My friends, life can be crazy at times. Believe me, I know! I just had what can only be described as the craziest week as my entire life. Times like these really remind me of how important it is to find bright spots in every day and appreciate the little things we can do to help us keep our chins up! Basically, give back to ourselves! Whether you’re going through a rough patch yourself or just want to add a bit more bliss to your day, check out 7 simple things that I do to make a brighter difference in my life! Bonus: they’re all eco-friendly!

5 Ways to Find Your Bliss & Make a #BrighterDifference

This post was sponsored by Neutrogena Naturals as part of an Influencer Activation for The Motherhood. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions (FTC) guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I received complimentary products to facilitate my review.

Actively appreciate  the beauty in everyday things

One thing that I do when I’m feeling  down is to take a few moments to consciously appreciate the beauty in everyday things. The changing colors of the leaves. The sweet face of a deer who came by for a visit.  The opossum that uses my guinea pig’s blankets that are hanging out to dry to stroke his face (yes, I have a lot of weird wildlife in my backyard, and I love it!).  The sound of my son’s laughter as he cracks up over some funny video he stumbled across. By making a conscious effort to recognize that these things are beautiful in their own right, I am able to tell myself that no matter what the world sends my way, I will also find something to smile about.

Take a Time Out & Just Go

As a society, we’ve gotten so over-scheduled that we never seem to have time to just be. I’ve said so many times “I wish I could just get in my car and go.” Just go somewhere, without a destination. Well, my car isn’t really up for adventures these days, and besides, this is about eco-friendly ways to give back to yourself, right? Still, sometimes you just need to go forward without a plan to find yourself again. If you can’t just hop in your car, head out on foot. Don’t think about it (well, aside from grabbing some water and snacks, in case you’re gone for a while). Just go, my friends. Just go. See where the day- and your feet- take you! You might discover even more beautiful everyday things to appreciate!

Have a date with your kids

Doing something fun with my son is definitely my favorite way to give back to myself (and to him!). Sometimes we just watch movies together in the living room. Other times, we head out for a stroll around town and see what’s new or fun to do. Then there are times when I just hang out with him in his room and chat with him about his current interests. He’s growing up so fast, I know soon enough he won’t want mom chilling in his room with him, so I want to make sure I enjoy it while I can! You don’t need to drive miles away or spend a fortune at amusement parks to enjoy a day with your children. By spending quality time with your kids, you’re not only giving back to your family, you’re setting the groundwork for a better future! Remember, our kids will grow up to be in charge of the world. Let’s make sure we give them the tools to make positive changes!

Wash away your worries

Never underestimate the power of a good face washing. Seriously! When I’m feeling tired, miserable and just plain icky, I head to my bathroom and splash some water on my face. I grab a good cleanser (right now, it’s Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Facial Cleanser) and think about washing away my worries as I wash away the gunk. It’s incredibly cathartic. When I’m done, I slather on a good moisturizer, like  Neutrogena Naturals Brightening Daily Moisturizer, then get back to work. I’ll tell you a bit more about why those two Neutrogena products are so high on my “favorites” list in a minute. 🙂

Brighten someone else’s day

Want to make the world a better place? Practice kindness. Not just occasional random acts, but true everyday kindness. You don’t have to spend money or even really leave your house to be kind. Just make the effort to brighten someone’s day. Share a funny story with a friend who’s down, send a few words of encouragement before your brother’s big case. Words cost nothing to share but have value beyond even the largest gem.

There are so many simple ways to give back to yourself in ways that don’t damage the environment. The main thing is to do something that brings you joy. When you’re happy, the whole world is a better place. One thing that brings me joy? Fabulous skin care products! I’m a beauty product fanatic, as I’m sure you know. Right now, I’m really loving the Neutrogena Naturals Brightening Daily Moisturizer! With allergy season well underway, my skin has been a bit dull and ruddy lately. It’s so lightweight, and the lemon peel helps brighten my dull skin. Heads up, though, you do need to give it 4 weeks to show a major difference.

The Neutrogena Natural’s line is 94% naturally derived (on average) and formulated without harsh chemical sulfates, parabens, petrolatum, dyes, or phthalates, so I feel really good about using it. The moisturizer contains some of the best ingredients that nature has to offer, including Peruvian Tara Seed, Willow Bark, Inca Inchi Oil and Yerba Mate Tea Leaf! It makes my skin feel fantastic. Plus it has 100% naturally derived sunscreens, so I can help avoid more damage when I’m out and about in the sun.

When it comes to people, it’s what’s on the inside that counts, right? Well, when it comes to skincare products, that’s not always true. I want to reduce my impact on the environment as much as possible. That’s why I’m really glad Neutrogena Naturals designed their packaging with that goal in mind. They use recyclable, post-consumer materials and renewable resources whenever they can. The outer carton is made from 100% recycled paper and uses 75% less water than it takes to make “virgin paperboard.” The bottles themselves use up to 50% post-consumer recycled content. Pretty awesome, right?

Visit the Neutrogena website to learn more about this awesome new moisturizer and all their other great products! The Neutrogena Naturals Brightening Daily Moisturizer is available in stores now for an SRP of $13.99.

What little things to do you to do brighten your day and make the world a better place? Share in the comments!