Photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash

Doesn’t life seem so busy that we’ve forgotten how to slow down long enough to enjoy being alive? 

When did you last enjoy a relaxing weekend or leisurely getaway? 

Work keeps us busy; too busy for many people.

Studies show that nearly 70% of employees feel disengaged in their workplace. And over 50% of young adults report a lack of motivation at work and in life.

By the way, what toll do you imagine this scenario takes on relationships and marriage? When you feel stressed, uptight, and overwhelmed, everything in your life suffers, especially your marriage. 

The silver lining is that you can do things to bring inspiration and contentment back into your life.

Here are ten easy things you can do daily to increase your well-being and nourish your soul. 

Make your way through the list to see which inspires you to take that first step to restore peace to your life. Soon, as you add more of these steps to your daily routine, you’ll notice you’re enjoying life a whole lot more because it has gotten much less stressful and complicated.  

Set Aside Time Daily For Prayer & Meditation

Prayer and meditation nourish the soul, mind, and body. Just the simple act of focusing on your breathing as you calm your mind with an inspirational thought, promise, or silent prayer has been proven to enhance memory, sleep, and creativity.

Start with five minutes each day; gradually increase. Add journaling along the way to deepen results. The more time you spend in prayer and meditation, the more fulfilled and content you’ll feel.

Take a Bath

People have known the health benefits of baths for centuries, especially if you add certain ingredients to the water that rejuvenate and restore you.

Medical experts often recommend adding salt, ginger, oatmeal, lavender, coconut oil, and more.

One recipe calls for mixing mustard seed powder, baking soda, Epsom salt, and essential oil. Then, add it to your bath water to replenish your body’s magnesium supply and help enhance overall well-being.

Read More

There’s so much to choose from these days! You can buy, rent, or borrow books. Not to mention Kindle. They come in many forms: paperback, hardback, audio, and screen-friendly files.

Yet, no matter the type of book you’re reading, you can almost always guarantee that you’ll learn something new and stimulate your brain.

Plus, you’ll forget about the day’s troubles for a few minutes, which is great for your mental and emotional health.

Volunteer

Volunteering is a fantastic opportunity to see how other people live. Helping them triggers feelings of gratitude for everything you have in your life. Plus, perhaps more importantly, you feel good about helping make other people’s lives a little bit easier or better for a while.

Smile More Often

Find moments where you can smile here or there during the day. You can smile at the stranger who holds the door for you at the supermarket or the neighbor you see on your way to work.

Smiling sends happy hormones coursing through your veins. So, make it a point to smile more often!

Listen to Music

We enjoy different genres of music during different life stages or occasions.

Sometimes you’re in the mood for something upbeat and festive. Other times, you prefer listening to something calming and ethereal, like classical music or soft jazz. And then there are times you choose music that connects your soul to God.

Music is a tremendous stress reliever and source of inspiration that infuses your life with positive energy.

Spend Time Outdoors

Do you live near a beach or park? Then, enjoy an hour or two feeling the sand or grass beneath your feet or the wind or spray of the crashing surf on your face.

All it takes is 5–10 minutes outdoors. 

Take a walk, cycle, hike, or garden. Or find a peaceful spot to relax and enjoy the moment.

The fresh air will brighten your mood. In fact, studies show that exposure to adequate lighting each day is essential to maintain physical and mental health.

Enjoy the Art Scene

Whether you visit local museums, view online collections, or paint something at home doesn’t matter. 

According to one study by the University College London, art makes you feel elated and giddy with excitement.

You can always tell when a piece of artwork appeals to your senses, even if you’re unsure exactly why.

Some people even report their blood pressure lowering simply by gazing upon a beautiful work of art that’s a nature scene, like the ocean or mountains.

Declutter

Seeing your dresser, kitchen counter, or desk in utter disarray is enough to make anyone feel uptight and stressed. 

Clutter is a constant reminder of yet another thing that needs to be done that keeps getting put off.

But decluttering doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, all you have to do is give yourself the illusion that everything is in order. The quickest way to do that is to straighten up things into neat piles, throw out some items, and dust off the surfaces.

Indulge in Aromatherapy

Whether you go outside and smell the roses or use a few drops from a bottle of your favorite essential oil, the result is the same.

Science reveals that our brain releases feel-good chemicals when we smell something we like.

We also tend to take long, deep breaths when we like a particular scent or aroma. And just the act of breathing deeply is enough to lower stress levels, making you feel relaxed and more in control.

As you can see, it doesn’t take much to begin restoring peace, serenity, and a sense of calm to your life. Anyone of these ten steps just takes minutes a day. Look at the list again and pick one to do today to enjoy a happier life and marriage.