This post was sponsored by Frost Bank and #OptForOptimism
Sometimes, it’s difficult to choose to be optimistic.
When you’re up against a million deadlines, your car is making that sound again, and you’ve spent your last five weekends attending endless engagement parties—it can be hard to skew on the positive and be optimistic.
You know what, though? It’s in these high-stress times that optimism is the most important. It’s finding—and unlocking—your inner Leslie Knope to say, this is good and I can handle this. Large workload? You are a skilled and trusted employee. Endless weekend commitments? Your friends and family love you and they are warmed by your very presence. Dwindling bank account? Well, you look amazing in that jumpsuit, girl—and you’re working hard to rebuild your finances.
It’s important for your health, your relationships, and for your bank account—that you employ an optimistic attitude in your life. We teamed up with Frost Bank to come up with a few ideas to help reset your brain, to think more positively, to live in a place of gratitude, and to opt for optimism whenever possible.
1. Make a gratitude list
If you’re dedicated to rerouting your brain to think positively, this is the place to start. Making a gratitude list is a great way to see—on paper—all of the things that make you grateful. Whether it’s the love from your family, continued good health, a job that pays well, or a beautiful home, you should add it to your list.
Chances are your gratitude list will be long—and chock full of everything that is wonderful about you and your day-to-day life. Too often, we are caught in comparison traps with others. Make a gratitude list whenever you find yourself in a mood. You're sure to find many things for which to be ever so grateful. If you find this to be a helpful practice, consider making a gratitude list on a weekly or even on a daily basis.
2. Read some happy news
The news can skew on the side of being negative or downright sensationalist at times. Don’t get caught in the cycle every day. Humans are not meant to be able to emotionally withstand the onslaught of terrible news we see and hear on a daily basis.
On a particularly hard day, seek out some good news. I am talking about the kind of news that might not have a global impact. However, a bird sitting on a cat sitting on a dog is great news. Find it when you can, on good news sites like Good News Network, and share it widely. We all need a break now and then.
3. Learn more about your financial health
Many of us are guilty of avoiding our own financial situations. However, there is ample evidence suggesting that increasing your own awareness will help both your bank account and your physical health. Research has shown that Americans spend an average of 148 days a year worried about finances. That is five months of worry!
Frost conducted research showing that optimism increases financial well-being. For optimists, mindset wins over current circumstances, while the opposite is true for pessimists. When taking stock of your finances, focus on small improvements you can make to turn the tides. Proceed from there.
4. Take a walk (and call your mom) at lunch
It doesn’t have to be your mom, but take your lunch to do something that brings joy to your life—and to the person you're calling. Take a walk around the block or sit at a local coffee shop and make a call to a loved one. Instead of calling to complain about your workday, communicate a recent win or something you are excited about.
5. Congratulate yourself for progress (not perfection)
As humans, we tend to dwell more on failure than on success. While it’s true you can learn a lot from failures, it’s equally important to celebrate your wins. This means taking a step back and remembering how much you wanted this win, the work that went into it, and how proud it should make you.
Next time you experience a win, stop what you are doing and give yourself a round of applause. Focus on your progress instead of always striving for perfection.
6. Write down your frustrations—followed by solutions
It’s ok to have frustrations, but it’s important not to dwell on them.
Turn your frustrations on their figurative head. Take a minute to write down what is frustrating you. Instead of dwelling on it and staring at your list in anger, make a second column. In the second column, write down solutions to your frustrations. Is your roommate being lazy at home? Maybe it’s time to have a constructive chat about the assignation of household chores. Is your workload heavy? Find out a way to work more productively or speak to your manager about enlisting help.
7. Buy your coworkers some doughnuts
Who doesn’t love a dozen doughnuts? If you’re feeling particularly optimistic on a certain day, bring in a few sweet delights to spread the joy. Whether you’re celebrating a new client, a big deal, or a regular Tuesday, spread that optimism—one glazed old-fashioned at a time.
8. Bring a plant to work
Did you know that surrounding yourself with plants can lower stress? Plants have phytoncides and other airborne chemicals that reduce stress throughout the day. Aside from that, plants generally bring a sense of peace and solitude, as they are a reminder of outdoor spaces. Bringing a plant into work will increase the air quality—and the happiness quality—in any office setting.
9. Better yet, bring a puppy to work
Even better than plants, as long as you’re not allergic, are dogs! In fact, petting a dog can trigger the release of the bonding hormone oxytocin, in humans. This release can lower your heart rate and blood pressure. If you can’t bring a dog into work, find a friendly canine out for her daily walk. Say hi!
