50 Ways To Put The Light Back In Your Heart
[ 25 January 2010 ]
I love that phrase — “putting the light back in your heart” — which was emailed to me by a nonpareil asking me how she could do just that. Her boyfriend recently broke her heart & so she is looking for ways to make herself feel better. I’m sure she’s not the only one who needs it, either! Whether you have the winter blues, are hard up for cash or just feel a little out of step with yourself at the moment, we could all use some ideas to cheer us up!
Why do we feel like this? Sometimes it’s because we’re too busy looking inward, & forget to think about the world around us. Other times it’s because we’re dwelling on what we wish we had, as opposed to appreciating the many things we do have. Sometimes it’s just a case of boredom & malaise, but whatever the source of our unhappiness, there are lots of ways we can fix it!
Here are some of my thoughts. I asked my nonpareils on Twitter about their favourite ways to get happy too, & mixed them all together. I’d love to hear what you have to add!
“We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same.”
(Carlos Castaneda)
Write yourself a recipe for a perfect day, & then make it happen.
Sometimes you really need to take time for yourself, & when you do, it should be as good as you can make it. We all have different ideas of what constitutes the ideal day, but it might be something like… Watch the Virgin Suicides while eating strawberry pancakes; take a long bath & re-read your favourite book; lie on the floor & wriggle around; eat ice-cream in bed & watch reality television; talk to your best friend on the telephone; have a long, blissful sleep. Whatever it is, put aside some time & make it real.
Watch the Shiba Inu puppy cam.
Real, live puppies! Wriggling on webcam for your viewing pleasure! Surely an unbeatable combination. Nothing can be that bad when the world is so full of cute!
Call a friend & reminisce over the good old days.
There’s something wonderful about doing this. All the ridiculous happenings, strange people you’ve encountered over the years & inside jokes come spilling down the phone line, leaving you both laughing & breathless. As well as remembering the funniest bits of your past, it gives you a new appreciation of where you are today, & how far you’ve both come.
Have a snugglefest.
Anyone & anything is fair game, from cats & dogs to boyfriends, stuffed animals or cashmere throws. Just hunker down & get cozy! Stay warm & have a daydream.
Clean your room like a wild banshee — then sit down & admire your work.
Cleaning up or tidying with loud music playing is pretty fun (are my Virgo roots showing?!), but it’s even better to flop down on your bed, exhausted, & delight in how good everything looks.
Load up one of your favourite music videos on Youtube & then try to learn the choreography.
You’ll be passed out with delirious laughter before long, I swear!
Plan a holiday.
Even if your bank account wouldn’t even begin to cover a holiday right now, you can always plan one in your head! Think about where you’d like to go & what you’d like to do. Camelback riding across a majestic desert? A tour of all the waterparks in America? 5 blissed-out days lying on your back beside a huge turquoise swimming pool? Whatever floats your boat, do some research, & start to make it real — even if you won’t take the actual holiday for years.
Spend quality time with a puppy.
If you don’t have one, ask if you can go see a friend who has one. A few minutes of chasing each other around, playing tug-of-war with a chewed-up piece of rope & some vigorous tail-wagging will have you feeling like new in no time. Plus, they’re so adorable before they grow into their oversized feet!
Experience a sunset.
Don’t just glance at it from your window — really experience it! Sit on a balcony or rooftop, take a blanket & a hot drink if you need to, & watch the colours in the sky change as the sun disappears. It’s a beautiful show put on by the universe every night, it’s 100% free & even better, you are always invited!
Get dressed up & go out!
Call a friend & organise an outing. It doesn’t have to be anything grand (unless you want it to be!), but just getting out of the house will make you feel so much better. Wear bright pink lipstick to the movies or wear heels & eat hamburgers. It’s a great way to get out a puddle of stagnant energy.
Do yoga.
Even if you feel too exhausted to get through an entire session, just a few minutes will help bring you back to your centre & get you grounded again. If yoga isn’t your thing, try taking a few deep breaths. Concentrate on it as you do it. Go slowly. Breathe all the way into your stomach. Try to make the length of your inhale the same length as your exhale. As well as being a proven way to beat anxiety attacks, this is also a wonderful way to fall asleep if you’re having trouble — it works for me every time. You can read more about your best breath here.
Write.
It really is good for you, even if you don’t think you’re any good or don’t have any ideas. A great place to start is by writing, “Hi. I don’t really have anything to say.” Then just let yourself go. Allow yourself to vent, to dream, to be someone else. If you have a rad old typewriter, this is the perfect time to use it.
Go through your iTunes & organise the songs by the number of times played. Then listen to the songs you’ve never played before.
Every time I do this, I discover absolute gems. Right now, in fact, I’m listening to Knonam, who I had somehow never heard before, & it’s great! Alternatively, play all your favourite songs! Loud!
Eat chocolate.
...Because it’s proven to make you feel good. Especially the dark stuff.
Jump on a trampoline.
