Vicki Peel | HER Life Hacks

Fix Your Brain – Fix Your Habits – Fix Your Life

by Vicki Peel | Mar 11, 2021 | Lifestyle | 0 comments

How happy are you with your life? Did you know that anything that isn’t making you jump for joy can be fixed or changed? The key, however, is that only YOU hold that power to make your life joyous. It’s not up to your spouse, kids, parents, or boss. You are the only one in complete control of your life, so you deserve to live the life of your dreams.

It has been one year since global lockdowns began. You would think that would seem like a tremendously long time for all we have been through. And for some of you, it may have been. For me, it seems as though I was stuck in “Groundhog Day”, the movie where we live the same day over and over. After a while, you don’t even know what day it is. It stagnates the mind.

Mindset and mindfulness are buzz words we hear a lot about. They refer to those learned attitudes we hold about absolutely anything. We have a money mindset, a career mindset; in a business setting, you’ll hear terms like ‘fixed’ or ‘growth’ mindset. Starting with a mindset that works for you is certainly important to how we perceive life and being mindful of how we think affects what we get from life.

To make real and lasting changes in our lives, embrace the development of tiny habits. Tiny habits combine over a period of time become automatic habits that we don’t have to think about. These automatic habits compound into many small successes, which can also help change our mindset. It’s a huge cycle but one which can be changed at any point.

How to Add Tiny Habits to Your Day

Since every person’s goals will be different, so will every person’s tiny habit choices. These are just a few ideas and certainly not a comprehensive list. Choose whichever tiny habits make you happy and more fulfilled (and moving toward your goals) and continue building on those.

To begin, decide what exactly makes you unhappy then think of a resolution. Now, what is one small thing you can do to start to change the situation? It’s not enough to just THINK about a resolution; you must then take action. Creating tiny habits one at a time will change your life.

Some general tiny habits that anyone can add to their routines include: meditation, yoga, cardio exercise, writing a gratitude journal, journal about all areas of your life or your goals, listening to empowering podcasts, praying, and healthy eating.

If you’re specifically unhappy at work:

Spend 5 minutes a day looking for a new job; apply for a new position inside your current company; rewrite your resume; seek a mentor for advice; get active with business networking groups; upgrade your skillset; write down a daily work goal and cross it off the list when achieved.

If you’re unhappy with your relationships:

Start venturing out with groups of friends; reconnect daily with spouse or partner; go on regular date nights where you don’t talk about work or kids; try a new hobby or activity together; reconnect with old friends or family members.

If you’re unhappy spiritually:

Start keeping a Bible planner, such as My Bible Planner (click to see); create a meditative morning and evening routine; spend time every day doing self-care routines; seek advice from religious or spiritual leaders; listen to spiritual podcasts or music; volunteer to help the less fortunate.

As you can see, there’s no magic wand that can change your level of happiness. It’s up to you to take the action and to implement these tiny steps toward your ultimate goals. Need a system to work through this process of creating tiny habits to change your life? Here’s an excellent book that helps you define the exact process that works for you – Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything by B.J. Fogg. You can do this! Time to get your life on track and come out of the fog (no pun intended, B.J.) of pandemic shutdown.

New Habits Take Willpower

by Vicki Peel | Mar 3, 2021 | Lifestyle | 0 comments

All you need to create a new habit is willpower.

No – willpower won’t get you there! In fact, I’ve found that willpower always fails me in the end. It’s hard to keep up willpower for any length of time. Yes, we can stick to a low-fat 1,000 calorie diet and go hungry for a week or two, but eventually, our willpower fades. And yes, we can do exercise we hate for a while… until we run out of willpower.

But what about getting up to take the kids to school every morning, brushing our teeth, or going to work every day. Those may not be our favorite things to do either, but we do them daily without the risk of running out of willpower. That’s because they have become habits. They are so ingrained in what we do and who we are that we do them without even considering skipping a day or a week. We don’t have to make a conscious decision each day to shower or drive to work. It’s just what we do – a habit.