10. Say yes to that family trip in six months.
You can start saving now and make it on that trip. Optimists are more likely to meet their financial goals—whether it means saving up enough money for a trip down the line or building savings from scratch.
11. Regularly transfer small amounts of money into a savings account—and watch it grow
I earn a paycheck and I can find small ways to save. Did you know that 62 percent of optimists exhibit better financial health? This is nearly seven times higher than pessimists, of whom 9 percent show financial health.
12. Make future plans
Sure, the next five minutes might seem daunting enough—nevermind the next five years. However, making plans for the future can—and will—feed into long-term success. The goal here is not to aim for an exact thing that you must have by a certain date. Rather, it’s building the framework for what you want your future to look like—and what that entails.
According to a study by Frost, those who take an optimistic view are more likely to meet their financial goals. 54 percent of optimists have reported that they have a rough financial plan in place. Rather than waiting to have all of the “perfect” answers to your future—whether it’s financial, personal, or familial—begin to build out the outline of your roadmap to start.
13. Regard setbacks as learning experiences
Everything is a learning experience. Failure, just like success, is a learning experience. Next time you experience a setback or a failure, accept responsibility and dedicate yourself to learning something from it.
14. Reward yourself
Make time to treat yourself. Had a particularly grueling week at work? Maybe you earned yourself a massage. Real optimism is going to start from within. If you make it a habit to honor yourself and your accomplishments, you will foster a real place of gratitude—from inside and out.
15. Talk about your goals and dreams
The best way to get excited about putting your goals to work is to speak about them—aloud. Just like you might use a vision board to manifest what you want in life, you can use a conversation with a trusted friend to put your goals into action. In addition to verbalizing your goals, you can use active conversation as a means to develop your ideas—and to hold yourself accountable in completing them.
16. Exercise before (or after) work
Exercise is a great way to get your endorphins flowing, to take some time to think, and to put your body to work for you. Begin your day with exercise—whether it’s a 20-minute walk or a yoga class down the street.
17. Consider your accomplishments
Too often, we “forget” our accomplishments and move on to the next goal. The challenge here is taking some time to congratulate yourself for work well-done. Instead of pushing yourself to the next goal,
18. Enact the “Kondo” method and say thank you to your house, your car, and your body
Admit it, the first time you watched Marie Kondo kneel on the floor to say thank you to a house, you thought it was silly. If you think about it, you should be thanking your house—or apartment—every day. Practicing daily gratitude to the very things that give you shelter and warmth is important. Thank your car (or the bus) for safely getting you to work. Thank your body for agreeing to wake up and spend the day with you.
The more you actively practice gratitude, the more optimistic you will grow to be.
19. Surround yourself with optimists
You know that you are who you spend your time around the most. As such, if you are spending a large amount of time with individuals who tend to skew towards the negative, you might find yourself doing that, too. Instead, spend time with people who are uplifting and positive. You will find that this warm energy rubs off on you. Spread it around!
20. Ask for help
Asking for help can be a humbling experience. No single person knows everything. If there is something you are curious to learn, that you are struggling to complete, or that plain baffles you, ask for help. There is no use in beating yourself up when you can enlist the help of others.
21. Make a donation
It can be a struggle to feel like you can really make a difference as a normal citizen. When you feel inundated with sad stories or hopeless news, there are things you can do. For example, if you’re passionate about learning opportunities for young children, you can donate to a charity like I Have A Dream or 826 Valencia.
22. Volunteer your time
If you don’t have the dollars to make a donation, consider offering up your time. Whether it’s volunteering for a beach cleanup, a tutoring session, or serving dinner at a kitchen, volunteering is a great way to spread good faith. In turn, many volunteering opportunities will allow you time for your own self-reflection—to see how fortunate you really are.
23. Bake some cookies
There’s a reason people like to bake when they are feeling particularly stressed or anxiety-ridden. Baking has been proven to serve as a coping mechanism for anxiety. If you can’t shake an icky feeling of stress or anxiety, get to measuring and kneading. Use your frenetic energy to create something for you and your loved ones.
24. Endorse someone on LinkedIn
If you’re looking to spread some optimism, go on an endorsement spree on LinkedIn. If you’re feeling really good, consider taking a few minutes to write a testimonial about a former coworker. This small gesture might help her find that perfect new job in the future.
25. Let that other driver merge in
It’s been a long day and, even though you’ve been feeling optimistic all day, you want to get home. Lo and behold, you are in bumper to bumper traffic and that Prius is trying to get in. Let her merge in front of you. Be a hero on your commute home. It feels good—and one car length of traffic is not going to ruin your day. We promise.
This post was sponsored by Frost Bank and #OptForOptimism
