do it are easy to incorporate into our daily lives. 

I have a firm belief that we are meant to be joyful, happy, and content. That is actually our natural state of being. Not being stressed, anxious, busy, and filled with worry. Yet we tolerate all of those negative feelings like they are perfectly normal, even embracing them, instead of focusing on the simple ways to boost our mood naturally and be happier. 

Using these methods and incorporating even a couple of them into your daily life will make a big difference in how you feel and how you go about each day. Time spent on your health and well-being is never wasted time. I think this should be considered a form of self-care. 

Here are my favorite 15 ways to improve your mood daily. 

Let there be light 

In the morning when you wake up, open the curtains and windows to allow both natural light and fresh air into your home. 

Allowing your home to breathe with you will make a big difference and allows you to start the day on a brighter note. 

Enjoy the sunshine 

Right along with natural light and fresh air, sunshine means everything. It is a source of vitamin d, and really does wonders for your mood. 

I find this especially true in the fall and spring. When it is cold in the shade, going out in the sun makes me feel warmer, and really does boost my mood. 

Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee

Take the time each morning to enjoy a quiet cup of tea or coffee and relax. I love to read a short story during this time, and leave my phone in another room. 

Take the time to be mindful about this. Use two hands to hold the cup, think about how it feels in your hand and how much you enjoy it. Think about the opportunity to read a book or short story instead of mindlessly scrolling through social media and all the negativity that comes with that. 

Enjoying these quiet moments and being grateful for them are excellent ways to boost your mood. 

Be gentle 

This one might sound funky, but hear me out, because it has made a huge difference for me. 

Be gentle in the way you move your body, with the things you hold, and the way you walk. Focus more on being graceful and gentle than just rushing through and getting things done. 

Gentleness happens in action, but it also slowly turns into a way of being. I’m still practicing, but I certainly notice when I’m not being gentle. I’ve also found when I take the time to be gentle, I’m inherently being more kind, to myself and to others. 

Take a break from social media and tv 

Social media is great for some things, like seeing posts from friends and family that are far away, or keeping up with pictures of kids. I love seeing pictures of my five month old nephew as he grows. 

But social media can also be a black hole of negativity. People forget they are still talking to fellow humans, despite being behind a screen and saying some horrible things to each other. It is detrimental to start your day with that. 

I’m not saying to go off the grid in terms of social media, although I’ve known more than one person who has made this choice. But to be more mindful about how much you use it, and if it is having negative effects on you. I also recommend not starting your day with it. Only use it after you’ve taken care of your priorities. 

TV can be much like social media, and it just consumes you. The average person watches six hours of tv a day. Six hours. Just take a moment and think about that. There are so many other things we all could be doing instead of plopping down on the couch to watch tv and mindlessly consume potato chips for six hours every day. Think about how you can be using your time more productively and only turn on the tv after you’ve taken care of yourself. 

Go for a walk 

Don’t just go for a walk though. Take a mindful walk. Mindfulness means you’re focusing on the present moment. When you take a walk, slow down the pace and walk as if there is rhythm in your body. Pay attention to how it feels to be outside, not having a destination or time frame. Just walk to be walking. 

Take the time to notice what is around you, trees, weather, people, whatever you see. Notice it. 

Enjoy music and dancing 

Life would be dull without music! Sometimes the simplest answer to boosting your mood is just loud music and a little dance. It really is that simple. 

Play your favorite songs, be grateful for your hearing and that you can enjoy that, as well as for the artist who created that song you love so much. 

Give gratitude to your body 

Your body is what keeps you going. Your heart, lungs, hands, feet, and everything else. Your body works for you literally all the time. It isn’t easy! Expressing gratitude for the fact your body is working for you is both a way to take care of yourself and a way to boost your mood. 

I try to be mindful when doing this. Like if I’m driving, I’m grateful for my eyes. If I’m walking, I’m grateful for my feet and legs. Doing laundry, I’m grateful for my hands. The list goes on, but that is an area I have found makes me more conscious of what I’m doing and just how my body is working to help me achieve all of my goals and tasks each day. 

Love an animal 

Animals thrive in loving and being loved. So do we. 

Hug your cat or dog and spend some quality time with them to boost your mood. Even enjoying something funny that they do is a huge mood booster. 