When you start to think about it, there is an inverse relationship between habits and willpower. When you first want to build a new habit, it takes a lot of willpower to get it done day in and day out. As you start to establish that habit, it becomes easier and easier to do until you don’t even have to think about it anymore. Just being aware of this process helps us stick it out.

While we’re in that transition from willpower to habit, we can use tools to make it easier. Use a to-do list or set a reminder to help stay on track. Find an accountability partner so the two of you can motivate each other and help bolster that willpower when it starts to fade after the first enthusiasm wears off. Even something as simple as laying out your running clothes the night before and keeping your sneakers by the door will make it a little easier to go out for that run.

And that’s the simple version of creating a new lifelong habit. There is much more to creating new habits that stick. And there are tools and hacks to help get you there. Stay tuned…

Mindfulness – It’s Not All in Your Mind

by Vicki Peel | Jan 26, 2021 | Lifestyle | 0 comments

As much as many of us choose to overlook it, there is a lot wrong with the way most of us currently live our lives.

We sit in chairs all day long gaining weight, we eat processed foods and we face constant stresses from work, from our relationships, and from our finances.

What’s more, we are constantly in demand and constantly ‘plugged in’ and ‘stressed out’. Our phones are always ringing, texts are always coming in, we get a new e-mail every two minutes… And even when most of us aren’t working or being bothered, we have a near addiction to technology that means we’re still unable to really decompress.

And while our attention spans are not really shorter than a goldfish, it is not surprising that our attention has become more demanding. We are always demanding to be entertained as we flip from one video to another or one app to another.

And all this amid a raging pandemic.

Is it any wonder that mental health problems are skyrocketing?

Using mindfulness to escape modern stress is probably a big part of the reason that mindfulness is so popular right now. Mindfulness simply means directing attention in a purposeful manner. Sometimes this will mean focusing on our thoughts (in an objective and non-judgmental way) but in other cases, it will mean simply being more present and focusing on our breathing and our environments.

Either way, the idea of mindfulness is to enjoy calmness and stop the incessant chatter of our minds. Instead of being completely engaged with the world around you, we need to learn to disengage with your thoughts, providing you with relief from stress and from fear and allow you to simply relax and recover.

The opposite of mindfulness is mindlessness. How many times have you realized you devoured the entire bag of potato chips while binge-watching your favorite Netflix series? Or how many times have you suddenly asked yourself “where did my day go”? Often before bedtime, we can’t even remember what we did with our time during the day.

I realize the damaging toll the pandemic has made on our lives. Everyone has suffered in some way. How are we coping? For many, we have tried to escape the reality of it all through overeating, binging on Netflix, or staying glued to our phone or iPad screen.

There is a better way.

It starts with being aware that we are not being aware.

Boiled down to its essence, mindfulness is the observation of one’s own thoughts and emotions. In other words, it means stepping back and then simply being aware of what you’re feeling, what you’re thinking and what you are experiencing. This can then, in turn, be used to help treat a wide range of different psychological problems and to generally improve your psychological health.

The reason for this is that it brings more attention to the way that we handle various different events and to how our thoughts and emotions normally control us. This then in turn allows us to anticipate them, to deal with them, and ultimately to prevent them.

Mindfulness is a broad tool to be used in a number of different ways. In almost every scenario though, the true end goal is to be aware of the present moment and to find an inner calm that often eludes us.

Ready to work on your mindfulness? Start with Designing Your New Normal Mindset to guide you in defining your best state of mindfulness. Available now. Available HERE.

The 2021 Best Time to Buy Anything Calendar

by Vicki Peel | Jan 21, 2021 | Lifestyle | 0 comments

Sometime around the first of each year, I get stingy. Maybe it’s the fact that I overspent on Christmas gifts for my family, which seems to be a personal weakness of mine. Or maybe it’s that I subconsciously make a New Year’s resolution to be more thoughtful in my purchases. That means I plan to not get excited about every new trend that I’m sure will make my life easier and more enjoyable and therefore give in to my uncontrollable urge to buy it!

