Tips for having a positive attitude

Having a positive attitude is a choice you make.  You can see the glass as either half full or half empty.  It is important to choose your language wisely.  Only you can find ways to keep your attitude positive.  The following list are some methods that work for me.  Perhaps some of these will work for you too but I encourage you to write your own list.

1. Get enough sleep.  I turn pretty negative when I am tired.  Nothing looks right to me.  I need at least 7 hours of sleep a night.  What do you need?  Did you know that one third of American workers get less than the 7 to 9 hours recommended?
2. Eat a healthy diet.  If I am hungry I am not a happy person.  I’m also not happy if I am gaining weight.  Finding the right diet that is low in calories but gives me the nutrients I need to keep me alert and feeling full is important to my mental and physical health.  This one is always a challenge for me!
3. Set aside time for yourself each day.  “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” is an old saying.  I know if I work constantly without a break I get tired and cranky. I need to leave time to read, meditate, take a walk, spend time with a friend, or take care of my house plants in the winter and garden in the summer.
4. Exercise.  Working out a few days a week helps me to stay physically fit and feels like an accomplishment to me.  By nature I am a doer so accomplishing something puts me in a positive frame of mind.  It makes me feel good about myself.
5. Avoid negative self-talk.  I know I must become aware of it and change it to positive.  This one is not easy for me.  The critical voice in my head gets the best of me sometimes and I need to stop myself.  I make up the story to what is happening.  Most of the time it isn’t negative but my inner critic can find a way to make it that way.
6. Sing.  For me singing is a magical way to make me feel that all things are possible.  I am happiest when I sing with others though so every Wednesday night I rehearse with a choir that meets very close to my home.  Connectedness does help me to have a positive attitude and singing with the choir is a way that I feel most connected.
7. Prioritize your to do list and set reasonable goals.  Overwhelm is a common feeling when I have too much work and not enough time.  Writing a “to do” list and then prioritizing that list allows me to do the most important items first.  Again accomplishing something gives me a very positive feeling.
8. Take time to be grateful for what you have.  Focusing on what I don’t have or what I want is the best way to make me feel down.  If I spend time being grateful for what I have I realize how very lucky I am.
9. Read or watch something funny and laugh.  They say laughter is the best medicine and there is nothing like it to make me have a positive attitude.  Laughing and even just smiling helps me to stay happy and feel positive.
10. Spend time with those you love.  Having a sense of community is another way to feel connected.  Spending time with family and friends helps to make my attitude positive.  Thinking about my grandchildren always gives me a boost.  Spending time with them is a powerful way to give my attitude positive inspiration.