30 ways to rejuvenate your day in 5 minutes or less

By Cylon George

(Pick The Brain) You’re a busy person. Your days are filled with meetings, project, deadlines, family issues, and many other urgent things. That leaves very little time for rest and rejuvenation. Over time you may begin to feel disillusioned. You may wonder “What is this all for?” But the thought goes away as quickly as it comes. You may say, “I’d love to take some time out to rejuvenate but I don’t have the time to sit for 30 minutes to an hour.”

Yes, we’re all strapped for time. It’s often difficult to find a moment to sit, reflect and rejuvenate your spirit. Instead, we push and push until we burn out from the effects of stress.

Here’s the good news: you don’t have to take 30 minutes out of your day to rejuvenate. You can do it in 5 minutes. I’ve got a few ideas to help you get started:

A hug a day … boosts your immune system

By David R. Hamilton PhD

I’ve written about hugs in some past blogs and books, in particular about how they produce the hormone oxytocin, which is good for the heart. I coined the term, ‘A hug a day keeps the cardiologist away’. I love hugs so I couldn’t wait to share some exciting new research about how they can protect you from the common cold.

8 Ways Happy People Approach The World Differently

(MindBodyGreen) By Shannon Kaiser

You know those people, the ones who seem to have a permanent glow. They're always smiling and have infectious energy oozing out of their pores. How did they get to be so happy?

I've made tremendous strides in my life to reach happiness, leaving a corporate job after burnout, depression, drug addictions and eating disorders. I've come to realize being and staying happy is no small feat. It actually has little to do with outside influences. Real happiness comes with daily action and inward focus.

15 Things You Need To Give Up To Be Happy

(Spirit Science and Metaphysics)
By Luminita D. Saviuc 

Here is a list of 15 things which, if you give up on them, will make your life a lot easier and much, much happier. We hold on to so many things that cause us a great deal of pain, stress and suffering – and instead of letting them all go, instead of allowing ourselves to be stress free and happy – we cling on to them. Not anymore. Starting today we will give up on all those things that no longer serve us, and we will embrace change. Ready? Here we go:

1. Give up your need to always be right
There are so many of us who can’t stand the idea of being wrong – wanting to always be right – even at the risk of ending great relationships or causing a great deal of stress and pain, for us and for others. It’s just not worth it. Whenever you feel the ‘urgent’ need to jump into a fight over who is right and who is wrong, ask yourself this question: “Would I rather be right, or would I rather be kind?” Wayne Dyer. What difference will that make? Is your ego really that big?

12 Things Everyone Should Do More Often

(MindBodyGreen) By: Dr. Danielle Dowling

You probably already know the things that make up a good, healthy, happiness-filled life. (And you’re pretty sure it’s not Cheetos, checking email in bed, or gossiping.)

But we all need occasional (or even daily) reminders. And the good news is: you don’t have to do these things five times a day, every day to see a big shift in your life. Even just a few times a week or five minutes a day can make a big difference. Promise!

With that in mind, here are 12 things that all of us—myself very much included—should be doing more often.

Seeking the key to happiness? Research suggests taming the wandering mind

Eastern philosophies have advocated it for more than a millennia. Ram Dass wrote a book about it. And now, an iPhone app has collected data on it. The subject is presence and its relation to happiness. Over the last few years, happiness has been a hot topic of research. Scientists have investigated how to spot it, maintain it and acquire more of it. But one aspect is clear: it isn't external circumstances that determine happiness, it's how present we are in the moment.

"Be Here Now"

The Buddha was known to say, "Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment." And Richard Alpert, a Harvard University professor who would later be known as Ram Dass, wrote "Be Here Now" in an attempt to convey a similar message: pay attention. What both realized (and science validates) is that when we are present in our lives, happiness grows. Interestingly, happiness is not the flashy car or good job, but simply to be fully engaged with what is right in front of us.