As well as being fun & boosting your energy, it also helps to increase the circulation of your lymph system, circulates more oxygen throughout your body, slows down aging, helps prevent cardiovascular disease & provides roughly a billion other amazing health benefits. It really does help to elevate a bad mood, too.
Sign up for OKCupid.
I have a soft spot for OKCupid, as it has given me hours of entertainment & is, in fact, how I met The Dish! You can take tests, find compatible matches & even meet people if you want to get reeeeeally wild! Ha!
Escape.
Get on your bicycle, grab the car-keys or catch a bus & go somewhere else. When you get there, spend some time walking around & looking at things. The travelling time will be good for your head, too. This is something Alain de Botton has written about — travelling helps to clear your head & reset your perspectives in a way nothing else can.
Swing.
There are few things I enjoy more than leaning back in a swing, kicking my legs up & flying back & forth!
Play dress-up.
Rummage through the back of your closet & see what wonderful things have been stuffed back there & forgotten. Put on a pair of heels & see what new outfits you can come up with. It is absolutely true that wearing an outfit you feel good in boosts your confidence & level of happiness!
Do something good for somebody else.
Help Haiti, give blood, volunteer at an animal shelter, deliver meals on wheels, help at a soup kitchen, donate old clothing, spend time at a women’s shelter, get involved in your community or even just help your parents out. It’s one of the absolute best ways to get your mind off your own problems & open you up to what is really going on in the world.
Spend time in a used bookstore.
One of my favourite places! There’s nothing better than walking out with a stack of great books for less than $10!
Remove negative influences — no matter how small.
Fire your negative friend or most annoying client. Stop reading the magazines which make you feel bad about yourself. Ban yourself from checking your ex-boyfriend’s blog. Block the phone number of the person who only ever calls you to complain. You cannot imagine how much better you’ll feel!
Draw moustaches on the faces in magazines!
Hahaha. Thanks @CaitHagar!
Buy something fabulous & cheap.
I recently bought a this Swarovski crystal ring for less than $10 from Eternal Sparkles on eBay — major bling for minor cash. It’s cute & it makes me smile. Sometimes, retail therapy really does work!
Pucker up!
Yes — kiss someone! Kissing causes the chemicals in your brain to change. It drops your levels of cortisol, which is a stress hormone, & increases the levels of oxytocin, which makes you feel good & gives you a feeling of connection.
Eat ice-cream & watch trashy television.
It sounds silly & overly simplistic but it really does work — at least for me! A tub of Ben & Jerry’s Half-Baked & some rubbish lined up makes for a great mental holiday. My favourite trashy fare? Paris Hilton’s My New BFF, Girls Next Door, Sex & The City, Entourage, Secret Diary Of A Call Girl, Skins, Top Model, Greek, Daisy Of Love, The Rachel Zoe Project, Say Yes To The Dress or Buffy. Perfect.
Stay overnight at your best friend’s place.
How long has it been since you had a same-sex sleepover? Too long I bet. There’s nothing better than a night of conversation, laughter & silliness with someone you adore.
Make yourself a super-healthy meal.
The feeling of accomplishment & knowledge that you’ve done something good for yourself is an almost unbeatable combination!
Concoct a special hot chocolate.
Add cinnamon, whipped cream, nutmeg, chili powder, candy canes, marshmallow… Make something special & delicious. Even better, make a huge Thermos & take it to work or school to share!
Go skating.
Flying around a rink at high speed with blades or wheels strapped to your feet is so much fun… & a big bruise on your booty can only be seen as a badge of bravery (& testament to how much fun you had)!
Slice up your fashion magazines & make a style collage.
From a candy pink pair of stilettos to a girl sitting in a gilded birdcage, take your favourite looks & mash them all together. Pin it up next to your wardrobe as extra inspiration when you get dressed in the morning, & let it serve as a reminder to try new things!
Watch a documentary about someone incredible.
If Lagerfeld Confidential, I’m Going To Tell You A Secret, Valentino: The Last Emperor or This Is It don’t inspire you to live life to the fullest, take control of your future & start changing things, nothing will!
Go wig shopping.
Take a friend & rock that wig parlour! You’ll both emerge with smiles on your faces, & hopefully a Marie Antoinette-inspired coif in your shopping bag!
Have a raucous karaoke session.
Drag someone along with you, hire a private room, & have a sing-off! Also, ask if your favourite karaoke place has a happy hour. A lot of them have lunchtime specials to get the punters in when it’s usually quiet. One of the best ways to spend your lunchbreak, for sure.
Pay someone to touch you.
Sounds weird, I know! But what I’m actually talking about is getting a massage, reflexology or even a really good pedicure. Sometimes having someone else touch you & take care of you is just what you need.
Start a new project.
I don’t think I am the only person who really enjoys beginning a new project. Everything is so full of promise & you can take it in any direction you like. It’s all creativity & experimentation all the time. What could be better?!
Get organised for the next week.
Work out what needs to be done, & get a head-start. Do your grocery shopping & laundry, plan social engagements, work out what you’re going to have for lunch. When you feel on top of your daily life, you feel more in control of everything else.