So, in my quest to be more frugal with money and at least make my purchases a “bargain”, I researched the best times of the year to buy just about anything. You know a bargain is not a bargain if you don’t need it. My husband always gets worried when I tell him how much money I saved on something! Of course, not purchasing something saves you even more!

If you actually plan purchases you need, there is little reason to purchase anything unless it’s on sale. Sales are an everyday occurrence. However, you can save a lot of money just by knowing when the lowest sale price for an item is most likely to happen. This is especially true for big-ticket items.

I researched Consumer Reports for the best months to buy things. Consumer Reports is probably the most credible and least biased organization that reviews and rates products. I always check out their recommendations for buying big ticket items and many other things.

From this research, I compiled an annual calendar for The Best Time to Buy Anything. Holidays and annual sales drive many of the best times to purchase some items. For instance, the Consumer Electronics Show in January unveils many new models of electronics, which makes early January a good time to buy TVs, especially if you’re willing to consider older models. January is also known for white sales on bedding and linens.

The best use of the buying calendar is that it allows you to plan purchases, especially for expensive items.

You can get good deals on products at almost any time of the year, so you’ll see some of the same products listed in several months of the year. And clearance sales of some larger items occur several times a year, because retail stores need the space for newer inventory.

You can download your free copy of the 2021 Best Time to Buy Anything annual calendar here: https://vickiloves.me/2021BestTimeToBuy

I hope you find it useful! Do you have anything to add? Comment below!

Three Simple Steps to Make 2021 Your Best Year Ever

by Vicki Peel | Dec 31, 2020 | Lifestyle | 0 comments

It’s something we’ve all been waiting for – the end of 2020. A new beginning – 2021! But is it? Exactly what do you expect to be different on January 1, 2021?

In 2020 the world changed, and we had no choice but to change. It was thrust upon us and there were lifestyle changes that we had to make to adapt to the new world around us. But did we thrive throughout this process? Or did we just survive?

What are your expectations for 2021? Something better? We need something to look forward to. We need to believe that our lives will be more within our control. 2020 was a year that continually spiraled out of control. And it made us feel out of control.

So, let’s consider our personal expectations for gaining – or regaining some semblance of control in our lives.

Do you make resolutions at the beginning of every new year? Why?

I don’t think I’ve ever made a New Year’s resolution at which I’ve actually succeeded. So, when you think about it, I have set myself up for failure every time I’ve resolved to make life changes. Every resolution I’ve declared had to do with something I wanted to change about myself. But change is evolutionary, not revolutionary. Let me say that again. Personal change is evolutionary, not revolutionary!

What does that mean in terms of our behavior? It all begins with our mindset. If we don’t change that, we have no chance of changing our actions. That doesn’t mean we have to do a 180, a complete turnaround of the way we’ve been thinking. But it does mean we need to be intentional with how we approach life and how we deal with circumstances and situations that make up our daily living.

First of all, let’s consider January 1, 2021, as just another day, like any other day. Change your mindset to see every day as a new beginning. Every day is a chance to make life better for ourselves and those around us.

Next, if we think there are changes we need to make in our lives, start with just one thing. Make it a little thing. And do it every day. Make it become second nature to you – make it a habit. That is setting yourself up for success, not failure.

And finally, I propose that we start this new year being kinder to ourselves. Yes, be kind to yourself first. Because when you do, you are kinder to others. When you take care of yourself, you are in a position to take care of others. That is not being selfish. It is being considerate of others by treating yourself with kindness and respect, which in turn extends to others. It’s somewhat a twist of the Golden Rule of doing to others as you would have them do to you. Do good to yourself and then do good to others.

Need some ideas on how to implement this process?

If you need to start with simple changes to your mindset, I suggest my ecourse, Designing Your New Normal Mindset. It consists of easy activities to identify your current mindset and guide you to make mindset changes that work for you. Check it out here while still at introductory pricing!

If you need to keep up with progress on the one thing you are going to change about yourself, click and download my free gift to you, My One Thing Daily Habit Tracker. Keeping track of your progress helps ensure your success in developing habits that naturally become part of your daily life. (Your free tracker is interactive, so you can complete and save it online or print it out and complete it!)

