30 Things to Say No to For The Best Year of Your Life.

1. Saying negative things about yourself.

2. Worrying about the future so much that you miss out on how good right now is.

3. Saying yes out of guilt.

4. Pushing snooze more than once.

5. Thinking that being kind means letting others walk all over you.

6. Never making a plan.

7. Saying no to things just because they weren't a part of the plan.

8. Constantly comparing your life/progress/self to someone else.

9. Buying things you can't afford.

10. Being afraid to try new things.

11. Procrastinating.

12. Never putting yourself first.

13. Voicing negativity more than positivity.

14. Skipping breakfast.

15. Doubting yourself.

16. Trying to force yourself to like whatever is popular at the current moment.

17. Needing to go out and spend money in order to feel like you had a fun night.

18. Caring too much about what other people think.

19. Missing out on the world around you because you're looking at your phone all the time.

20. Letting menial tasks pile up just because you don't like doing them (hello, laundry).

21. Being too busy to enjoy the little things in life.

22. Judging others.

23. Settling for less than.

24. Rudeness.

25. Being uninformed about what's going on around you.

26. Never putting yourself first.

27. Gossiping.

28. Being so serious all the time.

29. Making excuses for why you're not going after your dreams.

30. Beating yourself up over past mistakes.

Also read: 30 Things to Say Yes to For The Best Year of Your Life. 

What do you say no to for a better life?

30 Things to Say Yes to For The Best Year of Your Life.

1. Waking up 15 minutes earlier to enjoy a cup of coffee. 

2. Actually listening to the answer when you ask, "How are you?" 

3. Saying what you want. In the mood for mexican food? Say so, instead of saying, "Oh, whatever is good with me."

4. Chasing your small dreams, even if you think they're silly. 

5. Getting rid of anything you don't love. 

6. Drinking more water. 

7. Unwinding at the end of a busy day. Too often we go from a busy day at work -> running errands -> knocking things off our to-do list at home -> responding to emails in bed -> passing out for a few hours before repeating the whole thing. Take a little break and unwind, instead. Take a walk, have a glass of wine, take a bubble bath. 

8. Being present. 

9. Wearing whatever the heck you want. Is it in style? Who cares! Are you standing out? Who cares! Not you, because you're too busy looking fantastic. 

10. A second cup of coffee. And sometimes a third.

11. Saying "I love you" more often. 

12. Cleaning out your car every once in a while.

13. Bringing up what you're upset about as soon as it upsets you instead of letting it fester for weeks. 

14. Choosing to love your life how it is, right now, right where you are. 

15. Making kindness your first reaction. 

16. Staying up late sometimes, just to talk about life. 

17. Going to bed early sometimes to catch up on sleep. 

18. Finding a lipstick you think you look great in and wearing it all the time.

19. Getting dressed up for work. Or a trip to the grocery store. Or wherever it is you're heading on any given Tuesday.

20. Anything that makes you feel like you've found the reason why you're alive.

21. Trying new things. 

22. Getting outside more. 

23. Being content with what you have.

24. Being unapologetic about how you choose to spend your time. 

25. Shopping your own closet.

26. Changing the things you don't like about your life. 

27. Trying to live a healthy lifestyle.

28. Leaving your phone behind every now and then. 

29. Being thankful every single day. 

30. Being unafraid to just be who you are.

What have you said yes to that has made your life better?

Do This, Instead.

Have you ever picked up a health magazine or clicked on an article that promises to help you get your ideal body by making changes that you won't even notice? One of those "Do this, instead!" articles? You know the ones.

When you're craving chips and queso, eat kale chips and salsa, instead! 

When you want to go to happy hour with friends, meet up at the gym, instead! 

I've seen some pretty good recommendations, but most of the ones I see are like the examples above. Yes, it would be better for me to eat kale chips and salsa. In fact, I like kale chips! However, if I'm craving chips and queso, I am most definitely going to notice if I eat kale instead. In fact, I'm probably going to eat an entire bag of kale and then still eat the queso that I am still craving, because the kale just didn't do it for me.

I saw something like this in a magazine today, and it made me think about actual lifestyle changes that I would say "do this, instead" about.

So here's my list of things to do instead for a much happier life.

I promise there's not a single kale chip to be found.

Be kind, instead. When unkindness is the easiest option, choose kindness. Be kind to others instead of being rude. React kindly when a situation is calling out the meanness in you.

Be positive, instead. When negativity is taking over your thoughts, choose to be positive. When you're itching to critique the things around you, look for the good and voice that, instead.

Speak gratitude, instead. When complaints slip out of your mouth without you even realizing, strive to speak thankfulness. Instead of talking about what you're lacking, or what your day is lacking, say the good things about life out loud.

Compliment someone, instead. When you want to roll your eyes at how long it's taking the cashier to ring up your four items, compliment their smile. Instead of telling a co-worker how they screwed up the printer, compliment them on their presentation.

Be generous, instead. When someone asks if they can cut in front of you in line because they're running late, let them. Pay for someone's coffee. Clean up for someone. Something I've learned lately--being generous doesn't have to be expensive.

Bite your tongue, instead. When you want to lash out at someone, choose silence. When gossip and stories about someone are bubbling on the tip of your tongue, bite your tongue and manage your regrets in the long run.

Forgive immediately, instead. When someone cuts you off in traffic, brush it off. When a coworker takes credit for something you did, deal with it immediately and then forgive them instead of letting it fester. When your husband forgets to stop by the grocery store, accept his apology and move on.

Focus on the happy, instead. When there's so much to be unhappy about, remember that there is so much to be happy about. When you have seventy-four problems, focus on the one thing that went right today. Find reasons to be happy every single day.

Small changes make a big difference. 

Easy Ways to Become a Happier Person.