Learn to do something you’ve always wanted to.
From whistling with two fingers to learning how to talk dirty to working out if you’re a shaman or not, you can learn anything you like! The internet is a treasure-trove of information just waiting to be discovered, so don’t be shy! Get researching!
Sing, loudly!
In public, out of tune, at the gym, wherever! If you feel like singing, you should just do it! Don’t be embarrassed & don’t allow the looks other people may shoot you stop you from doing what you want! I think singing in the morning should be an essential part of everyone’s day…
Garden.
As in, the verb. The doing word! Talk to your plants, water them, re-pot them. Buy a new one. Or even go to a park & lie down on the grass. Getting up close with flowers & plants makes people feel good, which is why gardening is such a popular hobby.
Go swimming.
Bonus points for skinny dipping or swimming in the grotto at the Playboy Mansion. (Have any of you ever done this?!)
Make something.
There’s something about making a tangible object that is so satisfying. I am convinced that just moving your hands & using your brain in a different way is extremely good for your mental health. Bedazzle your cellphone, knit a sparkly scarf or make a little monster for a friend! It will shift the way you think & make you smile.
Draw pictures of all your friends & then post them out.
Even if it doesn’t come out very well, your friend will still be completely delighted to receive it. Who doesn’t want a picture of themselves drawn by someone who loves them?!
Research & read about the life of someone who improved the world in some way.
You’ll find out that everyone goes through hardships at one point or another. Nobody’s life is perfect, & if it was, how bored would we all be?! People have been through much more horrific things than you will ever experience, & still managed to triumph. Never lose hope.
Print pictures of you & your best friends, & put them all over your house.
There’s nothing better than reflecting on good times & smiling at goofy photos.
Invite a friend over for dinner.
It doesn’t have to be fancy. Even if you only eat fish & chips while sitting on the floor together, it’s still good company, it’s still a shared experience, & it’s good for the soul.
Read the best of Craigslist.
No explanation required.
Write a list of all the good things in your life.
Usually when we feel bad, it’s because we’re thinking about the things we don’t have as opposed to the plethora of things we do have. If you have a computer & can read this, you are already so much better off than most people in this world. Recalling everything you have to be grateful for is a foolproof way of improving your mood… which is why I do it every Thursday!
Dye your hair!
“I don’t know how to tell you this… But your hair looks like an easter egg!” Put a semi-permanent colour through your tresses. It’s inexpensive & won’t last long, which makes it a super-fun & easy way to change your appearance — at least for now!
Watch travel documentaries.
This is one of my favourite things to do, especially when it’s a documentary about India! It’s so easy to forget that life outside our own neighbourhood can be so fabulously different. A good travel documentary will amaze you, surprise you & remind you that there is a whole world out there just aching to be explored by you.
What’s your #1 favourite foolproof way of making yourself feel better when nothing seems to be going right? Tell us!
Love letters & feather headdresses,
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i adore you, gala. this is fantastic. you’re a one-woman inspiration machine!!!
whenever i stop procrastinating and start embracing the good and the bad things i have to do – which are never as bad as i think they’re going to be – that definitely makes me feel better.
Wow! I didn’t know I needed this so much until it dropped in my lap! Thankyou Gala. I feel the love already.
Another one of my favorite ways to stop festering: making lists. To do lists, things I want, people I’d like to see, things I like that has happened. Seeing things laid out like that is just so much fun—and future lists are always great to see what there is to look forward to. Plus you get the elation of crossing things off.
Also, getting up an hour early to ensure total awakeness and readiness to take on the day. So much fun!
great list, Gala!
Gala, I’m in a pretty good place right now after a year of being emotionally not so well (I was dragged down by some annoying health issues).
These ideas rock. Especially the ones about loud music + cleaning. It helps me sort my head out when I’m stressy and flustered!
Another recommendation: stick colourful things on your walls. I have an assortment of postcards, photos, hairclips, post-it notes from friends etc stuck around my bedroom mirror. they cheer me up on a daily basis, as soon as I get out of bed.
Yes yes yes! Impromptu dinner parties are some of my absolute favourite memories from university, awesome friends + delicious food = win!
Whenever I need to cheer up I bake a cake or cookies (I’m kind of known as the Cake Witch among my friends…) and stay up late watching Spaced, Gilmore Girls or Rome…
Mad baking plans ahoy…
xx
I’m such a victim of colouring my hair to get happy. In fact, I’m throwing in some yellow, blue, and green today :P
It adds a bit of spice, and nothing beats feeling just that little bit more glamourous :)
Wonderful list, I’m going to do all of these!
When I need to clear the air or calm myself down I just go out for a walk no idea where I’m going I just walk and it always makes me feel better, sometimes you find the most interesting places to!
Gala, I love you!
Your timing is wonderful.
When I’m looking to get my happy back I either download a ton of music and go for a long walk or take a bath/shower then play dress up … camera optional.
Thank you for being fabulous.
ESP, lady.
Thanks.
I drink frozen cokes and read How I Paid For College by Marc Acito.
And skip.
