1. Write a card: Sometimes a “thank you” text doesn’t suffice. Take the time to write a handwritten card and use snail mail for a change. Not only is this such a meaningful act towards the receiver, but gives you a chance to meditate in gratitude.
2. Go to bed early: I know it may not feel like you can survive, but drop the technology for a night (phone and television included) to get to bed a few hours early for change. You might not even need the snooze button in the morning.
3. Breathe: You’re probably thinking “Seriously, isn’t this obvious?” Actually, not it’s not. Adding technology to the hustle and bustle of everyday life makes you much more prone to forget to deep breath and relax your mind and body.
4. Read a book: No, not an article or an audiobook. I’m talking the ink printed on stuff made from trees. Dig deep into a history topic you’ve always been intrigued by, a new hobby you’ve wanted to pick up, or anything more beneficial than Facebook and Buzzfeed.
5. Make a “monthly bucket list”: Instead of making a huge list of things you want to do before you die, make a list of activities to accomplish before the end of the month. This provides much more motivation to actually do them knowing that you only have 30 days instead of fifty plus years.
6. Break out the board games: Does anything beat a six hour game of Monopoly?
7. Look through old pictures: Reminiscing on the excessive amounts of same-posed pictures your mom took, alongside your awkward puberty pictures never gets old.