If you don’t have a dog or cat, don’t worry. You can pet a dog you see when you’re out for a walk, if the owner doesn’t mind. I find it easy to spot friendly animals when I’m in the park and most owners apologize for them being so friendly, and I don’t mind in the least. I love my puppy fix, as I call it. 

If you have friends who have animals, feel free to call them and ask if you can come over and spend a little time with their dog or cat. Good friends understand the therapy and mood boosters their pets give, and are usually more than happy to help. 

I’ve always found myself living in the present moment and fully happy, enjoying whatever is happening when I am loving an animal. It is one of the easiest ways to instantly boost my mood. 

Stretch, exercise, and meditate 

I often wonder how many people skip this simple mood booster because they feel like it is time consuming and too much effort? 

Taking a mere ten minutes to stretch can make all the difference in the world. Don’t wait for motivation to exercise. Exercise to get motivated! 

You don’t need an expensive gym membership to do this either. Just a little space. I use my office everyday and make sure there is room for my yoga mat, and I’m set. That’s it. 

If you’re new to or struggling with the concept of meditating, just sit. Sit for ten minutes in silence. Silence is nourishing and healing. When we are constantly filled with noise, our heart can’t guide us. Sitting in silence and practicing doing so is an excellent way to start meditating and listening to ourselves. 

Tidy up your home or bedroom 

A clean space is a happy and productive space. When we are in the comfort of our home, this is where we feel safe and are our real selves. 

Our surroundings impact our mood. If a home or room is messy and cluttered, it will affect your mood. I’ve found this to be especially true in my office, as I work at home. Keeping that specific area clean is essential. 

Journal 

Do you have a journal or diary? Oftentimes we feel a ton of emotions, and they can get really heavy to carry around inside our heads all the time. 

By writing them all down, you are giving yourself a chance to be free of those thoughts, while acknowledging them at the same time. Nobody else has to read it, it is all yours, and use it however you choose. Freestyle by just writing what you feel, or follow prompts to help you. 

This is a great way to boost your mood because you’re thinking about and talking about your feelings and thoughts, while allowing space for them to come out and free up your brain for more positive thoughts. 

Gratitude journaling is another great way to boost your mood through journaling if you aren’t into writing about thoughts and feelings. 

Smile in front of the mirror 

We all know how much a smile can impact a stranger on the street or an employee in a store, right? Now imagine if you can do that to yourself. You can! 

Go look in the mirror, look into your eyes, and smile. It is that easy. 

Start making it a habit when you’re getting ready for work in the morning to smile at yourself in the mirror. Or when you’re going through your nightly and morning makeup or skincare routine. 

A wise person once said that happiness isn’t the reason for our smile, but a smile can be a reason for our happiness and I believe that. 

Listen to positive affirmations 

I write them in my planner daily, so when I’m looking at it, I can’t help but see and read one every day. 

In our lives, it isn’t just important to learn. It is essential that we unlearn a lot of things. 

We have held so many false beliefs about ourselves, money, health, happiness, work, body image, the list goes on. I think I could write an entire post about the false beliefs that we’ve all heard and been taught over the years. This is especially true if you’ve been raised in an abusive home and still hold many of those beliefs that you were taught. 

Those can be hard to break, unless you are deliberately seeking ways to find the truth and change those beliefs, and ultimately change your life. I’ve found that positive affirmations, either read or listened to each day, are an amazing way to start that. This will not only boost your mood, but help you to limit those limiting and destructive beliefs you’ve had for far too long. This can help you to become the best version of yourself. 

Rest 

Getting plenty of sleep allows our body to heal naturally and will set us up for a successful day. But that isn’t it. Recognizing and listening to your body when it needs rest is a wonderful way to understand yourself, give yourself exactly what you need, and will naturally boost your mood. 

I don’t know why, but it just feels good when I do what my body tells me to do. There is a deeper connection there. I’m not just going on auto-pilot and pushing my way through the day. There is a level of intention that comes with listening to my body. 

15 Ways to Improve Your Mood Daily Notes 

One of my favorite things about these ways to improve and boost your mood is that they are small. They don’t require any significant time commitment to do, and can be incorporated into your daily routine. 

These are also free and very low-cost ways to boost your mood, which is even better, in my opinion. I’m a thrifty woman, and I always feel like I’m winning when I do something amazing that costs me little or nothing. 

I really hope we shift from normalizing stress and anxiety to normalizing being happy and taking care of ourselves. Because boosting our moods and listening to our bodies and paying attention to things around us are all intentional choices we have to make. 