And watch anything with Jeff Daniels because he is amazing.
But what if nothing fixes it?
I’m trying something new in a couple weeks…doing the Polar Bear Plunge in Sea Isle City, NJ. I’m excited & terrified at the same time! However, stepping out of my comfort zone always makes me feel gorgeous, strong & amazing!
LOVE this. Sharing it on Twitter right now!!!
Join the “silly buggers club” even if your NOT 100% sure of what they do!
Love this post!
Substitute the puppies for kittens in my case though, puppies are lovely, but I’m a total cat person and kitties never fail to lift my mood!
That Best of Craigslist link is amazing! I must agree on the hairdye suggestion too, I have so much self-confidence when I have freshly-dyed hair!
Wow, so many perfect suggestions!
Definitely second the comments ~ take a luxurious bath with salts, oils, and bubbles, surrounded by music
Skip!
Trampolining was the best!
I personally plan hang gliding, paragliding, bunjee, or sail plane trips to look forward too ~ it IS about getting outside your comfort zone!
Love taking funny close up pictures
of ordinary things or my neighborhood ~ going for a walk is an age old remedy…
Awesome post! I’m sharing around. Tx
I haven’t even finished the whole list and I love it already! Merci beaucoup!!
this is fantastic. i’m going to make my own list. thank you once again for your impeccable timing – i hd a rough weekend. don’t let anybody try and knock you down!
Heya gala!
I miss your site. Thank you for this post. This is my fave portion of you blog. :) It always helps.
I like to make pretty things…sew, make jewelry, anything that I would love to wear and have a sense of accomplishment that I made it.
Andy Warhol said something like, “What makes a person spend time being miserable, when they could be happy?”
‘Your head’s like mine, like all our heads; big enough to contain every god & devil there ever was. Big enough to hold the weight of oceans & the turning stars. Whole universes fit in there! But what do we choose to keep in this miraculous cabinet? Little broken things, sad trinkets that we play with over & over. The world turns our key & we play the same little tune again & again & we think that tune’s all we are.’
I love this quote from Grant Morrison. I just indulge in his brain when I am feeling dull and uninspired.
After a recent heartbreak I signed up for a aerial yoga class with two bloggers I’d never met. I spent yesterday afternoon learning to do tricks on a trapeze and cheering on my new friends. It’s a total confidence boost and my body is learning to do some crazy things!
Thank you so much for this post! I am going to try and do alot of these :)
Thanks for these nice tips. They really lighted up my heart.
I watch ‘Turner and Hooch’ when I’m sad. I know the words by heart and love the scenes of Hooch trashing the house and all his cute dog expressions! Honestly, it never fails to bring a smile to my face!
I take my iPod and go for a long walk, paired with sunglasses it’s even better!
And I usually end up in my favourite place in town: a small quiet garden, and I just sit there listening to music and watching the beauty of the garden.
(PS thanx for those answers, they really clear it all to me!)
I love your blog and this list!
I’ve been in the Grotto. .
It’s not so easy to get there, though, so it’s not an every day solution. But it’s kinda lovely for the mid-winter blues! Looking at the monkeys and playing the pinball machines is also always big fun huzzah!
Other happy-making things: * poking around shops in Hollywood. * sending random virtual hugs to friends online that I don’t see often enough * greet everyone with a hug for a day * window shopping in the arts district (or Archie McPhee, online) * go to an international market and ask for a recipe to make * fairy bomb someone/ some where * browse the library for some book I’d usually never pick up * find a stoop, sit, and watch the world go by! * rent a slew of thematic movies, and make a variety of gourmet popcorns to eat as I watch
Aww, I love these iCiNG posts. I always print out your lists and paste them everywhere.
And this is especially good because I had a bumbling morning, and yesterday I found out that one of my classmates from high-school passed away. :< We only graduated, like, 2 years ago and from a small graduating class too. This is the second girl from my year to pass away.
But thanks for the happiness Gala! It’s better than a double espresso.
Play AIR GUITAR to your favourite rocksong, Race with the Devil by Girlschool works really well for this ^^ (it always cheers up my mood in a second) Great list !
Your awesome lists always come when I need them the most! Thanks gala!
Oh Gala, the list is fab and the diamond hearts are all lovely and sparkly and grand :)
When I am feeling blah, I do something creative: paint, sew, write, knit…by the fireplace, with some tea :) Even if I just write about WHY I’m feeling so BLAH, somehow, writing it out and getting it off my chest makes me feel SO MUCH BETTER! :)
Be happy, friends!
thank you lady!! the title caught my eye because that’s exactly how i’ve been feeling!! looks like a wonderful list of exactly what i need! oxox
I have been sooo sad lately. My mom passed away recently, and I miss her so much. Every time I think about her (which is super often) makes my heart shrink with pain. Every time someone mentions their mom I wish mine was still around. I feel so lonely, she was the only person I could talk to about certain things. Doing nice things can help for a bit. But the pain is always there. Girls never take your moms for granted and enjoy them as much as you can.
I’m so sorry Vanessa. Lots of love.