If you think self-care is selfish, download my free report – Self-Care Hacks. And start treating yourself with the respect you deserve. That makes it second nature to extend the same kind of respect to others.

All my best to make 2021 a truly successful, joyful, and peaceful year for you!

Antique Quilt Projects

by Vicki Peel | Dec 14, 2020 | Home | 0 comments

I love beautiful quilts. Maybe it’s because my mother loved to quilt. It seemed as though she always had a quilt in some stage of creation. Everyone in the family, which included me and three sisters, our six children, and five grandchildren own at least one quilt Mama made. And anyone in the community who had a baby during the time she quilted was given a baby quilt lovingly created.

My sisters and I have many quilts that were made by our mother, grandmothers, great grandmothers, and great-great-grandmothers. We don’t know the origins of all of them, but each one is a treasure.

We grew up in a large old farmhouse with my parents and paternal grandparents. My mother and grandmother were both avid quilters, as were many members of the rural community in which we lived. Individuals would create a quilt top, sewing it either by hand or sewing machine, and then host a quilting. A bottom layer of fabric, usually unbleached muslin was topped with cotton batting on which the quilt top was laid. All three layers were stretched taut in a quilting frame supported by four corner quilt stands just high enough to pull up a chair underneath the edge.

Neighborhood quilters worked side by side, quilting the area in front of them in a pattern decided upon by the host. As the quilting progressed, the finished area was rolled under so quilters could continue until the entire quilt was finished.

After removing the quilt from the frames, the quilt owner finished the edges herself. She usually folded the backing over the front edge of the quilt, turning under the raw edges and hand hemming it to complete the quilting process.

Hand quilting is hard. I have quilted a few quilts with my mother, but my work was never as good as hers. The stitches of a good quilter are short and even. While you stitch with one hand, you keep the other hand underneath the quilt so you can feel the needle pierce all layers of the quilt. Needless to say, pricked fingers were the norm, at least when I tried to quilt.

I have a set of quilting frames that were my mother’s, but I seriously doubt they will ever be used by me. I intend to simply appreciate the beautiful quilts I own and the hands that made them.

I love to cut up the most antique quilts I have and create items to give to family members. I want them to have a connection to their heritage and also learn to appreciate things created by previous generations.

While clearing out my mother-in-law’s house to sell following her death, we found several antique quilts. Since I never saw my mother-in-law or her mother quilt, I knew these quilts were very old, but I do not know who made them. So, the quilts must have been made by my husband’s great grandmothers or great-great grandmothers.

One of the quilts found was in colors of red, green, and white. Acknowledging its Christmas color combination, I made several things to be used as Christmas decorations and gifts for family members. Here is a list of possible projects to make and then the following video shows some of the items I actually made from this one quilt.

A few suggested quilt projects include:

Mantel garland of Christmas-related items, such as snowman, Christmas tree, stocking, mittens and triangular banners
Pillows, in the shape of a heart, bell, and larger representations of the items in the previously mentioned mantel garland
Wall hangings of portions of the quilt in an antique picture frame or old window frame
Wall hangings of quilt pieces stretched in old embroidery frames
Upholster the top of a stool or lid of a storage box with quilt pieces
Potholders
Coasters

In my recent YouTube video, I showed several projects that I made with this old quilt. I also included a download link for patterns to make the Christmas garland for my mantel. Check it out: Antique Quilt Projects –

https://youtu.be/bBjsmq3vaI4

To view items I made from this antique quilt, click on the first picture in the gallery below. Then click on the arrows on either side of the pictures to navigate from one picture to another.

Anything you make is a way to save and appreciate the beauty of antique quilts and the hard work that lovingly created them. If you are lucky enough to have antique quilts and know their origin, what a wonderful treasure to pass on to future generations. And creating small projects with them is a great way to share a piece of your quilt heritage with family members.

You are invited to subscribe to my YouTube channel at https://YouTube.com/c/herlifehacks. I continue to add videos related to home, lifestyle, and food to save you time, energy, and money. Make sure you are notified when new videos are added!