Incorporating a few of these into your daily lifestyle by being deliberate and intentional is also a really great way to be more in control of your mood, emotions, and feelings. This keeps things that are outside of your control from interfering with your mood. 

This also impacts your interactions with others and spreads to so many other areas than just yourself and how you’re feeling. Smiles and kindness are contagious! But it all starts with being kind to yourself, and these are excellent ways to do so. 

15 Ways to Improve Your Mood Daily Discussion 

Do you incorporate these habits into your daily routine? Or do you have other tried and true ways to boost your mood? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

What is karma? It is defined as the relationship between a person’s mental and physical action and the consequences that follow that action. 

We constantly create karma through actions, thoughts, words, attitudes, expectations, and lifestyle. This means that karma produces both positive and negative consequences. 

The 7 laws of karma are ones that I wish I knew much sooner in my life, and why they are a huge focus in terms of my personal growth and development as I strive to be the best version of myself that I can be. 

The Great Law 

Whatever we put into the universe will come back to us. 

When we decide what we want in life, the universe will shift to make that happen. What we often fail to realize is how that happens is never the way we envisioned it in our heads. Oftentimes it takes an open mind to see how the universe is giving us exactly what we want. 

The Law of Creation 

Life does not happen by itself, we need to make it happen. 

Wishful thinking takes us nowhere. We need to make things happen, make dreams come true. Otherwise they just stay as dreams, and that is a sad thing. It takes courage to participate in life and create the life we each want for ourselves. 

This isn’t easy. Not by any stretch of the imagination. But if we don’t take the risks by making things happen, life will pass us by and be over before we know it. 

The Law of Humility 

One must accept something in order to change it. 

Don’t gloss over things, especially when it is a tough or painful subject. Face it, accept it, understand and own it, and then change it. 

You know the concept of making a mess in order to clean something? If you’ve ever tried to rearrange or purge a space, you know exactly what I mean. You take everything out, make a huge mess, then put it back together exactly how you want it to be. I feel that the law of humility and accepting something in order to change it functions the exact same way. There is real work to accept something before we can change it. 

The Law of Responsibility 

We must take responsibility for what is in our lives. 

I dislike the fact that it is so much easier to blame something or someone else for the things that happen in our lives, instead of taking responsibility for ourselves, our words, and actions. 

By having the capacity to take responsibility for ourselves is where real growth and change can happen. Which is why it isn’t easy. If it were easy, everybody would do it. 

The Law of Change 

History repeats itself until we learn from it and change our path. 

This goes hand in hand with the above laws of karma. It takes work, responsibility, ownership, and growth to make changes happen. We are all more than capable of change, of breaking cycles and not allowing history to repeat itself. The real question is, are you willing to put the time and effort into making change happen? 

The Law of Patience and Reward 

The most valuable rewards require persistence. 

One of my favorite quotes is, “what you focus on grows.” Because it is the truth. The question for you is, are you giving your focus to the right aspects of your life to make change and growth happen? 

It is always easier to focus on negative things, the easier path, or even the immediate picture instead of the bigger picture of our lives. That is why it is necessary to focus on the right aspects of our lives, and to keep working toward goals to make them happen. 

Stephen King didn’t get to where he is by just submitting his manuscript to one publisher and giving up after rejection. Phil Knight didn’t create the most recognized brand in the world by accepting rejections as he tried to grow his business before branching out and creating Nike. It takes persistence and an unwillingness to give up. Those are just two examples. 

You are capable of greatness just as much as anyone else. Don’t give up, be persistent. 

The Law of Significance and Inspiration 

Rewards are the result of the energy and effort we put into it. 

If you aren’t willing to put the work into something, the desired results are just a dream. You have to work toward goals and really focus on turning dreams and goals into realities. 

Are you willing to put in the energy and effort for the rewards? That is a question I often ask myself when I’m debating how I want to make changes in my life. Is the desired reward worth the effort I’m putting into it? Thinking about that and asking that question can be a huge motivation if the answer is yes. If the answer is no, it is time to decide on a different path altogether. 

The 7 Laws of Karma Notes 

One of the biggest things that I think people forget about or often overlook is that karma has both positive and negative consequences. Everybody says, “karma is a bitch” but I disagree. Karma can be a really positive thing. 

But to be a positive aspect in our lives, it takes real personal growth and a focus on our development. Which is something far too many people overlook, just skip because it is difficult, or just try to avoid. 

