5 Things You're Doing Well

I'm tired of scrolling through my phone only to be inundated with articles about all of the things I am doing wrong and all the things I have to change in my life in order to have a better body, better skin, a better apartment, and a better life.  My life is far from perfect, but I kind of feel like I have a handle on a lot of things and would prefer, on occasion, to find some articles that maybe, I dunno, reinforce some of the positive instead of laundry listing and magnifying all the weak spots.

No, I don't own three pieces of real estate, I haven't maxed out my 401K contributions for the year, I haven't set up a charity to solve the world's problems, but, Im happy, healthy, and perpetually grateful for all of the things that I do have.

With that in mind, let's outline some of things I think we're all doing pretty well.

1. Sleep.  Every night. Some Saturday afternoons.  Whatever. I love to sleep and find that I am able to get between 6-8 hours, nightly. Bravo for us! Having trouble sleeping? Improve your bedding or the space around it; make yourself excited about getting into bed. My favorites textile brands are John Robshaw and Matouk.  Don't want to splurge on bedding, try a clean scented candle next to your bed (or safer yet, a diffuser).  I also always run an air purifier and seasonally, a humidifier.   
2. Hydrate.  I'm obsessed with Smart Water. It's an indulgence and its selfish (I go through a ton of plastic bottles), but it's a good-vice, as far as they go.  I can take down 4 liters in a day.  I drink it at room temperature and I try to always have a bottle on me.  It's great for skin, suppresses some hunger, and keeps me happy. I'm confident you're staying hydrated too.  If not, it's a pretty quick fix.
3. Stuff.  As mentioned, I have a lot of shoes.  I also have a lot of jeans, sweaters, dresses, and work out clothes.  But do you know what I don't have too many of? Any of them. I am perpetually cleaning out my closet and drawers and keep only what I wear.  I am a frequent seller on ThredUp, The RealReal, and am always dropping a bag off at Goodwill.  It feels so good to have less.  Start today - right now.  Grab a shopping bag and just fill it with stuff you haven't worn in the last year. Find a donation center and voila! 
4. Gratitude. My grandmother gave me monogrammed stationary before I could read or write my own name.  New sets were gifted for every birthday and each year I looked forward to whatever she had designed for me.  She died before I turned 10, but my appreciation for beautiful paper and my compulsion to write prompt thank you notes, lives on. Sugar Paper is my go-to.  The letter press stationary is simply magnificent.  If you intend to become better at writing thank you notes, start by having stationary that brings you joy.       
5. Exercise.  Like everyone else, I have a lot of stress in my life. I manage it by working out 5-6x a week.  I love to work out. I love to sweat, I love to get my heart rate up, I love to push myself to get stronger, faster, and leaner. I love the sense of calm that envelops me afterwards.  I love that I'm doing it just for me. Cardio is not for everyone. But everyone can take a walk; even if its just around the block; to buy bottled water, stationary, or drop a bag off at Goodwill.   Sure, we're all works in progress who are looking for ways to lead better lives or lead our lives better, but we are also doing a lot of things right. Let's remember to celebrate them, too.