Breaking News: Chocolate Chess Pie Replaces Pumpkin Pie as Thanksgiving Favorite!

by Vicki Peel | Nov 17, 2020 | Food | 0 comments

When you think of Thanksgiving and pie, what comes to mind? Pumpkin Pie? Today, I’m offering another suggestion – Chocolate Chess Pie! Everybody loves chocolate, right? And all of us could use a little chocolate comfort.

I’ve made Chocolate Chess Pie from a lot of different recipes, some of which have been labeled as the signature recipe of some famous restaurants or from prize-winning cooks. I even set up a blind taste test of two award-winning pie recipes along with my humble recipe. And I asked the most discerning connoisseur of Chocolate Chess Pies that I know to be the judge – my grandson. I’ve seen that handsome tall skinny kid devour half of a pie at one sitting!

The winner of the blind taste test of Chocolate Chess pies was…(drumroll, please!)…my Chocolate Chess pie! I will admit that my grandson said one of the other recipes was a close second, but he still picked mine as the certified winner.

I want to give you a little back story to my humble rise to pie stardom (at least in my family’s estimation). My family celebrated my daughter’s birthday one year at a famous steak restaurant, which shall remain nameless, in Raleigh, North Carolina. After a sumptuous steak dinner, she ordered Chocolate Chess Pie for dessert. I thought it was too expensive for such a simple dessert, one that I could easily make at home and could probably make several pies for the cost of that one slice.

However, when the waiter served the pie, I tasted it and was struck by how smooth and creamy, as well as downright chocolate heaven it was! When I returned home, I started experimenting. How hard could it be to make a Chocolate Chess Pie as good as the one in the famous restaurant? Turns out – not so hard!

The recipe I had been using was from a local cookbook, assembled and sold by a rural women’s community service organization. They started the cookbook in 1958 and its popularity has continued to grow along with sales. These are recipes from country cooks who have lived their lives cooking for their families and everyone else in the community. I can’t say it contains the most nutritious recipes. But I can say it contains some of the best-tasting recipes!

But I digress. The recipe listed only six ingredients and the directions were simple: “Mix ingredients. Pour into unbaked pie shell and bake 30 minutes at 350°.” After a few tries, I came up with what I and my family thought was a much better pie. So, I rewrote the recipe to include every step I followed to create a smooth, creamy, and delicious Chocolate Chess Pie.

So, how did I change it? Check out my YouTube video to see! And subscribe to my YouTube channel to be notified when more videos are added! Go to https://www.youtube.com/c/herlifehacks/

You’ll also find my rewritten and renamed recipe there for The Ultimate Quick and Easy Chocolate Chess Pie! And I’d love to hear about the pies you make. Do you have a favorite recipe? Email me at vicki@herlifehacks.com!

Now – move over Pumpkin Pie. Let’s make Chocolate Chess Pie the new Thanksgiving pie!

7 Ways to Make a Hygge Home

by Vicki Peel | Nov 5, 2020 | Home | 0 comments

I didn’t realize I had a hygge home! I’ve been decorating it for years to achieve exactly that, but I didn’t know there was a name for it.

Comfortable and cozy are the defining qualities of a hygge home. Hygge, considered a Danish or Scandinavian term and pronounced “hoo-guh”, is defined as “a quality of coziness that makes a person feel content and comfortable”. Isn’t that exactly how we want our home to make us feel?

Decorating our home in this way is one of the highest forms of self-care. Home should be our haven from the rest of the world, a place to rest and refresh. I know I always feel a sense of contentment and peace when I arrive at my home. It just seems to invite me in to stay and I love that feeling.

You may already have a hygge home. Perhaps you have some, if not all, of these 7 items that help to make a hygge home.