Thanks Gala. You are the best…
I love my trash TV, it puts me in a good mood instantly.
this is wonderful! thank you so much. i’m printing it off & keeping a copy handy at all times. :)
I totally needed this today, thank you as always :)
I’m not at all sad (I’m actually quite happy!), but this list rocks! Cleaning my room, puppies, watching old music videos (I just saw a Backstreet Boys one, now the Lady Mermalade one…haha), you don’t have to be sad to let those things make you glee!
thanks Gala :)
totally wonderful, and the perfect antidote to the january blues (which are hitting hard with this one…)
for my part, i’m a big fan of baking cookies, eating them (all, if it comes to it) and watching whole series’ of shows like “friends” on dvd…mmmmm. plus multiple cups of tea and pajamas.
Working on Polyvore for hours makes me feel better when my batteries are low! Also searching through Tumblr for pretty inspirational pictures, better if listening to music from musicforyourcoffe.tumblr.com, even better with an actual coffee in my hands :)
I also love websites like mylifeisaverage.com or notalwaysright.com. Especially the last one can really make laugh at any time :D (it’s about weird episodes with mental customers…)
I love when you do posts like this. They always have cool things to do. I like to bookmark them and come back and get reminded about how I could be making my life so much cooler. Thanks, Gala.
These are all such fantastic ideas! Looking at the list, I realized that I did a few of them (yoga, writing, cleaning and admiring the results) this weekend. No wonder I’m in such a good mood this Monday morning. :-)
OH MY GOSH!
I swear to god, I was just on your site yesterday, looking for something to cull my depression, and this morning you read my mind! You awesomely connected being! Yay!
This list is brilliant! There are things on it that I do regularly (Ben & Jerry’s + Gossip Girl = a very happy me!) but there are so many things here I have never tried before, I must give them a shot!
My favourite ways of cheering myself up usually involve a few friends, a bottle of wine or two, and a big Beyoncé dance-off, with plenty of Crazy in Love booty shaking. It’s silly and fun and always results in us falling about giggling, so there’s nothing wrong with that! I also like to bake when I’m feeling down, there’s something so satisfying about it, and weighing up all the ingredients and mixing things up really takes my mind off anything that’s bothering me. I like to put the radio on really loud and just get stuck in! Also, the mad range of decorations you can buy these days are amazing – edible glitter! EDIBLE GLITTER! And, once you’re done baking, you have a whole batch of yumm deliciousness to share with friends / co-workers / family / anyone you fancy, and that’s a really great feeling too :D
Thank you.
I am going to start working my way through this entire list immediately!
For me, I find that making lists really makes me feel happy and in control of my life. To do lists, wish lists and lists of my favorite things are some of the best!
sing a beatles song like an enormously fat, russian opera singer!
What a wonderful list. I’ll defenity be refferring to it when I get bored…
One of the suggestions I was supposed to do today actually, but I slept in!!! Arrgh. Plan out your perfect day. Although it wasn’t really a “perfect day” just a set of daily routines I’d like to start doing every day…
Wake up
Turn on the iPod to fill the room with melodies
make bed and put all the friends of the forest stuffed animals on it
cast a magic circle for the day by turning on my ceiling fan that has miniature birds strung to it
pull back the curtains of my bedroom window…the stage of my life
have coffee or tea whilst checking the world news, reading my horoscope, drawing a daily tarot card
beauty & fashion rituals: cleanse and consecrate face and teeth, use magic wand straightening iron, put on makeup, beauty potions, get dressed
take daily outfit photos
check e-mail/reply
write an article for my storyblog The Forest
snack/brunch
mail time!
do chambermaid’s chores: sweep, clean mirrors, dishes, clean the cat’s litter box(the stables!)
go have fun, free period for the rest of the day!
I’m totally going to print these out and put them on my wall for inspiration on blah days! My normal cure for the blues is a long, hot bath (or shower), then cozying in bed with a good book/movie/TV show. Another thing I like to do is listen to fun, happy songs and dance along. :)
Oh yeah I also wanted to add that I absolutely LOVE those gems you used as the pictures and have a heart made of purple amethyst…
This is quite eerie.
I was actually about to e-mail you asking you to write an article just like this.
And I’ll tell you why. My names Karli and I’m 15 years old. Due to a couple of inherited disorders and the chronic pain that comes along with them (collectively called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) I’ve been 100% bed bound since May of 2009.
Needless to say, its the most miserable thing a person can go though. And going through it has aged me years. I’m not going to sit here and bore you with my terrible life, but I’ll tell you that I’ve never been so depressed in my life.
I need something to “bring the light into my heart.” So, thank you for writing this. I need something to brighten my days. And I’m going to try everything on this list. (Well, everything I can try. I don’t think jumping on a trampoline is an option for me.)
My favourite things to cheer myself are dancing in my pants like a complete mainiac or having a cup of tea with lots of sugar. They never fail to work :]
Big hugs to vanessa & karli!
Last night I actually sat and made a list of ways to improve my mood.. so this was perfect timing!