The 7 Laws of Karma Discussion 

Do you believe in karma? Do you try to put positive thoughts and actions into the world? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

If you are a stay-at-home mom, now is the perfect opportunity to press forward and start your own home business! That’s right, you can still spend valuable time with your family, all while making money on the side to support loved ones.

Fresh out of business ideas? Here are a few ideas from The Homemaking Wife to get you started brainstorming the most suitable business model for you and your family.

Potential Businesses for Stay at Home Moms

Are you interested in starting your own business, but you’re not sure what to do? Here are some great ideas that are stay-at-home mom friendly!

• Teach Babysitting Classes: why not teach others how to babysit safely and effectively and make money from your knowledge and experience?
• Pet Sitting: if you are comfortable around pets, The Penny Hoarder points out that pet sitting might be the perfect money-making opportunity for stay-at-home moms like you.
• Dog Walking: you can make money by walking dogs for their owners. This is also a great way to get in shape. 
• Gardening or Flower Arranging: if you love the outdoors and want to be able to make some money while spending time outside, gardening or flower arranging might be right up your alley.
• Selling on Amazon: with a huge marketplace with millions of customers, selling goods on Amazon is a great place to start your business.

Registering Your Business

Regardless of what you ultimately decide to do as a business, you’ll need to ensure that you start out on firm legal footing. There are many types of business structures, but it’s a good idea to research how to start an LLC. An LLC provides many benefits to the business owner, including simplified tax obligations and limited liability. And a formation service can make starting one simple and straightforward.

How to Market Your Business as a Stay at Home Mom

With the popularity of home businesses, stay-at-home moms have a head start on becoming home-based entrepreneurs. You’re in the perfect position to keep up with the growing demand for products and services that cater to the needs of unique customer segments.

By creating and sharing high-quality content that is relevant to your target audience, you can build trust, credibility, and relationships with potential and current customers. When done correctly, content marketing can be an extremely effective way to drive leads and sales. It can also help you to build brand awareness and establish your business as a thought leader in your industry. 

For tips and helpful resources about creating content for your business’s website, there are helpful sites like CornerstoneContent.com. There, you’ll find resources on SEO, content creation, and content strategy. And, if you feel overwhelmed and need help, you can request consultation, too.

Finding Your Niche

Staying at home and looking for activities for your children can be challenging. But there are many other mothers (and fathers!) in your very position who would love nothing more than to step up to the challenge of managing a small business in-between diaper changes and nap time.

You could focus on products for kids who are being home-schooled. Or you could create a service centered on child care to provide a helping hand for stay-at-home parents everywhere.

Once you know what type of business owner you want to be and you’ve taken the steps to begin establishing your brand, it’s time to start marketing. From creating a custom website to utilizing social media platforms, you have plenty of resources to get your name out there. 

But just because we live in a digital world doesn’t mean that’s the only way to advertise your new startup and get the word out about it.

Designing Business Cards

Business cards are a great way to get your name out there and expand your business. First and foremost, Her Business notes that they are important for maintaining your brand image, which is essential to growing your business as a stay-at-home mom.

When done correctly, you can say as much or as little about your company as you wish in that little card. With the right personal touch, your custom business card can give your new home business a much-needed voice to communicate with potential customers.

Launch Your New Business

If you are energized to start your own business, there is no better time than now to start. Settle on a winning business idea and then gather the tools you need to succeed. Don’t forget to register your business online or use a formation service. And then you can start marketing! 

Starting a Business as a Stay at Home Mom Discussion 

Have you considered starting your own business? Has this post been helpful toward you reaching your goals or preparing you to get started? Let me know what your goals and accomplishments are in the comments so I can support and celebrate with you! 

The Homemaking Wife is a place to find great resources for being a wife, mom, or homemaker. Visit us online today to find your inspiration!

Are You a Remote Working Parent of a Toddler? Here Are 5 Ways to Balance Work and Kids at Home.

Working from home provides individuals the benefit of saving numerous hours a day that typically is wasted in traveling to and from the office. But, it comes with its fair share of challenges as well, such as a lack of work-life balance, the development of sedentary lifestyles, and more. 

But, when you add a baby into the mix, things get even more challenging. If you’re a work-from-home parent struggling to find a way to manage work with a baby in the house, don’t worry, as this article by The Homemaking Wife explores some useful strategies to strike a balance between work and child-based responsibilities.

