What non-medication things do you do to bring good feelings into your life? I will start a list
Hot baths
Runner's high/dat burn from lifting
Organizing room (especially sorting documents is a great feeling)
Cleaning (freshly clean sheets and no dust on your feet when you walk feels good)
Trying a new recipe that I have been thinking about for a while
Going for a relaxing drive on scenic roads
Making a cup of coffee or tea perfect to taste and then enjoying it
Going out in nature and walking or just sitting and smelling the air and viewing everything around
Eating a pomegranate (they take effort and focus to extract the seeds, it's like getting a reward for the work)
Watching ants or other bugs to see their behaviors
Petting/playing with pets
Recently I tried a bit of aromatherapy and it helps a lot.
Depending on the oils/scents you use, on an organic chemistry level, it breaks down cortisol and cortisone (my chem friend explained it to me, but I don't know chem so I can't explain it, other than the compounds in some scents she suggested create more water/H2O in your brain with the way the molecules interact, which is a positive thing for migraines, anxiety, etc.)
- I drink peppermint tea when I need more focus and I inhale it deeply with each sip and it does improve my focus greatly, even better than my ADD medication.
- I'm not sure what oils other than lavender are very helpful yet. I have a lemon oil but I haven't figured out if it helps with stress or anything other than as a distraction. At work when I feel overwhelmed, I run into the office and hide from customers and coworkers and deeply smell the lemon oil vial for 30 seconds/several breaths and it does make me smile, so I think it does help even if it's just placebo.