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How to Turn Any Day into a Good Day

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UC Berkeley chapter.

1. Focus on the small good things that happen to you throughout the day instead of focusing on the negatives.

A proven way to make yourself more positive and more happy is the ability to look at more positives in comparison to negatives. When you focus on the positive aspects of life you are strengthening the neural connections in your brain to continue to look for these happy and positive moments. The reverse is also true; if you continuously look at the negatives of life, or focus on them in your brain, then you are strengthening those negative connections. The feelings regarding happiness and sadness are connected to which neural impulses your brain is sending out. Focus on the small positive things; just this slight shift will brighten your mood.

2. Walk around with a smile on your face!

Another psychological trick towards making any day better is by forcing yourself to smile despite however you are feeling. If you force yourself to smile you are tricking your brain into thinking you are in a good mood. Who knew that by faking to be happy your brain that you actually are happy! As my mom always used to say, ‘Fake it til you make it!’

3. If you can’t find positive things, make them happen!

You have the power every day to make positive things happen around you, you do not have to sit and feel like you are wasting your life. You can fill your days with activities that you like to do and things that will make you happy. You don’t need life to give you positive events, you can create them!

4. If all of these things feel impossible, you can start by making a list!

    Start by making a list of all of the things your need to do and then set them aside all of the things that you want to do. Finish what is absolutely mandatory first, and make sure that you take time for yourself so you can balance work and fun. One of the best ways to be positive is to be both productive, and to reward yourself with activities that you find fun. Don’t be afraid to live it up!

5. If none of these things work, reach out to a friend!

    Reach out to someone who knows what would make you feel better, and go do that with them! If you feel absolutely helpless in making your day better then you should have to enlist the recruits! You’re never alone!

 

UC Berkeley class of 2021. My heart is in the mountains, and with any corgi I see. I'm interested in writing, yoga, running, hiking, boxing, playing piano, music, adventures, and studying psychology and anthropology.
Melody A. Chang

UC Berkeley '19

As a senior undergraduate, I seek out all opportunities that expand my horizons, with the aim of developing professionally and deepening my vision of how I can positively impact the world around me. While most of my career aims revolve around healthcare and medicine, I enjoy producing content that is informative, engaging, and motivating.  In the past few years, I have immersed myself in the health field through working at a private surgical clinic, refining my skills as a research assistant in both wet-lab and clinical settings, shadowing surgeons in a hospital abroad, serving different communities with health-oriented nonprofits, and currently, exploring the pharmaceutical industry through an internship in clinical operations.  Career goals aside, I place my whole mind and soul in everything that I pursue whether that be interacting with patients in hospice, consistently improving in fitness PR’s, tutoring children in piano, or engaging my creativity through the arts. Given all the individuals that I have yet to learn from and all the opportunities that I have yet to encounter in this journey, I recognize that I have much room and capacity for growth. Her Campus is a platform that challenges me to consistently engage with my community and to simultaneously cultivate self-expression.Â