Whether you’re dealing with a bad mood, mental health difficulties, quarantine-inspired malaise, or anything in between, it can be essential to find ways to practice self-care, be mindful of how you’re feeling, and work through negative thoughts and emotions. There are lots of ways to take care of yourself from right at home in your apartments in West Campus, Austin that will not only help you through hard times but also set you up for increased happiness during your good times too!
We want all future residents of our apartments near UT Austin to be happy and healthy, so we’ve pulled together three simple ways to improve overall happiness, whether you’re in the midst of hardship or not. Let’s get into it!
Practice Mindfulness
You may have heard of mindfulness because it seems to be all the rage these days. But mindfulness is more than just a fad. Lots of different behaviors can promote mindfulness, but in general, mindfulness refers to the project of paying attention to the present moment, especially using your senses to become aware of how a situation or environment feels in the here and now. Because it focuses on the immediate and the tangible, mindfulness is an excellent practice for anyone needing to get in control of anxious or obsessive thoughts, especially thoughts that relate to the past or future.
A popular way to practice mindfulness is to meditate, and studies have shown that regular meditation has long-lasting effects on how the brain processes thoughts and feelings. This article from Mindful.org is a great primer on how to meditate in a way that’s most helpful for you. We highly recommend you try doing a guided meditation if you’re new to mindfulness meditation; you can find some toward the bottom of that Mindful.org article.
Other ways to practice mindfulness include journaling and talking to a licensed counselor. The common thread through all these practices is that they provide different, more controlled ways to process and reframe thoughts and feelings. When we change our relationship with negative thoughts that seem to be controlling us, we clear the way for greater happiness and calm.
Get Moving
It’s not always easy getting motivated to exercise, especially when you’re already feeling down or can’t leave your apartments in West Campus, Austin. But studies show that even a little bit of exercise can have a huge positive impact on mental health. In the short-term, exercise releases endorphins that promote positive feelings in the body. In the long-term, regular exercise helps change your brain chemistry as well as keeping your body in working order, making you feel stronger and more energetic.
You don’t need to get swole, trim fat, or lose pounds to gain the benefits of exercise. Try going for a bike ride around the neighborhood or doing a few bodyweight exercises in the comfort of your apartment.
Get Better Sleep
Our sleep has profound effects in every area of our lives, including our overall happiness. If you’re not getting enough rest, it can easily take a toll, not only making you feel tired, but also compromising your body’s natural ability to process thoughts, feelings, and memories in a healthy way.
About half of all adults report getting insufficient sleep at least some of the time. If you’re one of them, we recommend having a consistent sleep routine (go to bed and get out of bed at the same times each day) as much as possible, giving yourself time to wind down at night, investing in a comfy bed, and turning down the temperature when you go to sleep (just make sure you check with your roommates at your West Campus Austin apartments first). These strategies have proven helpful for many suffering from trouble sleeping.
We wish you increased happiness soon, future residents! We hope we’ve helped put you on a path toward that. If you’d like to see any future tips and recommendations from us in the future, make sure you bookmark our blog page for easy access to upcoming posts. Finally, if you don’t want to miss out on special promotions, community updates, and events at our apartments near UT Austin, follow us on Instagram!