How to be happy based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs

Have you ever experienced being in a bad mood but you don't even know what irked you off in the first place? Maybe, it's your body's way of telling you that it's uncomfortable with something and you don't even realize it. Below are some ways you can make sure that you are always at ease and stress free. I'm not an expert on anything, what I'm about to say are just the obvious things that we often forget or choose not to do.

If in case you haven't experienced the above scenario, these tips will still help you create your perfect comfort zone so that even when something stresses you, you still have a place you can go to release all the negativity from your mind and body.

1. Physiological

I cannot say that we are not going to survive if we cannot meet all our physiological needs. There are people who are in the streets but not all of them stay homeless forever. Sometimes, people survive with the help of others and with their faith. Sometimes, people can beat the odds simply because of their belief in God. I'm just going to explain how worldly things can also make us joyful in a good way.

• First is food. One way for women to prevent mood swings is by changing their diet but that doesn't mean that eating healthy can only benefit girls. If you're always tired, always slouching and always grumpy, one of the things you may want to look at is the food that you're eating. People  like me are often hesitant to eat healthy because we believe that our budget cannot afford the said lifestyle but it's actually way easier than I thought it would be. First thing that you can do is to slowly empty out your fridge. Consume all the bad food in it. That way you won't be able to be enticed into eating junk foods again. Next, try filling it with healthy food BUT.. if you're not used to eating vegetables or if you can't afford to buy fresh fruits then you can just start small and try to avoid anything with preservatives or at least MSG. I personally started my lifestyle by not eating pork and by thinking that it's gross. I did that because of my religious belief at that time. Once I've taught myself and my tongue that pork tastes awful, I was then able to commit. Since I was able to commit to one thing, I found it easier to try more changes in my diet. You can try removing one small thing in your diet first before introducing yourself to healthy food. You can try avoiding sodas first. Just do whatever floats your boat. Not only will it benefit your body, it will also give you a sense of pride for being disciplined. Also, you don't have to worry about your budget like I did because once you start buying fruits and veggies, you'll definitely discover new places where you buy them cheaper. The hardest part is just the start.
• Second is your home.You don't have to be rich to have a comfortable. Sometimes, you just have to know what you need the most. First, let there be light. Your home will look clearer if all rooms are well-lit. If you're just about to buy or build your house, make sure that Mr.Sun will be able to take a peek at every room of it. It will not only help your eyes, it will also make your room seem more fresh and one with nature. If the sunlight that is supposed to hit your apartment is being blocked by the adjacent building then you can just add more light bulbs and if that is the case, you may want to make sure that your air conditioning or ventilation is good because TBH, for me, that's the only thing that will prevent me from moving out. I hate gloomy places. Besides, who doesn't like Vitamin D? You don't have to be constantly out to be soaked in the said vitamin, being in  a well sunlit room is also helpful. You don't necessarily need a big home. Other things you may want are a comfy bed and sofa, an organized wardrobe, a bathroom that is wide enough to fit your body, towel and toiletries and an adequate place to exercise from time to time if you're lazy.

2.  Safety and security

The first thing that will make you feel secure is is a stable job. If you're not happy with what you're doing, just try to save some money while trying to figure out what it is that you really want. It's not only about being financially stable but it's also about finding what it is that you are most passionate about. Even if you are doing it for your family, don't loose yourself on a toxic job. Be a role model and show your family how to achieve a dream.

3. Love and Belonging

No matter how angry you are with a friend or a family, if you can't forgive them now then pray for your heart to be healed so you can forgive them in the future. Never ever isolate yourself from the world. Sometimes, it feels like it is our only option or it is the easiest thing to do. Try to trust somebody and always let out what you feel.

4 & 5. Self-esteem and self-actualization

If you have food on your table, a roof above your head, clothes to wear and once you've found your passion and the people that are always there to support you then these two will just come easily. As I've said a while ago, the only hard part is the start. You may stumble in the middle but just be brave and start over.

Thanks for reading!

Here's a photo of the author with her son just because. :)

My Tips On How You Can Be Organized In Every Aspect Of Your Life

Okay. Let us first talk about this crappy picture that I made. I know that it obviously does not look like something that was made by a professional. I just think that it's better for me to use a crappy picture than to simply grab someone else's awesome work online. Now that this is clear, here is a list of things you can do in order to stay organized.

1) Buy yourself a calendar and place it somewhere you can see it every morning of every day.