Candles, especially ones that are natural and organic and help to set the mood of a home are a vital element.
Lighting that is deliberate is another hygge element. The Danish people often spend a great deal for just the right lamp, one that not only provides light, but is also artistic in the mood it promotes. Fairy lights that seem to dance around the room are another common form of hygge lighting.
Houseplants help to bring the outside in. In especially cold climates like the Scandinavian countries, this becomes even more important and houseplants, along with natural and ambient lighting are just the trick.
A fireplace creates that cozy warmth like nothing else. If you don’t have a fireplace, it has been suggested that you can “stream” a fire on your TV screen! Even the suggestion of a fireplace may be enough to provide extra coziness.
If you don’t have a fireplace, you might find a comfortable nook provides a place of respite. Can’t you see yourself curling up with a good book and a mug of hot chocolate?
Layers of texture add to that comfortable hygge feeling. You can achieve that feel with texture in pillows, blanket throws, draperies and seating cushions.
Comfortable seating completes the hygge look and feel. Soft cushions with layers of textural throws and comfortable pillows just add even more coziness.

What about your home? Do you already have a hygge home and were unaware of it? How can you add to the warmth, comfort and coziness of your home as we enter colder weather of the winter months?

How about creating your own mood board of items that would make your home more of a hygge home? Check out mine below. You can click on the numbers to take you to a purchase page for the item.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |

If you want to know more about how to make your home more hygge, here are a few books recommended by those who know and write about hygge.

The Little Book of Hygge appears to be one of the most popular books on hygge. Click HERE for a link to it.

And click HERE for another link to two popular books (sold as a set) on Amazon.

Finally, coloring books are very comforting activities on the hygge list of a lot of people. Click HERE for a hygge coloring book.

I would love to hear how your home is already a hygge home! Or how do you plan to make your home more hygge? Just comment below!

The links in this article are affiliate links to products. If you make a purchase through them, I would receive compensation.

Are You Ready for Some Hygge?

by Vicki Peel | Nov 2, 2020 | Lifestyle | 0 comments

Are you ready for some hygge? I know I am. The weather is turning cooler and even more days are expected to be spent at home and inside. If “cabin fever” has not already set it, you might want to prepare to ward it off, and if it has already set it, keep reading for some ways to send it packing.

First, you might be asking, “what the heck is hygge”? It’s pronounced “Hoo-gah”. I know – how can something that is spelled like that be pronounced “Hoo-gah”!?

“Hygge… is a Scandinavian way of life that celebrates coziness, shared meals, and companionable interactions with loved ones. Emphasizing warmth, kinship, and an appreciation for the little things, hygge is a perspective on life that started in Denmark and has contributed to the nation’s consistently high happiness ratings. Now, Americans are turning to hygge as a way to find happiness from within.”

Brinton Parker, (December 10, 2019), 11 Ways to Embrace the Hygge Lifestyle This Season. PopSugar

Hygge is a great way to embrace self-care that extends to all family members. Think about all the things you love about your home and the things you like to do there that provide that much-needed extra layer of comfort.

I just put together my hygge list to support and comfort me:

Time alone in the comfy leather chair in my office for journaling my thoughts and renewing myself spiritually
Adjusting my power chair in the den and watching a PBS Nova nature series program with my husband. (I love the ones about the big cats!)
Sipping on a warm cup of cocoa with mini-marshmallows
Decorating my home with items of personal family memories (I’ll show you around soon and point out all the “old things” that are so special to me!)
Watching HGTV – any shows on HGTV (personally, I love the Property Brothers and Home Town, among many others!)
Putting on an eye mask and listening to soothing music as I take a short afternoon nap
Curling up (OK – I mean metaphorically curling; it has been a long time since my knees allowed me to actually curl up!) with my iPad to play Candy Crush, Soda Crush, Hearts and Rummy. I’m ashamed to tell you how high I’ve gotten on Candy Crush. I am curbing my “addiction”.
Playing Sudoku and Kakuro. There is just something satisfying about being able to solve one of these puzzles.

Now, how about you? Do you have a hygge list, even if you don’t call it that? Comment or email me at vicki@herlifehacks.com and let me know one or two things on your hygge list. I would love to be able to write a post of collective hygge experiences.

Want to know more about hygge? Here are links to several popular books about hygge.

https://amzn.to/3jLmUId is the link to the book in the featured photo at the beginning of this article.