Set Up a Home Office

If you don’t already have a dedicated space for working at home, now is the time to create one. Having a designated office space will help you to stay focused and organized while you’re working. If possible, try to set up your office in a separate room, far away from the commotion of a kitchen or living room, so you can close the door and tune out distractions when necessary.

Understandably, not everyone has an extra room in their house to convert into an office. In this scenario, here are the steps to follow for creating a make-shift workstation:

• Choose a room that receives ample sunlight and has enough space to fit a work desk and ergonomic chair.

• Place the table directly in front of the window. Ideally, you should be facing the window while working, as it allows you to take quick screen breaks throughout the workday.

• Purchase a room divider to separate your work and rest space. While this division may seem arbitrary, it creates a physiological barrier, helping you stay focused while sitting at the work desk.

• Additionally, stock up on supplies like paper, pens, post-it notes, etc., to reduce the chances of you having to get up while working to find them.

Start a Self-Care Routine 

Having a self-care routine plays a major role in helping you develop a healthy work-life balance while working from home, as reported by Mental Health First Aid. Switching between completing work tasks and caring for your baby can understandably be exhausting. Hence, it is important to do at least 30 minutes of activities that help you relax and disassociate from stress. This can include:

• Taking a nap
• Meal prepping to eat nutritious food daily
• Exercising to stay in shape
• Going for a walk to experience some much-needed change of scenery
• Practicing a hobby, such as journaling, meditation, yoga, reading books, etc.

A self-care routine will help to take care of yourself both physically and mentally, resulting in higher performance at work and better relations with family members.

Follow a Routine 

When it comes to managing multiple responsibilities daily, following a routine helps to bring some much-needed control and predictability over your actions. While maintaining a routine with a baby in the home is hard, it is very much possible by taking the help of others in the household. For instance, while you’re working, request your spouse or elder kids to take care of the toddler. Alternatively, you can opt to hire a babysitter.

Here are the basics of creating a daily routine:

• Try to sleep and wake up at the same time.

• Eat a heavy breakfast and avoid foods high in sugar or caffeine post-afternoon, as it will make you feel sluggish in the second part of the day leading to lower productivity.

• Set a concrete work-end time. This is crucial to work towards developing a healthy work-life balance.

• Try to include any form of physical activity, whether before or after work. This helps to overcome the drawbacks of a sedentary lifestyle, such as weight gain and neck and back pain, as reported by Start Standing.

Make Time for Your Other Children

If you have other children in the house, it’s important to find ways to ensure they still feel important. Just like you dedicate time towards the youngest one, it’s important to do the same for others as well. This can include:

• Being available for bedtime every night so you can read them a story or say goodnight.

• Enlisting their help with simple chores around the home such as cooking, laundry, grocery shopping, etc.

• Planning new experiences such as a weekend outdoor excision, movie nights, and more so they have something to look forward to.

Consider a Career Change

As explored in this article, there are various stressors related to working from home. But, if your job itself is a major cause of stress, the best option is to look for a new one. While changing jobs is never easy, it is the right decision for your health, family, and long-term professional goals. 

If you’re not sure where to start, try talking to friends or family members who are in similar situations, or reach out to a professional career coach for guidance. Making a career change is never easy, but it may be the best way to find a balance between work and home life.

You can consider making a switch to a new field as well, as it can provide a new challenge that drives and motivates you to get out of bed each morning. But, changing fields will require learning new skills, which can be achieved by pursuing a new bachelor’s degree. 

For instance, if you want to enter the world of business consulting, completing a bachelor’s in business is a smart option. With your business bachelor’s degree, you’ll have the skills of time management, operations management, supplier relationships, strategic communication, and more that’ll help you get a foot into the world of business.

5 Ways to Balance Work and Kids at Home Notes 

Working from home with a baby can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. With a little bit of planning, preparation, and the help of those around you, it’s possible to make it work. Some key areas to pay attention to include creating a healthy routine, setting up a home office, and following a self-care routine. 

Additionally, if your current job is stressing you out, remember there’s a plethora of opportunities for you to explore in every field. Pursuing an online bachelor’s will help you learn the necessary skills and expertise to start a new, successful professional chapter.

5 Ways to Balance Work and Kids at Home Discussion 

Are you good at balancing work and kids while at home? Have these tips helped make things easier for you? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!