The secret to feeling better — in just three seconds.
It’s Monday morning — already, again! How did that happen? The to-do list is never-ending, the week is stretching ahead like a series of hurdles to be jumped, and the thought of adding one more thing is exhausting. Even if that thing is a mental-health practice that will apparently make you feel better.
Don’t worry. The art of finding glimmers is the easiest possible mental-health practice because glimmers are all around us, every moment. We’ve got five you can find in the next two minutes.
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But first: What are glimmers?
Glimmers are micro-moments of joy. Tiny three-second moments that easily slip by, unnoticed. But if you focus on them, they offer your nervous system a brief moment of pause. And these pauses, accumulated, can help you feel calmer and more able to face the day. The trick is to lower your bar for delight — we’re talking really tiny things. Like…
A sip of tea or coffee
Ah, caffeine! That most wondrous of substances. Whether you’re a die-hard coffee fan or love tea above all else (or prefer something different — hot chocolate, sparkling water, fruit juice? You do you!), there is something so delicious about that first sip. Extra points if it’s the first sip of the day. But no matter when it is, it offers a sacred pause in the midst of all the busy-ness.
@juicyjrockor to put me on the edge (i get caffeine-induced anxiety)♬ deep in it – berlioz
A deep stretch
Try it now: stretch your arms over your head and reach for the sky. Wiggle your fingers as you stretch out your lower back, then roll your shoulders, lengthen your neck, do a little dance in your chair or — better yet— stand up for a full-body stretch. Doesn’t that feel nice? That’s all we’re aiming for here: nice.
Connecting with someone you love
Take a moment (just one!) to think of someone you love, and send them a message or give them a quick call. Just to say you were thinking of them. It can be a text message, a photo, a meme that made you think of them, a GIF that makes you laugh, a voice note to brighten their day. Reaching out to someone you love is a reliable daily glimmer.
The light outside
Look outside the nearest window. Isn’t the light lovely? The way it slants through the clouds or pours out of the blue sky. The way it casts shadows and makes shapes, or lights up the surroundings like a spotlight. The beauty of the natural world is right there – we just have to notice it.
Casual, friendly social interactions
One of the most reliable ways to reassure your nervous system that you are safe and can relax (and that the stress you’re feeling is not because a lion is chasing you) is casual, friendly social interactions. It’s the, “Hi! How are you doing?” at school drop-off, or the chitchat while you wait for the kettle to boil at work. The “Have a nice day!” to the cashier, or the shared eye-roll with strangers while you wait for a lift that’s taking forever. These moments are so small it’s easy to miss them, but they are powerful signals to unwind.
So, there you have it! Just be aware of all the tiny micro-moments of joy that surround you, all day long.
Bridget McNulty’s book Daily Glimmers (Penguin Random House) offers a glimmer for each day of the year, making it easy to make this practice part of everyday life.
Words: Bridget McNulty
Photography by: Pexels, Shutterstock
Also read:Word search: Summer Festive feel-goods
