Technically, Spring has been underway for a couple of weeks now but for me it really doesn’t feel like Spring until April comes around. As soon as the nights get lighter, days get warmer and the daffodils start to bloom, everything starts to feel a little better. Maybe it’s because I have a Spring birthday so it’s permanently ingrained in me to feel most present in these months. Whilst the world is far from healed, I have already seen an uplift in my mood and I want to take this positive change and use it to make April my happiest, most productive month yet. To those of you who are feeling the same or need a bit of inspo, here are 6 ways to make April your happiest month this year.

flower inspirational quote

Stop and smell the roses

Regardless of what is happening around the world, one thing that you can rely on to remain consistent is nature. After all, in spite of everything the flowers still bloom. Try and dedicate some time each day to spend outside, even if only for a moment. In my opinion there’s no better form of mindfulness than taking in the outdoors, especially in the warmer months. Next time you go for a walk, take a look around and you will see that colour is starting to grow amongst the green! Something that brings me immediate joy is having flowers in the house and studies have shown that flowers stimulate dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin all of which contribute to a happy state of mind. So next time you’re in the supermarket, pop some flowers in your basket and bring them home or better still, for those with a garden, why not grow your own?

See your loved ones

In the UK we have recently seen a slight lift in our social restrictions, meaning we can now spend some time with others outside. This, combined with the Easter Holidays, makes April a perfect month to see some of our friends and family and have some much needed social interactions outside of our own households. You don’t need me to tell you how spending time with loved ones can bring joy and happiness, I doubt any of us will be forgetting for a while. So grab a picnic blanket, put on some pretty spring clothes and have some much needed happy times.

Change your scenery

Spending a lot of time at home means spending a lot of time looking at the same walls and decorations so maybe its time for a change up? Perhaps just a few cushion changes is enough to scratch the itch or maybe it’s time to paint that feature wall that you’ve been talking about for so long? However big or small, don’t underestimate the positive effects that a change of decor in the house can have on your happiness. Plus, I know firsthand how much more productive I feel working in an environment that gives me all the happy aesthetic feels. On a budget? Upcycling some old furniture is not only money and environmentally savvy it’s also an incredibly rewarding project.

Refresh your wardrobe

Just like home decor, our wardrobes can start to feel bit stale once in a while, especially as seasons change. Obviously we don’t all have the funds to go out and get a new Spring wardrobe but there are many cost efficient ways to mix up your style without breaking the bank. Firstly, shop your own wardrobe – chances are there are already items that have been pushed to the far back of your closets that you a) have forgotten you owned or b) can restyle to have a whole new look. The other day I was having a clear out and I found several items I’d forgotten about including one with the label on – facepalm! If you could use some new pieces, always check out second hand selling apps before you buy new – Depop, Vinted and eBay are just some of the ones I use. You can also use them to sell any clothes you no longer need at the same time.

Positive Affirmations

Last month, one of the books I was reading recommended starting and ending each day with positive affirmations. You don’t need to be spiritual or even believe in the Law of Attraction methodology to realise the positive effects of starting and ending each day thinking of things you are grateful for. There are so many gratitude journals you can purchase for this exercise however a good old pen and paper works perfectly well. I start the morning trying to think of just one thing I’m grateful for, followed by one thing I will achieve that day and I finish the day with the best thing that happened. It’s just a little way of trying to look at the good things rather then focusing on the bad but obviously some days are easier to do that than others. I talk more about journalling in this post.

daily gratitude plan

Random Acts of Kindness

The standard rule of RAOK is to give to someone else without any expectations of receiving anything in return. Kindness feels rarer these days because we seem to consume so many negative stories of public behaviour towards one another in the media or online. However, that does not mean that good people don’t continue to do selfless acts for one another. Not only does spreading some joy to other people impact the receivers life positively, but there is genuine evidence that the joy in giving is just as strong. A ROAK doesn’t have to be huge or even cost a penny, but I’m making a pledge to spread some kindnesss this month – who’s with me? Here are some small examples below:

  • Let someone go ahead of you in a queue
  • Send someone who’s feeling low a care parcel
  • Bake someone some cookies
  • Make someone a playlist
  • Offer to help a neighbour
  • Donate to charity or a JustGiving/GoFundMe page

You never know what someone is going through or how appreciated a little act of kindness could be.

What plans do you have for April? Are you a Spring fan too, or are you all about the colder months? Let me know in the comments below 🙂

Thanks for reading,

Stacey

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