7 Simple Things to Do Tonight to Make Tomorrow a Better Day

There's one important thing I've learned about happiness after more than a decade of reading every personal development book under the sun: it doesn't just happen. Happiness is a state of mind that we must intentionally nurture in our lives on a regular basis. It's something I do on a regular basis. We must do things that make us feel warm and fuzzy on a regular basis. Finding ways to wake up happier, which frequently boils down to going to bed happier, is one of the keys.

So, how do we prepare ourselves for a joyful morning the night before? Experts reveal their favorite happiness-inducing bedtime habits in the video below.

7 easy ways to start your day with a smile

1. Make thankfulness a habit

With good reason, gratitude is a popular happiness-promoting activity. Gratitude works, according to study, which is why psychotherapist Dawn Delgado, LMFT, recommends going over 10 things you're grateful for in your life before bed, either in your head or on paper. "Putting our conscious emphasis on thankfulness has an impact on our brain's neurochemistry, specifically the release of dopamine, a feel-good neurotransmitter that plays a key role in happiness," explains Delgado. If you're having trouble getting into the swing of a pre-sleep gratitude exercise, gratitude notebooks with prompts and thought-provoking questions can help.

2. Make arrangements to have fun

Half the delight of doing something enjoyable is sometimes the planning and anticipation that precedes it. Anisha Patel-Dunn, DO, a board-certified psychiatrist and chief medical officer at LifeStance Health, suggests using your pre-bed winddown time to schedule plans or activities for the next day, giving yourself something to look forward to in the morning, to capitalize on this happiness-inducing hack. "Having something fun to anticipate can help you wake up feeling happier," she says. "Whether it's going to the movies, meeting a friend for coffee or dinner, or even just planning a walk in your favorite park," she says.

3. Organize your space

According to Delgado, "the space around us effects the mental and emotional space inside of us," which is why waking up to a sink full of dirty dishes and piles of laundry may make you feel overwhelmed. To address this, she recommends cleaning up your home a few minutes before bedtime so you may wake up feeling refreshed and ready to face whatever the day may bring. It also does not have to be a lengthy cleaning session. It's amazing how much of a difference a 10-minute fast clean can make.

4. Get ready for the day ahead.

Mapping out your day and drafting your to-do list can help set the tone for a cheerful morning, much like straightening up your physical area. "This does not imply making a long, anxiety-inducing list of everything," explains Delgado. "Just organize and prioritize your thoughts to have a clear picture of how things will go." We can wake up feeling confident and clear since our roadmap has already been defined when we do this ahead of time. This could include preparing food or healthy snacks for the following day."

5. Visualize the day ahead

If traditional meditation to clear your mind of all thoughts isn't your thing, try a nightly imagery meditation to help set your mind up for a brighter morning. Delgado suggests setting your intentions by mentally going over your schedule for the day. "Imagine everything flowing well from beginning to end," she advises. "What are the amazing things that are going to happen?" What obstacles will you face, and how will you overcome them?" She also recommends planning out how you'll incorporate self-care breaks into your day.

6. Write yourself a love note

Another approach to boost your mood in the morning is to write yourself a good note the night before. "Send yourself an encouraging message like you would to a good friend or a child in your life," Delgado advises. This may seem foolish at first, but waking up to a message from you that says things like "You're doing a fantastic job" or "This is going to be an excellent day for you" will undoubtedly give you a boost. Delgado thinks it's all up to you how you deliver the message. You can take a sticky note and tape it to your computer, write it in lipstick on your bathroom mirror, or even bury it with your lunch or coffee cup.

7. Avoid using social media.

While social media may be a cheerful place full of jokes that make you laugh because they're so relatable and unending streams of adorable dog photographs, it can also be a sad place at times. "Some people may experience tension, anxiety, or depression as a result of social media since it is so simple to fall into the comparison trap," Dr. Patel-Dunn explains. As a result, she suggests taking a social media break before going to bed to help lower anxiety and make you feel more relaxed and happy the next day.