And here is a link to two popular books on Amazon – https://amzn.to/35SUgA6 .

Finally, coloring books are very comforting activities on the hygge list of a lot of people. Here is where you can get a hygge coloring book: https://amzn.to/382GwW9.

Get started now on your hygge fall and winter. It will help comfort you through these times.

Ten Ways to Deal with Injustice Without Depression

by Vicki Peel | Oct 27, 2020 | Lifestyle | 0 comments

You know that life isn’t fair. And not just because you’ve been told that but because you’ve experienced it for yourself to the extreme these past few months. Trying to deal with something that is not just unfair but even a complete injustice, can really play havoc with your happiness if you allow it.

To live through times like we’ve all been experiencing requires special attention to how we are coping and taking action to counteract the damaging effects of becoming a victim to circumstances.

Maybe one or more of these suggestions can help you deal with these unjust times. Find one that speaks to you and focus on applying it in your life.

Be Compassionate to Yourself – The one person in the universe that can treat you with the utmost fairness and kindness is yourself. At the very least, make sure you are being compassionate to yourself because when it comes down to it, you are your own best friend.
Focus on Now – Learning how to be more mindful about what is happening in your life right now is important. If watching the news makes you feel particularly bad right now, focus on you and your family and the positive ways that interaction can sustain you. Look for ways to enhance your family’s well-being. Make things fair, at least for yourself and your family.
Separate Facts from Emotion – While some types of injustice, such as systemic racism for example, are rage-inducing even when you look at them on a factual basis, sometimes the facts will help you cope. For example, when the media gets obsessed about something, it always seems worse than it really is. Avoid social media that is filled with extreme opinions expressed through hatred. Check the facts; don’t trust your emotions.
Learn to Breathe Right – Did you know that most people don’t even breathe correctly. To breathe right so that your oxygen levels are the way they should be and to reduce the anxiety, you should breathe into your diaphragm like a baby. Sometimes, just taking a deep, letting-go breath (or several of them) can ease the anxiety of the moment.
Eat Right and Exercise – There isn’t much that can replace good nutrition for avoiding depression. While it isn’t always going to rid you of it entirely, it will help you avoid nutritional deficiencies that can lead to depression. Moving more will also help you feel better because it’s going to help you feel more alive and in tune with your body.
Sleep Enough Each Night – The next most important item after food is to ensure that you are sleeping a full 7 to 9 hours every single night. When you sleep enough, you give your body and mind time to repair. Take time to wind down before going to bed by doing things that comfort you or even bore you to sleepiness!
Avoid Alcohol and Drugs – This is especially important when you are feeling down, angry, or depressed. Most drugs aren’t going to do anything but enhance the emotions, causing you to be even more depressed. Of course, if you need prescription medication, that is different.
Avoid Depression Triggers – Most people have triggers that make them get worse when it comes to depression. If you know what yours are, just avoid them. That doesn’t mean that you’re putting your head in the sand. You can always help in another way if it’s interfering with you dealing with the injustice.
Help Other People – Find a way to get outside of yourself and help others. Everyone is suffering in some way. Sometimes a simple phone call or card can do wonders for those feeling isolated and alone. Fresh baked goods or soup left at a neighbor’s house can be so comforting.
See a Counselor – A large number of people can improve their lives by acknowledging they cannot go it alone and need to seek therapy. If you are struggling and worried about depression, realize that sometimes depression is not situational; sometimes it’s chemical. Seeing a professional can help you identify which you’re dealing with so you can learn ways to deal with the unfairness of life without depression.

It’s one thing to work toward a better world, but it’s another to let it ruin your world right now. Focus on doing what you can as an individual, but also focus on the here and now so that you can live a satisfying life even though things aren’t fair yet. If you look at the world historically, you will know for sure that the world really is becoming a more inclusive and fairer world that puts justice first. It’s just happening slowly.

Is your current mindset helping you cope or does it need some adjustments? My simple ecourse guides you through some fun and revealing activities that will help you choose a mindset that will serve you both now in the future. Take a look: Designing Your New Normal Mindset. Get it now before the price increases!

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