White Ruffles And Pink Accents + Finding Joy In The Present

Sometimes, our circumstances are a bit out of our control. Sometimes, we might find ourselves in a season of life that isn't always easy to bear. Despite all the people out there touting "positive vibes" and to "only spend time with those who uplift you", sometimes the positive vibes are hard to find. And, I'm here to tell you that my three year old daughter is one of my favorite people on the planet, and she's the person I spend most my time with... but a three year old rarely leaves you feeling uplifted and energized. haha. My current season of life (caring for two toddlers) is sometimes challenging, and I have a close friend who has found herself in a challenging season of life, for very different reasons. I was just thinking the other day that no one is immune to those challenging and difficult times in life. So, how can you find a little joy amidst the daily grind? Today, I'm sharing 5 ways that can improve your mood and help you feel happy, during the trying times.

1. Remember the good times during the especially hard times. There are hard Mom-days, and then there are really hard Mom-days. I've found it really helps me, in the moments I feel I might snap, to recall those really good times with my children. It reminds you that there have been lots of good times, and there will be good times in the future. The one certain thing about life is that it's constantly changing, so your current situation will be changing, too. 

2. Get outside. Hear me out on this one, because I sometimes struggle with this, myself. I would rather stay inside where it's always the perfect temperature, and there are no bugs. haha! But, it's been proven that humans need to get outside sometimes, and it's a definite way to improve your mood. I choose to take daily walks with my kids. They love it, I love it, and everybody really is in a better mood, after our walks. 

3. Find a hobby you love. For me, it was starting this blog. But, finding a hobby that really drives you, motivates you, and helps give you a sense of purpose can really help fuel the good feelings. Spending time each day doing something you really care about will go far to help you feel happy. 

4. Find a friend. My friend, Candace, has been on the blog a few times, so you've probably seen her. She's someone I can relate to, we both blog, we both love fashion, we both like to stay healthy, and bonus points, we live like a mile away from each other! It's so nice to be able to talk to someone about what you're going through, no matter what it might be, and have someone who cares to just sit and talk over a glass of wine.

5. Get Healthy. By this, I don't mean join a gym and spend hours sweating it out on a treadmill, and eat only chicken and salad for every meal. I mean, just clean up your diet a little bit, maybe go a little lighter on the alcohol, and add in a few walks through the neighborhood each week. If you've started to eat poorly, you'd be amazed at how good you can feel just by cleaning up your diet a little (less sauces, just one cookie instead of two). It adds up and can really impact your health, overall.

If you're going through a difficult situation, or are just in a challenging season of life right now (some seasons can be challenging but beautiful, like raising toddlers, or planning a wedding), I hope you found a few ways to increase your joy during this time. Remember you're not alone, and no one is immune to the challenging seasons of life. We're all in this together! 

Thanks so much for reading!

Jessica

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