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Happiness comes from within, which is good news if you love self-care because as it happens, there are a lot of self-care rituals that feed your inner self to build a happier mind. Here, we've compiled ten of the most powerful daily self-care rituals.

- Meditation

Practicing meditation can help you relieve stress, it's a great way to connect with yourself, and the present, and calm your mind. What better way to clear the cobwebs and find clarity?

- 2 - Quality Sleep

A lack of sleep increases your stress levels, which can impact your ability to sleep. A lack of sleep and high-stress levels are an endless cycle that feed into each other, and they can make life pretty miserable. So, set positive habits around bedtime to improve your sleep routine. That means avoiding screens at least an hour before bed, avoiding caffeine and alcohol a few hours before bed, and having a wind-down routine that works for you.

- 3 - Detox

If you feel super-connected all the time, you know how damaging that can be to your mental health. It's okay to take screen breaks and connect with the world around you instead of the world inside your phone. In fact, you should make a digital detox a daily routine – even if it's just learning to put your phone down an hour or two before bed to prepare your mind for sleep.

- 4 - Exercise

Daily exercise is a great act of self-care, and it helps reduce stress, improve your mental health, and it helps you stay in shape. It's also going to contribute to an improvement in your sleep routine. That doesn't mean you need to spend hours in the gym daily. 20 minutes of walking is plenty if that's all you can do.

#James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleFind out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundationwebsite www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

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- 5 - Fuel Yourself

Food is fuel, so bear that in mind as you meal plan, whether it's a day or week in advance. You need a healthy diet that's balanced with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean proteins. The more meals you plan, the more likely you are to make good decisions around food.

- 6 - Connections

Reach out and talk or text someone you love and trust. Social connections are important and if you want your relationships to last, you need to nurture them regularly. In this case, daily connections are key, even if it isn't the same person daily.

- 7 - Gratitude

What better way to feed your inner happiness than by cultivating gratitude – take a look around at your life. You have a lot to be thankful for, don't you? Whether you take a moment to reflect on everything you're grateful for or you write it in a journal, it's a great exercise for focusing on the positive things in your life instead of thinking about things that might be going wrong.

- 8 - Nature

Enjoying nature is easier than you think, especially if you incorporate it with your physical fitness – a jog in the park, mountain biking, hiking in the woods… there are a lot of activities that involve nature and action. Nature can soothe your soul.

- 9 - Creativity

Beat stress, think outside the box, and let yourself get creative. Just give yourself the freedom to explore that part of yourself without restrictions. You don't need to be good at it, you just need to enjoy whatever form of creativity you plan to practice.

- 10 - Alone Time

Even the most extroverted extrovert can benefit from alone time, and you should carve out a few minutes of it daily. It can be reserved for reading, listening to music, a hot bath, or just sitting quietly. The morning or evening is the best time to grab some alone time, it can be a good way to start your day or wind down.

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