This is amazing! I JUST went through a heartbreak as well and was just thinking about how sad it is that I lost someone I cared about. So I obviously decided to check out your blog for some good cheer, and what do you know?? Your post is about exactly that! Thanks gala!
Fab-u-lous list!!
Thanks Gala!
The only other addition? Visit Icing every day for inspiration and a warm heart :)
What an awesome list, really seriously better than any other pick-me-up list I’ve read. There’s literally something for EVERYONE on here. Thanks so much for posting it.
Amaazing post! Couldn’t have come at a better time – I’m currently in the process of breaking up with my boyfriend of 2+ years and am therefore embracing all the happiness and magic I can cram into my life. Spending time with people who make you smile as well as cute fluffy pets (bunnies!) is definitely the way to go.
I wish I had a printer so I could print this out and stick it on my wall. :)
Yep, Paris Hilton’s my new BFF is about as trashy as they come! Good, good list!
I wish we could make favourites of your posts to go back and look at. Not on the internet explorer i mean, just making a gala list for each and every one of us on your page. This was my favourite post ever and I have been reading since the beginning.
I would add making extravagent iced chocolates to the list. Or making walking someone elses dog. Swooning over cute couples in the city. People watching. Having a foreign country themed night EG ordering in Thai food, dressing up in Thai wraps and either listening to music or watching a Thai film. It’s good if you can’t go on a holiday. You could decorate your home in Indian style and have a Bollywood dance off or drink pinas and barbecue in a hula skirt.
Thank you Gala!This is a beautiful post. I need to make a printable version and put it up in my office. Thanks again, love.
I always save your lists like this to refer to when I’m feeling moody-they’re so helpful!
My favorite cure is either playing music/listening to The Beatles [it’s impossible to listen to I Am the Walrus and be in a bad mood] or watching comedy movies.
Also baking for other people tend to make me feel better. I love taking care of others. :D
Gala, I love you sooo freaking much!! Thank you for this awesome post. You and your blog have inspired me immensely. God bless and namaste.
I love this because all these tips work, whether you need the light back in your heart or you already have it in there! Like, that finger-whistling thing made me super happy just reading and trying it (no success yet).
Also: the secret is finally out! I’ve been wondering how you met this amazing guy you talk so much about. :)
Things that ice my cupcake: Buying white dasies or pink roses, making myself a pretty fascinator and wearing it around town, and writing my Sunday to-do list, highlighting everything by the day.
I literally cannot function now I have seen that live puppy cam. How will I ever get anything done ever again? Too much cuteness.
gah, this list is just so briliant! it really made my day, and I shall deffently be refering back to it when I need to cheer myself up. I personally enjoy planning to somewhere, even if I know I wont get their for a while. I just bookmark names of places (ex. hotels, gallaries, restarunts, countries/cities) which I want to check out, and then referance them later on. :)
I LOVED the 1 about singing loudly! Lol! I do this daily in my car to my favorite tunes! I’m sure I’m horribly out of tune but I really don’t care! The other day some1 pulled up next to me at a stoplight & caught me singing & started laughing! I was embarassed for a second then figured “so what?! I’m never gonna see this person again!” so I turned to them & sang to them! They were still laughing when we pulled away & turned in opposite directions. I’m sure I was “the crazy singer at the stoplight” in stories to friends but I made some1, a random stranger, laugh! & you know what? It felt great!
Wow Gala, you have the perfect timing.
I broke up with my boyfriend yesterday and needed some cheering up.
Thank you for being amazing. So many of us benefit from your awesomeness!
Hey! It seems like there’s a million and one thank-yous one here, but I’ll add another one. I’m not a regular, but I’ll drop in sometimes and there’s this beautiful little inspiration-thing that will make me smile. Comes at that perfect moment too, when I’m seriously considering finding some rock to crawl under for the rest of…ever. But yes. It’s wonderful.
Anyway, suggestion? Buy a comforter—one of those ginormous things that threatens to suffocate a gal by sheer volume—and some Regency novel, then have at it. My personal fave is Pride and Prejudice because, really, what’s better than some true love and English moors? (Never underestimate the last bit, either. ;) Everyone needs a happy ending now and then, and those ‘thens’ usually have to do with that light and heart thing.
Best of love,
Sunshine
When im feeling blue and cant shake it, I come here!! I’ll look at the latest posts or hit the “surprise me” button.
Works like a charm!!
Yeah I just went through a breakup and been doing wonderfully(all things considered)!
What I did:
-got my first apartment!
-learned to ride a scooter!
-hula hooped
-walk on foot with ipod on exploring the city
I allowed my heart to break open, accept loss and I’m learning that because I ended my romantic aspect of my relationship doesn’t mean my love for them quit, it has just shifted channels. And it’s making our friendship easier. (Though we don’t talk everyday.) Though this discovery is a new one, so I think I’ll go through occasional sadness, but the main thing is keeping busy and happy during this time is COMPLETELY helpful.
Thanks Gala!
