17 Ways to Be More Positive + Printable Mantras

Every so often, it’s good to evaluate your mental health. And due to recent events, now is the perfect time to monitor what consumes your mind. If you’ve noticed a pattern of negativity, it might be time to make a few changes. Your outlook on life affects your mental and physical health, your work and your relationships. A few small habits can help you adjust your mindset and start looking at life with a renewed, positive light. Whether you choose to add some flowers to your temporary work from home space or you listen to upbeat music, consciously practicing positivity can drastically improve your quality of life.

Whether you are striving to stay positive for yourself or for those around you — we’re here to help! Check out these tips to be more positive.

1. Take a Daily Dose of Gratitude

A central part of positive thinking is gratitude. Consciously making an effort to be grateful will get you in the habit of noticing the good things in your life instead of focusing on the bad. Try to keep a daily journal or list in your phone where you can quickly jot down a few things that you’re thankful for each day. The ever-growing list will make the frustrations and inconveniences of life seem small in comparison.

2. Give Your Heart Some Slack

Though making an effort to be more positive is a great goal, sometimes life is hard. If you experience loss, grief or frustration from circumstances out of your control, allow yourself time to process. Stifling these emotions can be damaging and will only make your outlook more negative in the long run.

3. Breathe In Fresh Air

Exercising in nature has been proven to decrease anxiety and negative thinking. Make an effort to at least take a short walk every day. This small act is a great reset at the beginning or end of the day. If you have a partner, children or pets, bring them along to spend some quality time in nature.

4. Choose Your Personal Mantra

One of the easiest ways to shift your brain to a positive mindset is to speak truths to yourself. This might seem awkward at first, but after a while, it will become second nature. The best way to do this is to choose some mantras that you find encouraging. Your mantra can be as simple as “You are okay” or some of your favorite song lyrics. Recite this when negative thoughts creep in and watch how it affects your mood. Try printing out some of our floral mantras and placing them on your desk as reminders during your workday!

5. Find Time for Meditation Moments

Meditation can be intimidating for people who are unfamiliar with the practice but it’s actually very simple. Start by taking five minutes to sit in silence and focus only on your breathing. As you become more comfortable with the practice, you can try other types of meditation such as concentration or mindfulness meditation. This easy act is a great way to get in touch with your body and ground yourself.

6. Give Generously

Did you know that making other people happy can make you happy? Taking time out of your day to think of others not only benefits the recipient, but it also shifts your perspective. Make someone’s day by giving your time, money and skills generously.

7. Replace Negative Thoughts

If you find yourself ruminating on negative thoughts, learn ways to replace them with positive ones. Next time you recognize that you’re thinking about something negative, try thinking of one or two positive things to replace it. It might not get rid of the negative thoughts completely but this helps your mind get in the habit of thinking on the bright side.

8. Surround Yourself with Positive People

Your closest friends have a huge impact on your positivity. If you surround yourself with negative people, you’ll have a harder time being positive. When you get home from an event with your friends, do you feel built up or torn down? If you find that you have some downers in your life, try to prioritize your positive relationships.

9. Smile Awhile

Did you know you can actually trick your body? The act of smiling, even when there isn’t anything specific to smile about, can change the way you feel. You may feel silly at first but you’ll soon be smiling without thinking about it. Try it!

10. Add Some Color

Since nature can improve mood, try and bring some natural elements indoors. Adding a bouquet of sunflowers to your counter can brighten up your whole room instantly. Gifting flowers to a friend is also a great way to make someone else’s day, which in turn makes you feel happy.

11. Pump Some Jams

Music can increase positive emotions by stimulating the reward center in your brain, causing the release of dopamine to make you feel good. Choose songs throughout the day with lyrics or rhythms that make you happy. Music also has the ability to help you recall associated memories. Listen to these songs to reminisce when you feel down.

12. Focus on Mood-Boosting Foods

Food has an enormous effect on your physical health but it can impact your mental health as well. If you notice a pattern of negativity, try reducing your caffeine and sugar intake and add more nutritious food to your diet. Be on the lookout for foods that contain vitamin C, vitamin B6, omega-3’s and minerals such as zinc, magnesium and folate.

13. Get Some Shut-Eye

If you’ve ever been grouchy after a poor night of sleep, you know how important rest is for your mood. It’s easier to think positively when your body feels good. So take care of yourself and prioritize getting eight hours of sleep per night. Your body will thank you.

14. Find a Furry Friend

While this isn’t an option for everyone, dogs and cats can be huge sources of positivity for some people. Taking care of another creature helps us put things in perspective. Who can be negative after getting puppy cuddles?

15. Decorate for Positivity

Your home is where you recharge. If it’s not a positive environment, it can be hard to wake up refreshed every day. Try keeping your home de-cluttered, let in natural light and fill your home with greenery and flowers to inspire positivity. Another good way to create a positive environment is to decorate with things you love. Pictures and mementos will remind you of happy memories with the most important people in your life.

16. Open Up

If you feel overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to open up to a close friend or counselor about your feelings. Talking about the negative thoughts in your mind can be a huge relief and encouragement from your confidant can be strengthening.

17. Start on the Right Foot

Get off to a positive start every morning by creating habits that ward off negative thoughts. Try waking up earlier than normal to meditate or exercise. As a bonus, an early wake-up time will eliminate the stress of running late to work. As your day continues, plan moments of positivity. Just a few small changes can completely shift your mindset.

Practicing mindfulness plays a big part in becoming more positive so start by printing out these positivity mantras and placing them where you can see them. If you want to spread some positivity, try sending some sunflowers to someone special. Colorful flowers and encouraging words are sure to light up anyone’s day.