The past two years were tough for everyone. Even if you didn’t suffer from COVID-19 and its never-ending variants, you were likely affected by knowing someone who did, the ongoing economic crisis, stressful schedule upheavals, and all the related COVID madness.

One of the best things about the last two years is that we finally recognize the need to truly take better care of ourselves. 

As we continue to go through the prolonged COVID drama and all the accompanying stress, this article is to guide you through twelve ways to make you feel better today and every day you use the tips below. I am sure you have already tried some of these scientific finds and good common knowledge. Then you know that you can boost your happy-hormone- dopamine — all on your own 

First, take a deep breath: then go through our carefully selected shortlist and choose your medicine to feel good today. But just a few deep breaths will always help you feel better.

1 Count your blessings daily: When life is treating you badly, be grateful for what good you have. Being grateful is essential for one’s well-being.  Izabela Kretjz et al. found that “counting one’s blessings can reduce the impact of daily stress.” Researchers concluded gratitude is correlated with overcoming traumatic experiences.  

2 Reconnect with loved ones: What is better than feeling loved when you are down? It is never late to connect with old acquaintances, such as an old friend or a family member. Just one click, one text, one voice note, or one call and you will be reminded that you are loved. We have recently really felt that life is short, so let’s stay connected. 

3 Do a Good Deed: Whether it is making someone smile, helping someone you know or a stranger, petting or feeding stray animals, doing a good deed does not take much from you. Just one minute from your precious time then you have 1439 minutes left to follow your daily routine. 

4 Smile 🙂 Smiling not only makes you look better (according to social science) but also comes with dozens of other benefits. Scientists have found that smiling tricks your body into believing it is doing well. Putting on a smile helps relieve stress, boost your immune system, reduce pain, and can even lower your blood pressure. What a free and easily accessible remedy!

5 Laugh shamelessly: Accept your non-conformist side and share laughter with others to improve their mood and health. You can even laugh out loud at your own jokes and silly observations.

6 Turn off screens after work/school. Try to gradually cut your screen time. Take time to adapt as going cold turkey is rarely successful when quitting anything. You can use an application to time and limit your access to social media. If you fail to cut back, expose yourself to content that makes you feel better, such as funny memes or cute animal videos.

7 Get outside: You do not have to run, work out, or sweat. Just take a walk to your nearest park and sit. Harvard Medical School recommends walking since it boosts the immune system, helps lose weight, and eases joint pain. After your walk, take time to zone out, read a book or a comic book, observe others, and relax. Just break your routine with a little activity outside. 

8 Buy a plant. While the care and feeding might be a little daunting, it can be part of your support system. Take a minute to water it, take care of it, give it a name, and consider it your little living companion, and air purifier. 

9 Buy secondhand. Annually, the fashion industry produces around 92 million tonnes of textile waste, is responsible for 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions, and 20% of global wastewater. Shopping secondhand is not only eco-friendly but also cheap and convenient. You can find good quality and branded clothes for a low price. While you enjoy a new item, mother earth enjoys your shopping choices. 

10 Make your Lunch or/and Dinner: Homemade food is delicious and healthy. With your packed schedule, you can make lunch boxes during the weekend to cut preparation time during weekdays. For inspiration, you can refer to Morocco World News recipes. Keeping your wallet full will make you feel better.  

11 Replace your processed snacks with fruits: When you crave sugar to boost your energy, make a healthier choice by eating real foods instead. Enjoy the natural sweetness of fruit. For more food swaps refer to these tips by the NHS. 

12 Wash your dishes: Researchers at Florida State University found that people who wash dishes mindfully (meaning slow down and strive to do a good job) felt 25% more inspired and 27% less nervous.