A guide to our happy chemicals

Posted on August 10, 2023 by Bhanu Misra Marya

I recently read an article about the happy chemicals our body produces and I realized I wanted to have this information live permanently on my blog for my future reference! (and of course for anyone else who may find this useful!)

I’ve always had an interest in personal growth and how we naturally tend to support ourselves so this topic is right up that alley. So sharing each happy chemical, what it does and how to activate it. Please be sure to like, comment and share!

(Scroll to the bottom for outfit details)

Serotonin – Stabilizes our mood

Deep breathing
Meditating
Walking in Nature
Go for a run

Endorphin – Pain Relief

Laughing
Dancing
Stretching
Essential Oils

Oxytocin – Building love & trust

Hugging somone
Giving someone a compliment
Helping someone
Playing with a pet or a child

Dopamine – Reward & Motivation

Finishing a task (hack: ANY task no matter how big or small)
Eating your favourite meal
Listening to music
Practicing self care

Dress – Urban Behaviour | Sunglasses – Amazon | Shoes – Call it Spring | Purse – Channel

Review, Refocus & Readjust – Mid year goal review

Posted on July 25, 2023 by Bhanu Misra Marya

As we round out the first half of the year and slide into the second half, I thought it would be a great idea to provide some inspiration to reset, readjust, restart and refocus.

Review your goals and determine priority
Before blindly continuing to do something that may no longer be serving you, take some time to review your goals. Maybe you’ve plateaued in some areas, or maybe you haven’t given enough time to one area of your life. Even better, maybe you’ve accomplished a goal and it no longer requires your attention. Creating self awareness is really important and it’s also a good idea to get organized in a way that makes sense to you. Maybe writing the goals that you will continue to work on on a sticky or using a Moleskin to help refocus an area where you’ve been lacking.
Disrupt and edit your routine
Once you’ve figure out what you want to focus on, redesign your daily habits to meet those goals. It’s true what they say…success is a series of small wins. Use your day planner, Gcal or Notion to structure your day and include activities that help you work towards ticking off those goals by end of year
Level up, track your progress & give yourself grace
As you continue your goal achievement journey, do you best to stay accountable (whether that is through a private IG account, blog or good ol’ pen & paper). I’m a big believer in documenting your life and it’s always nice to see how far you’ve come. But what’s even more important is giving yourself grace. Working towards your personal and professional goals are not meant to be invigorating and inspiring so remember to take breaks/rest, celebrate your wins and smile!

Book Review: The Creation Frequency by Mike Murphy

Posted on July 3, 2023 by Bhanu Misra Marya

Earlier this year, I set a reading goal to read 12 books (at least) in 2023. I’m happy to report I’m right on track!

I recently read The Creation Frequency by Mike Murphy and it was such a great reminder about how we understand and interact with our surroundings (read: the Universe).

My favourite part was how he explained the power of manifestation as it relates to quantum science AND ancient wisdom.

Shout out to Vaughan Public Library for having such a great book in their catalogue! I’ll have to check it out again and update this post because I really want that concise commentary to live on this blog.

I give this book 5/5 ⭐️. If you are looking for a refresher or even an introduction on the topic – this is a great quick read with actionable steps.

Please share any book recommendations in the comments. Or check out the other books I’ve read in 2023 here.

Rules for being human

Posted on May 7, 2023 by Bhanu Misra Marya

I recently saw this on Instagram and after a quick google search found that the post that I stumbled over on Instagram was actually inspired by a good. I felt it really resonated with me, and once that happens – I feel compelled to make sure it has a permanent home on my blog (or my twitter or instagram(s)) :P

So here it is…10 rules for being human (originally found in “If life was a game, these would be the rules”) + some of my recent art & photography … enjoy!

You will receive a body
You will be presented with lessons
There are no mistakes, only lessons
The lessons will repeat, until they are learned
Learning does not end
“There” is no better than “here”
Others are only mirrors of you
What you make of your life is up to you
All the answers are inside of you
You will forget all of this at birth

20 ways to get out of a funk

Posted on May 6, 2023 by Bhanu Misra Marya

Today’s post is a quick one! I’ve been feeling a little off alignment. So in my research to get back on track and out of this funk – I researched some inspiration and knew I had to share here :)

One thing I do want to say is that, our journey is full of ebbs and flows. There are highs and lows and sometimes how we operate will be effected by that. What I’ve learned that it’s completely okay to lean into the slow, quiet, idle restful time just as much as the fast paced productivity.

Having an off day, week or month is completely okay & we all go through it. And when you are ready…read on to learn ways to get back on your path…

Exercise daily
Sleep early
Eat more veggies
Park further away from the entrance
Use the stairs
Reapply your sunscreen
Drink less alcohol
Journal
Watch less TV
Prioritize and plan your day
Visualize your goals
Find ways to give back your time
Review and reflect
Practice gratitude
Be consistent with AM/PM routines
Write down your goals
Don’t listen to the news
Track you progress
Meditate
Stretch & foam roll multiple times a week

5 Productivity Tips to start the month off right

Posted on April 2, 2023 by Bhanu Misra Marya

Not many people I know are like me in that they feel the start of a new week (ahem Monday!) or even the 1st day of the month is like the 1st day of school. It’s the feeling of fresh starts, dreaming big and new routines. I also love reading about people’s organization methods and goal setting – so I thought I’d share to abundance of resources on Google and share tips for a productive month!

Set up your monthly calendar: Appointments, Celebrations, Get togethers, Extra Curriculars, Fitness classes, Classes etc. Getting it out of your head and getting all down in your calendar just makes sense. I use a combination of Goggle Calendar and my paper planner monthly view
Set up goals for the month: whether it’s finishing a book, getting out 3 fitness classes/running x km or maybe it’s doing something you’ve never done before – working towards something helps get you out of your comfort zone and develop character.
Set up a monthly to-do list: I definitely think some of the activities on this list will be created from the monthly goals, but it may also include routine items (ie: run the washer clean cycle, sign up for swimming lessons) and bonus items (ie: artistic projects, going to the art gallery). I personally love the bonus activities – it makes my soul smile
Set a budget: Something is to be said about being mindful about spending. Not just because mindless shopping and over spending is a waste of time and money. But because it’s not good for our environment. So whether it’s a “no spend month” or a cap on eating out, it’s definitely worth a try.
Deep clean something! I think it’s a good habit that I’m starting to implement whereby I clean something that has piled up. Whether it’s a junk drawer, a basement closet or the baseboards. Schedule it in and get it done!