May We Be...Buoyant

BUOYANT  ˈboiənt, ˈbo͞oyənt | adjective 

cheerful and optimistic: the conference ended with the party in a buoyant mood.

Being buoyant means keeping a positive outlook and an optimistic perspective. As the saying goes, “One small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.” Similarly, doing one little thing to lift your spirits each day can improve your whole outlook. Here are some suggestions for ways to boost your mood:

1. Start Fresh Each Day

Remember every day is a new day, filled with potential. Start with a clean slate and leave yesterday’s worries behind. A quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson sums this up best: “Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as. You can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.”

2. Practice Gratitude

Start the day by listing three things in your life for which you are grateful. Focusing your attention on gratitude instead of negativity is a way to plant positive seeds in your mind and train it to see the good. If you want to take it a step further, share that gratitude throughout the day by dropping little thank you notes to the people who brighten your day. A quick smiley face and “Thank you! You’re a lifesaver!” stuck on a dollar bill with a colorful sticky note as a tip for the barista who made your morning coffee is sure to be appreciated.

3. Be Good To Your Body

When your body isn’t functioning at its best, it’s hard to feel your best. Proper nutrition, daily exercise, and sufficient sleep are important. Drink water to stay hydrated. Eat lots of fruit and veggies. Fuel your body with protein instead of filling it with empty calories and junk. You don’t have to be a gym junkie or avid runner to get into a regular exercise routine. A daily walk or bicycle ride or morning yoga stretch session helps get your body energized and those endorphins flowing to improve your mood. Health experts recommend getting 7-8 hours of sleep each night. You can help condition your body to do this by going to bed around the same time each night and setting a consistent morning wake-up time.

4. Limit Screen Time

Many of us have jobs that require us to be on our computers and accessible by phone for much of the day. We become conditioned to responding to dings and red flag notifications and are hit with a constant barrage of information. You may feel like something is missing when you don’t have this access, but turning off the computer and phone when you aren’t required to be on them can be profoundly liberating. Relax without distraction and release any fear of missing out. Your nervous system doesn’t have to be on high alert 24/7!

5. Go Outside

This can’t be stressed enough! We live in a perfect place to enjoy nature virtually year-round, so get out and do that as much as you can. Take a morning walk or run on the beach. Spend a day riding bikes on Jekyll Island. Explore the nature trails at Cannon’s Point. Take your lunch to the Pier or Gould’s Inlet. Watch the sunset at Gascoigne Bluff. When you get out of your house or office, you allow your mind to take in this wider space and perspective. You’ll breathe deeper and easier.

6. Make Time To Play

It’s easy to let work become our focus, with office work, housework, homework, volunteer work, and even personal work. But remember, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” The human spirit needs fun too! Set aside time to relax and have fun, even if you have to schedule it. Plan a regular family movie night or play board games and make your own sundaes on Sundays.

7. Get By With a Little Help From Your Friends

Don’t isolate. Dedicate time to friends. Reach out to chat or catch up with a long phone call. Share silly memes, favorite songs, and funny stories. Meet up for a meal or drinks. Pull out old pictures and share some snaps with the OG crew. Plan a girls night in with potluck dinner and pajamas or get glitzy and go out! Even a few texts exchanged during the day can help you feel closer to your friends and strengthen your sense of belonging.

8. Freshen Up Your Environment

Make sure the spaces where you’re spending your time aren’t bringing you down. Deep clean and get rid of clutter whenever and wherever necessary, whether it be in your home or your office. Make sure you have ample lighting. Open windows to let in fresh air. Add plants or fresh-cut flowers. Change out your art if it’s not reflecting or inspiring the mood you want. Make your space a reflection of you and a place where you feel comfortable.

9. Set Realistic Goals

Write down your goals for the day. The list should be a limited number of tasks you realistically want to (and believe you can) accomplish during the day. It can also include steps you want to take to meet larger goals you may have for future endeavors, like researching business plans or registering for non-profit status. “A dream written down with a date becomes a goal. A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan. A plan backed by action makes your dreams come true.” Each time you cross off a completed task, it will feed your sense of accomplishment and may help you realize you’re another step closer to making your dreams come true.

10. Help Others

John Holmes said, “There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.” Doing something to help others is one of the best ways to lift your own spirits and feel a sense of reward. Here in the Golden Isles, we have a wide variety of non-profit and charitable organizations that can always use volunteers. You can pack medical aid kits at MAP International. Bake desserts for Manna House. Help with pet socialization or other needs at the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia. Assist No Kill Glynn County with fostering or transporting animals. Get dirty at a Keep Golden Isles Beautiful clean-up. Build homes with Habitat for Humanity of Glynn County or Golden Isles Veterans Village. Share your knowledge and skills with groups as a mentor or tutor. See if the local schools or libraries need someone to read to kids. If you can’t make that kind of commitment, there are still so many things you can do on a smaller scale to ease the load for others. Help a neighbor out with some yard work. Volunteer to pick-up/drop-off kids for school, dance class, sports practice, or other activities. Pet-sit and water plants for a vacationing friend. Take a meal to someone who isn’t up to cooking for themselves or needs a break. Bring coffee or breakfast treats for your co-workers. Drop a note of appreciation to a teacher or coach. Cheer for others, in general. When you make other people feel supported and encouraged, it has a positive effect on you too.