How to Become Happier This Weekend

Five days a week for eight hours, you find yourself cramped in your office chair. You wake up early to ensure you get in the office on time. You make sure you always appear your best by getting regular trims, mani/pedi or frequent shopping trips. You make yourself believe you need all of these things to make people think you aren't falling apart.

But, things at home is different. Your condo unit at Avida Towers Vita is a mess. You don't have time to cook, so you rely on takeouts. Couples with kids are sometimes worse. Dirty clothes are piling up the same way the mail does. No one is weeding the garden or watering the blooms. Sometimes, it feels like the only solution is to go back in time when your parents were in charge of everything. You didn't have to worry about anything. Your mom and has everything under control.

Fortunately, things don't have to be that way. You can be happy with your life even if you have several responsibilities on your plate.

What is the secret to happiness?

Happy people believe in these two concepts - balance and minimalism. It's practicing moderation. It is the knowledge of staying within boundaries, and when to get past the barrier you set up for yourself. When you practice balance, you'll know when and where to expend your time and energy. You'll understand the importance of taking breaks and schedule them accordingly. You'll avoid spending your money and time on things that won't be beneficial in the long run.

On the other hand, there's also the concept of minimalism. Embracing a minimalist lifestyle doesn't mean you are depriving yourself of the beautiful things in life. On the contrary, you are allow yourself to live a full life without depending on distractions or a list of "must/should do" you think you should follow. These concepts aren't your one-way ticket to achieving happiness. They are merely your guides to improve how you run your life.

If you wish to have an easy route to happiness, here's what you do. You should incorporate the practices of a minimalist lifestyle to maximize the effects of your choices in life.

What are the steps to a minimalist lifestyle?

By adopting a minimalist lifestyle, you are choosing to be in the moment and savoring the free time you have available. Here are the steps to ensuring you are getting rest and 'me time this weekend.

1. Unplugging from devices

Use this time to get away from technology. When trying to become minimalist, you should step away from screens. Whether it's your TV set or your computer, you should refrain from turning it on for at least a couple of hours. If your job needs you to be online most of the time, the unplugging is a great way to recharge yourself. It gets rid of distractions which helps you focus on important things in life such as personal connections, planning, and perfecting a skill.

2. Clearing your schedule

Instead of cramming everything during the weekend, you should spread your cleaning and other activities throughout the week. Clean your home on Monday, unload the dishwasher on Tuesdays, load your laundry on Wednesdays, and so on. It leaves you more time to do the things you love. With more time on your hands, you are free to go with the flow. You minimize the stress of planning and getting things done on time.

3. Slowing down

Slowing down doesn't mean you have to reduce your speed when driving. It suggests you pace yourself. It feels good when you have one day in your week when you don't have to rush yourself. You don't have to think of any commitments. You have enough time for a few things you must accomplish and more time to perform everything you wish to try for the day.

4. Doing nothing

Society tells people that being busy makes you valuable. The more items you have on your plate, the more successful you are than your peers. If you think about it, keeping yourself busy with a bunch of mindless stuff brings you nowhere near feeling happy or satisfied. You might get the promotion, prize, or connections you wished to have but it doesn't get you in a place of peace and contentment. You should try doing nothing once in a while. It allows you to do things you otherwise couldn't do during an ordinary day. Be in the present instead of anywhere else.

5. Playing after working

Once people turn into adults, they begin to think that they are no longer allowed to play. However, you must be able to "play" if you wish to be effective on your work and home life. It's a break from the pressure you experience daily. Like a child, you must find out the kind of play that suits your personality. You can try out sports, craft-making, gardening, or other creative pursuits until you identify which one can be your hobby.

6. Creating something from imagination

Use your imagination. To be happy is to be free and you are free to use your imagination as long as you want. Your mind can reach far places you never thought can visit. With the amount of brain power you can harness, you can create words, images, and other mediums. Most of all, you get to express yourself. Tapping into your creativity also means you are checking your feelings. Reconnecting with your emotions is one of the healthiest activities you can devote to yourself.

Being a minimalist doesn't only apply to clutter. It's a way of living. When you focus on being one with your environment instead of going against it, then you allow yourself to focus on your wellbeing. In the end, you become happier than you were when you started changing your lifestyle.