What lights my fire:
-‘Make Your Own Kind of Music’ by Mama Cass
-Search for your favorite foods on Flickr. Or eat them.
-On Flickr, also search for musicians, decorators, artists, etc.
-Go to the library, get yourself a pile of books and read for at least three hours
-Try to sketch some of your favorite paintings/photos
-Read old letters (not love letters, necessarily)
-Add more things to your bucket list
-Listen to all your favorite music, but announce each song in a Professional Radio Voice with accent of your choice
-passiveaggressivenotes.com
-Bunch all your favorite chairs together, drape sheets on top of them, make yourself a FORT and hide in there for a while
-Redecorate your space (Got a printer? Get started.)
-Look through magazines for those craft/spa projects you never have time to do
I love this list! I usually go on an adventure. Something adrenaline pumping to take my mind off everything going wrong and remind me how small I am.
i havent commented in a while but
THIS.BLEW.MY.MIND!
i loved this article as much as the
SAD TROMBONE LIST!
kisses from the philippines!
I just started reading your blog and I have to say that this entry is MY FAVORITE! The list is long, as it should be. We all could use a little more light in our hearts. Thank you so much.
Recently I read in one of the blogs you link to in Carousel that loving yourself — or self-love — is not a synonym of indulging yourself. As in, love is action, and allowing yourself to eat that chocolate cake is good for you. It defines love as action, as taking care of your own body, etc.
I find that many of the advice that people give each other relates to food. “Let yourself indulge with ice cream” or “allow yourself to spend a day watching T.V”. I am not sure if it’s only me who does not feel at all well after having done that, but something tells me I’m not the only one.
Many of the advice you give here revolve around food and laziness. My question is… will that really help me out when I’m feeling down, or will it only help me stay there?
Food for thought.
Gala, you are fantastic! I’ve been reading your blog for the longest time, and I do not know why I haven’t commented. So weird. I love this list so much, of course.
Dear Gala,
Your advice prooves to be true.
In the last six months I went from very high paying job with very little satisfaction and reward to extraordinarily broke. I focus on what I love to do for money now exclusivley! I refuse to do something sucky for money. I live in a gloomy city in western New York that rarely sees any sunshine for most of the winter. I have no family other than my little boy here with me and if it wasnt for wigs ( I own 4 ) chocolate, trash tv, long distance phone calls with old friends, and the ocasional cuddle fest with oliver…a five pound yorkie….Id be a sad sad sight.
In addition….I also indulge in this…
www.youtube.com/watch?v=g61or6
my pole addiction.
Love your blog, squishes and kisses
D
I’ve eaten dark chocolate (60% cacao) and was magically transformed into a deliriously happy person. :D Which was impressive because I hated that job.
But giving to other people is my favorite. Sharing the good stuff is what life was invented for.
I also watch videos on youtube of my favorite bands performing live, that always makes me cheery.
Oh Gala! You’re just a genius, aren’t you?
When I’m feeling blue, I call or visit my Nana. She’s so sweet and kind, and she has the best sense of humour and says things you would never expect to hear from a 76 year old woman. My all-time favorite was “I borrowed all these books from the library, but they were no good. They were all twat-twitchers”.
Also,Vanessa, my thoughts and prayers are with you. You’re going through a really rough time and I hope that things start to smooth out for you.
- Try a new type of dancing. Ballroom, latin, contra, square, eastern european line dances…they’re all so much more fun than you’d ever expect, and you might meet some really cool people. Plus they’re a great way to get exercise.
- Plan a Lady GaGa themed party. My friends and I did this a couple of weeks ago, and it was a blast. We each tried to recreate one of her outfits, and we had good drinks and played her music all night long and sang along at the top of our lungs. You’ll have fun with the planning and the actual party. :) (Any theme party will do, really, but Lady GaGa is so eccentric that she gives plenty of opportunity for experimentation).
I found this at the right moment, I was really looking for something to do to make me feel better. Now I’m reading the best of craigslist haha it’s awesome
I love this, I have one question though gala; what happened to part 2 of the 50 things a girl should do before she dies list? Did I miss it?
Love this. My fave is watching NCIS in bed with ice-cream. Homer Huddson. mmm Wonderful New Zealand.
Lovely post, Gala :) It goes very well with The Sad Trombone List. I’ve been wondering if you could share some tips on your eye make-up? Your eyes always look so gorgeous.
I love this list Gala, I had a terrible funk of a day yesterday & although I kept telling myself ‘it’s just me, think positive, nothing’s changed’ I just couldn’t get myself out of it! I needed some happy things to brighten it up. Much like the things on this list.
I absolutely love and adore your blog. I’ve been following it for about a year now. Thanks for the inspiration and courage to start up my own blog. It’s just a baby, but I’m proud that I at least have a beginning. I love your lists of things to do, and ideas.
I absolutely love and adore your blog. I’ve been following it for about a year now. Thanks for the inspiration and courage to start up my own blog. It’s just a baby, but I’m proud that I at least have a beginning. I love your lists of things to do, and ideas. You are awesome!!!
