12 Habits to Control Your Emotions

Do you consider your habits to be healthy? You may have some habits you're trying to shake and you're likely experiencing how hard it is habits can drastically alter our lifestyle and mood. So while we should always aim to minimize our bad habits - it might be a good idea to focus on developing some healthy ones.

First maybe you felt depressed or lost lately or maybe this is something you've been struggling with for a while. But by developing some healthy habits you can turn your mood for the better. In fact you're already taking a step towards happiness right now by learning which habits to practice with!

I'm here to help you develop some happy habits!^^ Here are 9 habits that keep you mentally happy !!!

1. Practice gratitude. Are you grateful for what you have? How often do you express it? If your answer is not often, then you should reconsider practicing gratitude. A study found that practicing gratitude can have a strong impact on our feelings of Hope and happiness. Meaning it's time to act like it's Thanksgiving dinner every meal. The researchers from Hope College found that gratitude predicts hope and happiness so if we express how grateful we are more often. It may lead to feelings of Happiness!:)

2. Give compliments. Did you know that paying someone a compliment can really pay off in regards to your mood? Anyway, in one study participants were randomly assigned to perform acts of kindness acts of novelty or no act every day for 10 days. Researchers measured their satisfaction with life before the experiment was conducted and then after performing acts of kindness or novelty - resulted in an increase in overall life satisfaction. So go ahead and pay it forward a compliment and never hurt anyone. In fact, it'll likely make you both happy!:)

3. Experience and go with the flow. Have you ever heard the expression go with the flow well? We may just have to take that advice. Just in a different way than intended happy people often experience what is referred to as flow. Flow is a state where one is fully involved and absorbed in the present moment. In this state, one possesses intense concentration, a loss of self-consciousness and a sense of timelessness. Sounds pretty happy, right? It may not be so easy to go with the flow if you don't know what drives you to that emotional state. So one step towards, experiencing the flow more often and find out what it is that gets you there. Is it your passion that gets you there hanging out with your best friend playing your favorite sport? whatever it is, it's not a bad idea to do it more often!:)

4. Savor the little Moments. One habit that can keep you mentally happy - Savoring the little moments in your life. The practice of savoring has been viewed by many to be a way to increase happiness. We can use our thoughts and actions to increase our appreciation of positive experiences and emotions and the duration of them. When we do so, this is known as savoring. To practice savoring, the next time you appreciate something small, take an extra minute to consciously acknowledge it and bask in it. Don't let these moments pass you by. Be aware of them!:)

5. Exercise. Exercise plays a factor in improving our self-esteem and happiness. Continuous exercise has been shown to reduce stress anxiety and symptoms of depression. So it's a good habit to practice start with just 5 minutes a day when you wake up. When that becomes a habit add an extra 5 minutes continue doing so, until you feel comfortable the point being. It's easier to start with a goal of 5 minutes a day then expect yourself to suddenly exercise an hour a day!:)

6. Get enough sleep. Remember those 7 to 8 hours of sleep you should be getting where'd they go. Why are you abandoning them? Sleep is extremely important to our mental health. Did you know that sleep deprivation kills brain cells and not getting enough Seas can impair our memory judgment and reaction time? So how on Earth are we supposed to feel happy if we're so tired all the time. That's why it's best to opt into getting an adequate amount of rest each night. Try scheduling when it's time for bed and be sure to remove any distractions - such as phones, tablets or video games. An hour before bed this will give your mind a chance to wind down!:)

7. Choose foods that boost your mood. Another Habit to implement eat healthy foods that will make you happy in the long run. A happy food to add to your diet carbohydrates. Carbohydrates release serotonin which is the key hormone responsible for stabilizing our mood and feelings of Happiness. Ditch deep fried food Foods as those who've been known to make you feel down instead opt in for high protein foods such as lean meat, poultry and dairy. High protein foods release norepinephrine and dopamine which improves our energy and focus!:)

8. Work towards meaningful goals. Do you often find it hard to get up in the morning? Are you unmotivated due to a lack of goals? One way to improve happiness is to set meaningful goals. If we feel our life lacks a purpose, we may fall into a depressive State. Create motivation to keep going by pursuing something that you're passionate about. Then set several small goals as starts to getting. There it's something to look forward to focused on something we love!:)

9. Experience nature. According to one study, spending just 30 minutes or more per week outside in nature can help lower your blood pressure and depression. Another study found, taking a walk outside in a green and environment increases our mood and decreases how many negative thoughts we have. Make sure to take your walks outside in nature. Those in the study who walked down city streets didn't show any benefits as compared to those who walked in a natural environment. Looks like you'll be adding a nature walk to your habits list. OOH and you'll get in your 5 minutes of exercise too!

So do you have any of these habits? Which ones do you want to have? If you found this article helpful - don't forget to share this with someone who may need it!:)