My current season of life is an incredibly stressful one where everything is up in the air. There are big decisions to be made, there is no plan (I really just always need there to be a plan), and I pretty much wake up and say good morning to my hovering anxiety every day.

But...I think I'm also the happiest and most grounded I've been. And I think that's because I've stopped trying to mess with the big things and have been focusing on living day-to-day life instead.

I've recently discovered some super easy ways to be happier, no matter what the circumstances are.

Realize the difference between things you can control and things you can't. This is a big one for me. I would like a detailed plan for my future and I'd like one right now, thank you very much. But that's just not in the cards at the moment. So spending my time worrying and stressing over what I have no control over? That's just stupid.

Get excited over the small things. Something so small, like spilling my coffee, will happen and I'll get upset over it. But something small and good will happen, like an extra long green light, and it will go by completely unnoticed.

If you're going to get upset over the bad littles, get excited over the good littles.

Make an effort to be thankful. I talk about this all the time, but it's so true! If someone asked you if you were thankful for your relationship or your house or your car, you'd say yes. But it's probably not something you think about on a daily basis.

When your heart is grateful and your mind is thinking thankful thoughts, you're happier. It's just that simple.

Clean up. I'm a messy person. I like to blame it on my creative mind, but really, I just don't like to clean.

That being said, I'm the happiest and most relaxed when my house is clean. Sometimes it's well worth it to suck it up and clean for an hour or two and then be able to enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Fill your day with little joys. Sometimes the smallest things can turn your whole day around. I'm on a big hot tea kick lately, so I've started bringing a little bag to work with a mug and truvia and a bunch of tea bags. A few times a day, I'll pick out a different flavor and have a cup of tea while I'm working, and it's stupid how much happier it makes my entire day.

Take advantage of the little things, the cheap things, the silly things, and make your own happiness.

Realize there's some stuff that's just gotta go. You're never going to have a happy life if you're always surrounded by negativity. I think it's important to examine your life every now and then and see what you need to get rid of.

What makes you a happier person?

Happy Life Advice: Part Three

Part one here and part two here.

Wake up ten minutes earlier so you can enjoy a cup of coffee in bed.

Watch a sunrise or a sunset at least once a week. 

Every once in a while, buy yourself something totally impractical that you don't need whatsoever.

If you have stuff in your house you don't like or use, throw it away. 

Decorate your house for fall. If that's not really your thing, just drive yourself to hobby lobby, buy a scarecrow or pumpkin, and put it on your table. Instant happiness.

Have a premiere party for all the new fall shows. And by premiere party, I mean turn your phone off and sit down with a pumpkin coffee and a hoodie and binge watch the goodness that is fall television. 

Glitter nail polish. Enough said.

What's your favorite cocktail to get when you go out? Learn how to make it at home. 

Watch the first movie that pops up on your Netflix recommendations.

Sometimes, just make the decision that you're going to have a fun night. Even if you have to wake up early the next day, or even if you have ten dollars to last you the week. Just make yourself have fun, no matter what that looks like to you. 

When you're having a bad day, pour yourself a glass of champagne and turn on your favorite song and dance around the kitchen to the whole thing. Just try to still have a bad day after that. 

Decide that today is going to be a good day. Decide to be happy today.

What makes you happy? 

Happy Life Advice: Part Two.

happy life advice part one

Dress however you the heck you want to.

Wake up an hour earlier to live an hour more...

...but every now and then, sleep in for as many hours as you possibly can.

Compliment other people as much as possible.  If you like something about them, tell them.  Don't keep it in your head.

Write letters.  To friends, to lovers, to strangers...just write them. 

Have a go-to playlist that is easily accessible for the not-so-great days.

Don't let a day pass you by without reading something. A book, a chapter, a page, a quote...just something. 

Buy something at the start of every season to celebrate a new chapter.  Fall should be celebrated with new boots, or at least a pumpkin spice latte.

Celebrate good hair days with all the selfies your little heart desires. 

Say something positive out loud every day, even if it's just to yourself.

Drink lots of water.  Because there's only so much that coffee and champagne can do for you.  Water is your friend.  

Learn to be amazing at cooking at least one thing--cookies totally count. When you're having a bad day and feel like you can't do anything right, go cook the heck out of that one thing.  See?  You're super talented.

And of course, get a puppy. 

What's your advice for a happy life? 

Happy Life Advice.

Walk barefoot at least once in every new place you go. 

At least once a week, do something that scares you. 

Find a lipstick that you love, and wear it whenever you're having a bad day.

Always be reading a book.  Even if it's just a page a day, always be reading.

Every now and then, put your iphone down and just live in a moment instead of taking a picture of the moment.  Make a memory just for yourself, not for your instagram friends.

Make to-do lists, but don't be afraid to ignore them.  Sometimes real life can't fit on a to-do list, and that's okay.

Start fresh every morning.  Have a cup of coffee and treat the day like the blank slate that it is.

If you're passionate about something, work it into your life.  It doesn't matter if it's impractical.  Life is too short to ignore the things you're passionate about.

Work hard at everything you do.  If you're not going to work hard at it, get rid of it and work hard at something else.  If it's something that has to be in your life, like a job you don't love, suck it up and work hard at it anyway.  You're never going to be happy with something that you're lazy with.

But be lazy sometimes.  Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.

Recognize moments of pure happiness and hold on tight to whatever causes them.

Always be dreaming.  Big dreams, small dreams, doesn't matter.

Remind yourself, often, of how fantastic you are.  Whether it's the fact that you have awesome handwriting, that you're amazing at your job, or that you cook really great breakfast, remind yourself that you are wonderful.

If you love the people in your life, tell them.  In as many ways and as often as you can.

Get yourself a puppy.  Because, duh.

What advice do you have for a happy life?