Hi dearest reader! This is Christian and Madeline again, comin' at ya with another Nifty Top 10 List (patent pending). I hope you're having a lovely day today. But, alas, even if you are not having a lovely day, you've stumbled into just the right place to fix that situation. Because here we're going to give you a rundown of our top ten surefire ways to make your day a little brighter! So without further ado, here are our fav things to do when we're feeling blue (you'll be happy to know rhyming is not one of them).
10. Change your phone or computer wallpaper :)
Yes… we know this seems quite simple; I must tell you even I was skeptical until I tried it! Changing your device’s wallpaper can take as little as a minute, but will leave you feeling its effects the rest of the day. Whether you change it to an inspirational quote, beautiful art, family, or a funny dog photo, this will be sure to at least make you smile for a second.
9. Make a playlist of your favorite songs in the world :)
You know the songs I’m talking about. The ones you grew up with, the ones that make you cry (in a good way), the ones that remind you what truly talented musicians can really do, the ones that just make you feel like you. There are a whole bunch of songs that I can categorize as “favorites,” and I’m sure you can too. If you need a pick-me-up, jump on Spotify or YouTube and curate the ultimate YOU playlist. Warning: this could take up most of your day. But if you need to get some tunes asap, check out my buddy Madison’s newest playlist post. ;)
8. Look through old photos and send the ones with the best memories to the people you shared them with :)
I’ll admit, I’m a smidgen obsessed with taking pictures. Ask any of my friends--they know it’s automatically on the agenda for us to take a selfie when we hang out. And whether it be a Polaroid or a phone photo, it’s always a really heartwarming thing to flip back through old pics and send some timeless ones to the people I took them with. We all need a trip down memory lane every once in a while, especially when... ya know… you can’t take any real trips during a global pandemic.
7. Do something good for the world (e.g. play on freerice.com or make a donation to a solid charity) :)
This is a very open-ended one. It can literally be anything. I personally did try Free Rice for the first time and it was interesting. This past week I bought a friend coffee; Yes, this is a small gesture, but it can have a great impact on another person. There is something uniquely wonderful about receiving something we didn’t earn… a gift. So please, give a gift.
6. Send a friend an encouraging voicemail or text :)
This is something quite uncommon in American culture unfortunately. A genuine message of encouragement to a friend or acquaintance can make their day. This used to happen more frequently when people actually mailed letters… We have an even faster and easier method to do this now, so YOU have NO excuse! You can walk away after doing this, knowing you have strengthened your friendship--and that is a great joy in itself.
5. Look up blooper reels from your favorite movies / TV shows :)
This is a very low involvement option which is why it made it in the top 5. You search up a great show you love, like THE OFFICE, and then you let YouTube do its magic. Watching the bloopers surprisingly gives you a more intimate connection to the characters and actors themselves. The primary benefit, however, is that you can enjoy a good laugh and relax.
4. Say "bloop" when you pick stuff up and set stuff down (or at least think it) :)
Yo, I’m not even kidding. This is a solid way to make yourself instantly happier. I don’t think you can even say the word “bloop” in an angry tone. Try it, I double dog dare you.
3. Find a computer game you used to play as a kid and play it again :)
I dunno about you, but I was such a PC nerd as a kiddo (I guess the software engineering major explains that, though). But guaranteed there’s some sort of computer game you played as a kid, whether it was Webkinz, Club Penguin (RIP), the Disney site, or NickJr. Thanks to the vast quantity of ‘90s kids who are now in the tech industry, most of the early ‘00s Internet games we know and love are still floating around on the web. So, search one up and play it for a bit! Bueno Rufus never fails to cheer me up.
2. Make or buy yourself your favorite hot beverage :)
With a Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts on campus, we are without excuse! Pop on by and grab coffee, tea, or whatever floats your boat. Enjoy the steaming aromatics floating into the air (through your mask if in public) and into your nose. Then enjoy the next step in your journey: the wonderful heat searing your hands as you enjoy your beverage. Finally, after letting your senses be titillated, drink the beverage! Now bask in the delight.
1. Call a family member you haven't talked to in a while :)
College is a busy time, but amidst all the stress of assignments and responsibilities, talking to someone who loves and cares about you can mean the world--and they’re usually only a phone call away. Back when I was actually driving to Ship for classes, I called my grandma every morning to catch up with her during my commute. I can’t tell you how much that rejuvenated me every day, just hearing from someone who knows how to put everything in perspective and is always interested in what’s going on in my life. For you, that might be a friend, parent, grandparent, sibling, aunt, uncle, mentor--there is always someone who wants to hear how you’re doing, and giving them a call might be just what you both needed.
Is there a bomb-diggity way to brighten your day that we didn't mention? Do you have a Top 10s topic you'd like to see us feature? Hit up your Top 10s writers, Christian and Madeline, in the comments!
TL;DR - here are the ten best ways to brighten your day without much effort.
1. Call a family member you haven’t talked to in a while
2. Make or buy yourself your favorite hot beverage
3. Find a computer game you used to play as a kid and play it again
4. Say “bloop” when you pick stuff up and set stuff down (or at least think it)
5. Look up blooper reels from your favorite movies / TV shows
6. Send a friend an encouraging voicemail or text
7. Do something good for the world (e.g. play on freerice.com or make a donation to a solid charity)
8. Look through old photos and send the ones with the best memories to the people you shared them with
9. Make a playlist of your favorite songs in the world
10. Change your phone or computer wallpaper
Comments
Post a Comment