8 tips to help turn an ordinary day into a great one

1. Learn something new

Education helps the brain to work more efficiently, maintains the activity of neural pathways and allows increase resilience to stress. There is no need to sign up for a dozen courses and refuse to rest in order to study textbooks in the evenings. You can learn new things little by little, but regularly, and make learning a part of everyday life. Come up with simple tasks for yourself every day: for example, try to learn 10 words in a foreign language language, cook a dish that has never been made before, or read an article that has long been in bookmarks.

To make learning easier, identify the areas that interest you. Observe your reactions to different objects and activities. For example, if you like listening to music, you can look for new genres and compositions. And if you like to walk, explore different areas of the city and look for information about the buildings you see around. So it will turn out to pull up knowledge about history and architecture.

2. Change the scenery

To get out of the familiar environment, you do not need to leave your city. Eat lunch at a new cafe, work at a co-working space, visit a museum you haven't been to before. Or book a hotel room for a couple of days in another neighborhood you've always loved and pretend you're a tourist.

At home, you can also unwind. Try to arrange a small rearrangement - no repairs, just a slight update of the interior. Indulge yourself with pleasant little things - beautiful bed linen, a scented candle or a new mug. And make it a rule to buy flowers for home. Firstly, it's beautiful, secondly, Fine affects well-being - for example, it can help to cope with anxiety and fatigue.

3. Use items for special occasions

You don't have to wait until the important moment to enjoy the items you like, otherwise they can waste dust in the closet for years. Get crystal glasses and a beautiful tablecloth for dinner. Wear a smart dress or shirt on a weekday if the dress code at work allows. Use the toilet water that you saved for a special occasion more often - let it create a festive mood right now.

If it is difficult to overcome yourself and use "ceremonial" things just like that, do not wait for a suitable occasion, but come up with it yourself. For example, invite friends to dinner - that's the reason to get a festive service. Examine the theater poster - you can “walk” a costume or clutch to the performance, which have been waiting for their finest hour for a long time.

4. Help someone

Volunteering can make not only the world around you better, but also your life - gratuitous help to others saves against depression and may increase your level of happiness. A couple of hours a week is enough for this: take food to an animal shelter, help a friend's child with math, or paint a children's sandbox in your yard.

If you have free time, take part in volunteer projects. This is a chance to make new friends and gain useful experience. For example, sign up for the next community work day, help organize a charity concert or set up separate waste collection in your home.

5. Take care of your body

Choose what gives you real pleasure. Go in for sports, go for a massage or update your manicure. If there is no time for a gym or a beauty salon, you can practice home treatments: make a face mask, dance to an incendiary video, or take a fragrant foam bath.

Preparing for a pleasant procedure can also be a pleasure, such as going to the store for bath bombs and body lotions. Thanks to different aromas and textures, you can create a special mood for yourself. So, body butter with the smell of chocolate or coconut will help you relax after a hard day, and citrus body scrub will invigorate you in the morning.

6. Talk to a stranger

Even if you see a person for the first time in your life, communicating with him can make you happierthan time spent alone. So feel free to exchange a few phrases with a barista in a cafe or at an exhibition to discuss the painting you are interested in with other visitors.

If it's hard to find a topic to talk about, start with what's going on around you. For example, in the gym you can ask for advice on choosing a coach. And at the conference - to share impressions of the speeches. So you will improve your mood and make useful acquaintances - who knows, suddenly they will develop into a strong friendship.

7. Make time for yourself

Even on busy days, it is important to find an opportunity to exhale and relax. Authors of the book “Burnout. A New Approach to Stress Relief by Emily and Amelia Nagoski recommend take about 10 hours a day to rest. Minimum 7 o'clock from this stock allocate for sleep. And the rest of the time you can spend on communicating with loved ones, training, watching a new series and everything that gives you pleasure.

And also give yourself at least 15-30 minutes a day when you will not be in a hurry anywhere. Do whatever comes to mind: read, go for a walk, watch a movie, or just sit quietly with a cup of coffee. Ask your family not to disturb you for a while and turn off notifications on your smartphone - let it be your half hour alone.

8. Try an unusual hobby

Joy and inspiration can be found in a new hobby. And an easy way to figure out what you like is to attend different classes. Sign up for a rock climbing trial, take a pottery workshop, or take your camera for a walk around the city.

Hobbies help not only to have fun and forget about the routine for a while, but also to broaden your horizons, as well as pump up your soft skills. For example, acting can be useful for developing empathy and better control of emotions. And team sports teach you how to interact with other people.

VTB Bank (PJSC). General license No. 1,000 for banking operations issued by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation on July 8, 2015.