5 Ways to Brighten A Cloudy Day

July 29 by | 6 comments | Featured, Productivity |

When I was a small child, I’d curl up on my parents’ bed after the sunshine had warmed their dark brown comforter. It was an oasis of peace and safety that I struggled to find in later years. I’d made the mistake of thinking that being an adult meant no longer delighting in “silly” things like a sun-warmed blanket. I was entirely wrong.

Each day includes moments that can be deeply enjoyed or carelessly tossed aside. As I learned to identify and enjoy those moments amid the hubbub of regular life, I found more smiles and sunshine than I’d ever thought possible. Try one of the following for best results!

  1. Take 15 – Shut your phone off, close the blinds, rest your eyes and listen to some music. If you like action more than mediation, so be it! Use your 15 minutes in a way that will leave you feeling most revitalized. That’s where the sunshine comes from.
  2. Go for a stroll – The kind of meandering walk that is more about discovering the path than reaching a destination. If I don’t have a camera or pad handy, I like to make a mental list of a few things I discover on every stroll I take. A design element I particularly appreciate, a rabbit hopping down an alley, or a woman singing on her porch; all contribute my perspective and appreciation of the world around me.
  3. Do something nice for a complete stranger – Buy a coffee, pay a toll, give a smile and a “thank you” when none is required. Giving when neither is required will open you up to a world of kindness. It also feels very, very good.
  4. Laugh from your stomach – You know the kind of laugh that shakes your entire body and ends in a half-moan because you’re not sure if you can stop laughing? That kind of laugh. A moment spent in full enjoyment of humor is a great way to release tension and refuel your smile.
  5. Try something not included in your normal diet - Most of us eat from a very short list of foods. Eating something entirely different will do more than expand your palate. It will help keep your sense of adventure alive!

Sometimes I still like to enjoy a bright patch of sun-soaked carpet just like I did that blanket as child. But lets not talk too loudly about that. =)

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Image: Claudio.Ar

I'm a writer, avid reader, hopeful runner, and student of all things social. Find me on Twitter and we'll talk!

  • http://www.examiner.com/x-36081-Ann-Arbor-Health-News-Examiner Tina

    I like it!

  • http://www.getinthehotspot.com/ Annabel Candy

    Love this. You and me have some common interests. I'm a huge advocate of walking and wrote 7 Good Reasons to go for a Walk. I never understand why more people don't do it. We're always off for a walk, even if all we've got time for is a quick walk round the block. Plus walking is a great way to look out for things that make you happy – like a bird singing, a leaf falling off a tree. Gosh I sound like a complete simpleton but the simple things in life do make me happiest. I like to smile at people I walk by and say hello too, let them know that they're noticed and appreciated:) I need to laugh more often though!

  • http://twitter.com/DevelopmentVids @DevelopmentVids

    Taking a walk is great – but if it is raining, puddle splashing is even better :-)

  • Pingback: SimpleProductivityBlog.com— Open Loops 9/7/2010: Articles I Think Worth Passing Along—

  • http://themeaningexperiment.com Mirella

    I’m 30 and I wouldn’t be without my purple blanket that I keep on my couch, next to the window so it can soak up some sun. I’m always curling up like a cat on that one spot on the couch, it’s fantastic. On my drive to work I usually see this one cat curled up on a windowsill, soaking up the sun, and it’s then that I miss my purple blanket :)
    You’re never too old to have a blanket to wrap yourself up in :)

  • http://twitter.com/Un3t Un3t Zx