small things that can bring you joy

Receiving a compliment has the same effect on our brains as receiving cash. And while we can t force others to compliment us, when we give compliments to others we also reap some reward. That s because we feel good when we make other people feel good. It s a winwin

The state or practice of being married to only one person at a time. the state orpractice of having only one partner during a period of time.

When we have goals to guide us, we are happier and more apt to achieve success. Writing down our dreams forces us to fashion our vague ideas about what we want into a concrete game plan. Instant motivation.

Take a few minutes each day to be in total solitude. Alone time recharges the mind, helps us unwind, and enhances the quality of our relationships with others.

Planting your own vegetables can improve your health, save you money and boost your mood. Backyard gardening can also be a great stress reliever a little me time at the start of each day.

Tea of all kinds, but especially green tea, has properties that help fight off disease. Green, white, black, and oolong tea can also boost exercise endurance and hydrate the body despite all that caffeine. Can your cup of coffee do all that?

Soda can cause heartburn. It s linked to osteoporosis. It increases your risk of kidney stones. It contains unhealthy artificial ingredients. It destroys your teeth. It makes you fat. Think about all that the next time you reach for a Coke.

We procrastinate because completing whatever given action we re putting off will cause us a certain amount of discomfort or pain. But when we procrastinate we increase the burden by prolonging the amount of time the anticipation of this discomfort or pain hangs over our head. When we instead confront unpleasant tasks headon, we decrease the amount of negativity they bring into our lives.

Peas, beans, and peanuts are full of magnesium, a mineral that keeps our bodies pumping with energy.