39 Ways to Enjoy 2013

01.04.2013

1. Think positive before sleep
Think about what you want to accomplish the next day, or a far off goal. It’ll help you wake up in a good mood. FACT: Birds, especially morning doves are really good at this. Which is why they’re so happy and loud in the morning.

2. Calm down
Don’t fret about work; don’t let others ruffle your feathers. Take some deep breaths and slow down. A calm mind makes better decisions. Just think Ben Stein before you do anything.

3. Take a day trip to the Shenandoah Valley
We have a national park with great hiking trails only a couple hours away. Take a day trip and hike along the Appalachian Trail, or take a drive down the scenic Skyline Drive. Watch out for Black Bears.

4. Keep in touch with those closest to you
It’s funny how the advances in social technology have somehow made it harder to stay in touch with our closest friends and family in a true genuine way. Call a close friend on the phone and catch up.

5. Be courteous and kind
You’d be surprised. When you’re courteous and kind, many people often return the gesture.

6. Keep a journal
You don’t have to write down your inner most feelings (you can), but maybe just write down the things you did that day, or ideas you have. It’s a great resource to have for yourself, as well as entertaining to look back on.

7. Be Creative
Whatever it may be. Creative in art, cooking, marketing strategies, home improvements. Just create, it feels great.

8. Keep learning
We’re never done learning. Always strive to be better. Unless you’ve ever -been on the cast of The Jersey Shore in which case you should just give up.

9. Laugh
It’s the greatest sound ever. Well actually some laughs are pretty unbearable, but do it anyways

10. Take photos
And get them printed. Having all your photos online is so 2012.

11. Join a farm co-op
Help a farmer, be a part of a community, get quality produce/meat each week, eat healthy. What’s not to love? And there are plenty of farm co-ops around so check them out. Once you’re in, make sure to bring up the fact that you belong to a co-op every time someone mentions going to the grocery store for their meats and vegetables.

12. Have an open mind
You have your beliefs and I have mine. Let’s listen to one another and celebrate that we’re all a little different.

13. Help someone
We all need a little help at some point, so give someone a hand today.

14. Get a bike
Or join a bike share. Biking is a great way to stay in shape as well as an excellent cost saving and eco-friendly way to commute to work.

15. Take a break
Take little breaks throughout the day to keep your mind fresh, but use your non-break time wisely without procrastinating.

16. Be positive
Yes, it’s easier said than done, but being positive is just way more fun than being negative. Instead of seeing the glass as half empty or half full, realize it’s a glass and you can keep on filling it up as much as you want, but you’re going to have to get up off your butt and make an effort.

17. Eat a healthy breakfast
“Eat breakfast like a King, lunch like a Prince, and dinner like a Beggar.” Yes, this is basically backwards of what everyone does, but it is a proven fact that practicing this way of eating throughout the day will improve not only your physical health but mental health as well. There are two exceptions to this rule. First, McDonalds breakfast is always acceptable because it’s incredible. Second, it is acceptable to have an enormous brunch, though it has to be after 10am, before 12pm, and let’s be honest you’ll probably have a few Bloody Mary’s with it so save let’s brunch for the weekend.

18. LISTEN
Don’t cut someone off when they’re telling a story to try and relate it to yourself. We all do it, but it’s a bit annoying. Instead listen, you’ll get your turn.

19. Get inspired
What inspires you? Art, music, nature, or work? Expose your mind to those who have accomplished great feats or created masterpieces before you, and use what they have accomplished to kick start your own dreams and aspirations.

20. Go on walks
Clear you mind and get some fresh air.

21. Move to Norway
It was rated the happiest country in the world this year.

22. READ
Anything. Books, magazines, newspapers, or even cereal boxes. Just do it. It’ll probably make you smarter.

23. Count to 39 before reacting
Or any number higher than 10. The point is that it’s not wise to react to certain situations right away. Were you angered by someone’s actions at work? Maybe you should wait a while before sending that heated email.

24. Go to the Smithsonian Museums and Memorials in DC
We live in a great city that people from all over the world come to visit. Ther are a ton of free museums and activities so take advantage of it. Not to mention some of the best people watching in the country takes place at the Smithsonian Mall.

25. Save your money
Instead of buying lunch everyday, make it. Then make sure to bring attention to the fact that you bring your lunch everyday to your coworkers who go out for lunch.

26. Do it now
Carpe Diem! Seize the day. There’s no better time to accomplish your goals than right now.

27. Be passionate
About work, your family, your hobbies, the world. Being passionate about makes something waking up in the morning an exciting thing.

28. Remember some good jokes
It’s really useful to have a couple good jokes up your sleeve.
Here’s one to get you started!
Q: Why didn’t the skeleton go to the dance?

 A: Because it had no body to go with.

29. Forgive
It’s not always easy, but we all mess up so try and forgive someone who may have wronged you somewhere along the road.
30. Dance
Let loose and dance your heart out. ESPECIALLY if you’re bad, because you’ll make everyone around you really entertained.

31. Limit your time online
Yes, the Internet is the single most incredible invention this world may have ever had. It connects people instantly and gives us any information we want whenever we want it. But maybe staring at cute kitten pictures all day isn’t the best way to stimulate your mind.

32. Have a hobby
Hobbies give purpose and fun to our downtime. It can be anything from gardening to collecting, painting to cooking, reading to hiking. Just find something that you enjoy and do it.

33. Go to Great Falls
This is for those in the DC Metro area. You can go on the Virginia or Maryland side. Both sides of Great Falls are beautiful, and you would be surprised that such an amazing display of nature’s beauty and power is so close to the city.

34. Branch out and meet new people
You don’t have to forget about your current friends, but why not spice up your social life a bit?

35. Don’t take things too seriously, especially yourself
We’re only on this lovely planet for so long. Realize we all have faults and we’re all just striving to be happy.

36. SMILE
It’ll improve your attitude as well as those who you see throughout the day. Smiles are contagious. Not to mention if you don’t smile enough your face will be permanently stuck in a frown by the time you’re 60.

37. Stretch
Dogs, cats, and yoga instructors do this very well and they seem happy, so there must be something good about it.

38. Make lists
Lists (like this one) are great for getting organized, but also a great way to quickly jot down thoughts or goals that you can look back on later.

39. Surround yourself with positive thinking people
Positivity is contagious, and more fun than negativity. Just ask a Proton why they hate hanging out with electrons.