
The other day I was working out with one of Sydney Cumming‘s videos. I actually workout to 3 videos of her videos a week!
Well, at the end of the workout she usually gives a little motivational pep talk while we cool down. One of those pep talks inspired this post!
Sydney said, “I am a fan of adding positive, don’t think so much about what you have to restrict yourself from.”
And I LOVE this.
Instead of putting yourself in a scarcity mindset where you feel the pressure to remove bad habits or negative aspects of your life, what if we focused on ADDING the positive first.
If you add more positivity and good into your life, naturally the negative will begin to dissipate.
Here are things you can add into your life to improve your health and increase your positivity:
Sunlight
One thing I really love is opening my blinds in the morning for the bright rays of sunshine to streak my walls! Even if it’s a cloudy day, natural light is known to boost your mood and increase productivity.
Also, get outside on a regular basis and let your skin soak in some sunshine!
Quality sleep
Implement a relaxing nighttime routine and set your bedroom up for quality sleep.
You may not necessarily need to sleep more, you just need to sleep better.
Quality sleep will improve your mood, boost your immune system, improve your memory, and increase your productivity!
Water
Drinking more water always helps me feel quite accomplished! I end up eating less and feeling more energized.
There’s no need to drink a gallon or any crazy amount, so it’s important to understand how much water your body needs.
Another benefit is you can invest in a cute water bottle, I love my Hydroflask!!
House plants
Is it possible to have too many house plants?? NO!
I’ve slowly been collecting house plants and they bring me so much joy. I even name them all! I usually ask for them for my birthday/Christmas.
House plants bring nature into your home which naturally creates a calming effect. Plus, many of them can improve air quality in your home.
Just be sure to do your research on safe plants if you have any pets!

Vegetables and fruits
Add several servings of fresh veggies and fruits to your meals which will add flavor, fiber, vitamins, and minerals!
A simple and affordable way to add vegetables is to purchase a few bags of frozen veggies, boil them briefly, and add a large portion to what you’re already eating.
I love to add berries with my breakfast, eat a banana after a workout, and/or enjoy citrus fruits for dessert!
Walking/movement
I take a walk outside for at least 1 hour each day and it’s one of my new favorite habits.
Many of us sit entirely too long throughout the day and it’s important to get more movement in to be healthy.
Aside from taking walks, you could also park your car further from a store entrance, have a little dance party in the mornings, follow along to a YouTube workout video, and use a standing desk.
Just get your body moving and your blood flowing!
Positive people
You know those people that just radiate positive energy? Spend more time with them.
Or maybe you need to spend more time with people who implement positive habits, are more productive, or exercise and eat healthy.
It’s been said time and time again that we are like the average of the 5 people we spend the most time with!
If you can’t or don’t want to find positive people, YOU be the light for yourself!
Silence
Don’t fear silence and alone time. Instead, try to have more quiet time!
Silence allows you to think, reflect, and relax. Don’t feel the need to always listen to a podcast, watch TV, or chat with someone
Embrace and enjoy the silence.
Gratitude
Writing a list of things you’re grateful for daily is a simple habit to implement that will benefit you immensely.
It can be easy to think in lack some days, which is why it’s so important to remind ourselves of all the amazing things we have.
Saving
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, ‘Pay yourself first.’
Well, the easiest way to do that with less stress is to automate your savings/investments.
Choose a percentage of your income to start with and automate that. From there, keep on increasing that rate on a regular basis.
Be sure to check out my Personal Finance YouTube channel and Blog!
Positive content
Have you ever noticed that the trashy, obnoxious shows/YouTubers get the most views?
That says a lot about humans.
Negativity and shallow content leads to those same thoughts. Start consuming positive content instead.
There are tons of books, articles, and videos on becoming more productive, learning to communicate well, building a business, improving your mindset, etc.
Once you start consuming more of that content, your perspective and standards will start to shift.
RELATED POST: You Become the Content You Consume
Acts of kindness
It feels good to do good.
Check out this awesome TED Talk on the effects of giving:
Start adding simple good deeds to your day to day life:
- pick up trash
- give a genuine compliment
- use reusable bags and water bottles
- share someone’s blog post
- volunteer
- donate cash
The ideas are endless and don’t always require a lot of time or money!
Uplifting music
Music can really set the tone.
Popular 90s songs and jazz music always create a positive vibe for me.
Music is a universal language and can really help to improve your mood, increase your productivity, and ease your stress.
Meditation
Meditation is free and simple. You’ll find a lot of options for guidance, but meditation looks different for everyone.
The whole point is to:
- sit still (which most people can’t do because they feel bored or get anxious…this trains discipline)
- and understand how your mind/thoughts work (then you can work on improving your mindset)
My favorite meditation app is the Insight Timer, but just find what works best for you!
Rest/Recovery
It’s important to regularly rest your mind and body.
You don’t need to be “on” or productive all the time. Give your brain some rest.
Same goes for your body. It’s not necessary to go hard in your workouts every day, give your body time to recover and grow.
Stretching
Add a little bit of yoga or stretching to your weekly routine and your body will thank you.
Stretching will prevent pain, improve your posture, and increase your range of motion.
It’s also very calming and feels great.
Focus time
A couple hours of focused, undistracted work is much better than 8 hours of distracted work.
Don’t feel the need to hustle 24/7. Instead learn to implement bursts of focused time on things that lead you in the right direction.
Removing negative habits can be difficult. This is exactly why adding positivity is a great place to start!
Great post, love the ones on quiet time and positive content! Meditation is also so good 🙂
Thank you Stephanie!