Thank you so much Gala, this came just in time for me :) I needed some inspiration and as soon as I read this I started planning a huge girls afternoon tea to catch up with long lost friends. Then I went on to read some Doctor Who Fan Fiction (I am such a nerd!). David Tennant is my prince charming! Love your work! xx
This was great. I remember on an especially lame day (boyfriend got called into work and date was cancelled) I watched Hard Day’s Night, and it erased all dreary feelings.
This is kind of off-topic, but I wanted to let you know that after ages of reading all the good things you’ve said about EFT, I finally tried it tonight. The reason I put it off for so long is because I just don’t have much faith in things that don’t have hardcore science to back them up. But I’m facing a 15 hour flight (L.A. to Melbourne) next week, and I’m always a nervous wreck on planes. This will be the longest flight I’ve ever taken, and at this point I’ve worked myself up so much about it that none of my standard stress relief techniques are working. So, in a fit of desperation, I tried EFT.
And oh my god.
Just a few seconds into it, I was already starting to feel better, and by the time I was done, I was so relieved I was smiling from ear to ear. While I’m still not sure that it works for the reasons most people think it works (my vote is that it works by helping you mentally focus on one thing while also physically distracting you from anxiety/stress symptoms), it definitely worked to help me chill out about the flight. Needless to say, I’ll be using it again once I’m on the plane and the panic kicks in.
Thanks so much for talking about it at such length. Otherwise I would never have known it existed.
This list couldn’t have come at a better time. I was dumped last week, after a two year relationship, completely out of the blue – so needless to say, I really needed this list.
Thank you so much
love this post! i’d better start saving or printing out those lists like some people mentioned :)
@karli, i’m so sorry about your situation, sounds awful :( i hope you’ll find some inspiration to do something to keep you occupied and lift your spirits… good luck!
this is so brilliant, and just absolutely 100% what i needed to read today…thank you thank you thank you!!
Hey Gala, I’ve been reading your site for the past year and I really enjoy it. This post couldn’t of come at a better time. My new year has been off to a rough start.. and well I’m tired of feeling down. I want to get out and be happy. Thanks for the inspiration!
Ok, so i thought this year would be awesome, and so far these past 28 days have SUCKED! I have M.E which flaired up again recently so missed tons of college. But this has helped me so much, trying to be posistive. I’m feeling heaps better and should be able to go back to college on Monday (fingers crossed). I hope to go to Uni to do Fashion promo and I’ve started making a book, like cutting out clippings from magazines and w/e, showing what you do on the course, and shops in London (the Uni is in London) etc. So when i feel like i’m loosing hope, I just look at it and it reminds me of my goal.
xo
I love this list thanks for sharing it Gala!
Lovely list Gala! What a great article! So many things to try :D I also find trying to do a bit of exercise before I go to work, as much as I dread it beforehand, makes me happier all day! :D
Great list! You always make my day…
Personally, I find taking “whimsical” pictures exciting and relaxing at the same time. I especially love taking pictures of my mom’s flowers, miniatures and little bugs :)
Another happiness-boosting technique I discovered as a child is to shampoo my hair, make lots of foam and create weird hairdos ….my sister and I even used to make contests about who made the craziest!
I would love if you checked the latest entry in my blog, which was posted after a sudden inspiration attack caused from reading your lovely blog.
xoxo
snakecharmer4.blogspot.com/
I particularly liked the one about removing negative influences. Being friends with an ex- and being obsessive Facebook friends with an ex- are two different things! Block or hide the guy! We do not need to know how happy they are with their new wives or girlfriends!
Now I’m off to try yoga and/or swimming at the Grotto.
Cheers!
Super ideas! And what’s even better is the theme behind them: that we can be happy, all we need to do is try. Too many people remained mired in misery when all they need to do is change their perspective. If you’re lucky enough to be alive, you’re able to be happy. Thanks for showing us ways!
Tell someone what you like about them: a co-worker, close friend, or someone standing in line behind you. A sincere compliment or affirmation can make another person light up, and make you feel better about your own merit. It also improves relationships and increases confidence!
Chivalry is not dead: once, a young guy offered me a seat on the bus. I was so honoured by that! Just by holding open a door or going out of your way to respect someone else or graciously accept their respect you can brighten two days at once.
What luck, I really needed this! Thanks so much gala. Something I do is to put on a supercool hat, how can you be sad when wearing awesomeness on your head? X
Drawing mustaches on the faces in magazines is by far on of my favorite ways to cheer myself up. Nothing Like some healthy mischief
thank you so much for this post! those are all wonderful ideas. i’m bookmarking it (:
Aww, girl. I needed this. Your posting schedule must have been psychic!
When I read this when it first published, my boyfriend and I had broken up. We decided to try things again, but it didn’t work out. I found myself coming to this immediately after, and I’m either going to do retain therapy or get a massage tomorrow (luckily its payday for me!). I know that I’m definitely getting some Ben & Jerry’s! I had bought lingerie for our Valentine’s Day, but I’m not sure I’m going to return it ;)
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