This type of calendar is what I like the most. It only has the days of the week so you can write or customize the dates of the month. This is not like those disposable ones that you can only use for a specific year. I like pinning a piece on our wall then changing it every month. You can place your calendar on your working table if you will see it better there. I just have a lot of stuff on mine. Make sure to buy a big calendar so you'll be able to write more stuff on it. You can definitely use a planner if it's more convenient for you. I'm just not the type who likes carrying a notebook wherever she goes.

2) Make a list of items that are in your fridge and make sure to update it every time you've cooked a meal and every time you've bought groceries.

I've read somewhere on the internet that one way to save money is to look into your trash can. If you can see wasted food then you probably need to rethink the amount of groceries you buy. Make sure to buy only enough for you or for your family. Tracking the amount of food you consume every day will give you an idea how long your groceries can last you. You might buy less or more than enough on your first try. If it is less, you can just go buy more groceries but make sure to apply what you have already learned. If it is more, just share it to your neighbour or to your friends. I'm sure they'll appreciate your random act of kindness.

3) Check your toiletries and cleaning supplies.

When I talk about groceries, I don't only mean food. I'm also talking about everything that a person may need. Checking your stock of toiletries and cleaning supplies will also give you an idea how often you need to buy new ones. Depending on your schedule or available time, this will also let you know how many it is that you need to stock. Going to the mall or grocery store often means more transportation expenses. Just imagine the amount of gas you're using if you're driving a car. You can save more by buying in bulk.

4) Take note of other things that need your attention.

Do you have pets? If so, how often do you buy them food and how many do you need to stock? Do you have a fish tank? How often do you need to clean it? It's better if you will write everything down. This way you can schedule all your chores on your free time. This will also let you know IF YOU DO HAVE FREE TIME. You'll be surprised by how many chores you need to do that you often forget to. There a lot things that you need to take in consideration and not just the things that I have mentioned. Do you have plants? How often do you need to water them? Do you need fertilizers?

5) Before going to the mall, jot down the things you need to buy and the price of each item.

This is something that we all know we should do but most often forget to. A very neat trick of mine is to add a 10% mark-up to the price of each item on my list. This way, I have extra cash to buy things that I do need but have forgotten to write down on my list and it's also a way for me to sneak in a treat for myself and for my family without being tempted to spend a lot of money. I only bring the exact amount of money I need.

money you need = (overall price of items to buy) + (10% mark-ups) + (transportation expenses)

Whenever the extra cash (10% mark-up) I have is not enough to buy something that I need but have forgotten to include on my list, I just analyze which items I need most. Whatever it is that I need least, I'll buy on my next trip to the mall.

6) Make a list of all your expenses.

For me, this is a very stressful thing to do specially when I have just bought something a bit expensive but have wanted for such a long time. This is something I only do when I have a gut feeling (or mother's instinct) that our budget for the week/month won't be enough or when I know that our budget is more than enough that there is a chance for us to save.

When you have written down your expenses, you'll immediately see the things you have already bought but shouldn't have yet, in short, things that aren't yet needed or not needed at all. It will give you an idea of the things that you should never buy again. This will also show you the actual prices of the things you need so you won't have to guess every time you're writing your grocery list. Tracking your expenses is a great way for you to know where you're your money has gone to. It's also a way to know if you've been buying more junk foods than healthy ones and a way for you to be reminded that God always provides your needs.

If you're budget is likely to be short, tracking your expenses will serve as a reminder of the amount of money you still have. You'll now be able to adjust your meal plans. Make sure to buy only foods you can afford. It's time to stop eating on restaurants and to start preparing all meals at home. Pack lunches if you need to.

If your budget is more than enough, tracking your expenses will give you an idea on how much you're saving.

Make sure to place your list of expenses somewhere you'll be able to immediately see it once you get home. If you're someone who easily forgets how much he spends, you can just bring your list with you. It's important that you don't forget to write down everything just so you won't be confused if your expenses doesn't tally with the money you still have. I need to admit that I don't do this religiously. I just don't like stressing myself too much. I do make sure that I only skip this whenever we do have more than enough budget.

This is where I write down all our expenses. I pinned these sheets of paper on our bedroom wall. As you can see, it's empty. I'm trying not to stress myself this month. I think I still need all the rest my mind can get. Even this blog post is weighing on me. This isn't easy to do. I spent a lot time thinking of what to write.

7) Make a list of things you want to buy.

One way of encouraging yourself to survive strict budgeting for days/weeks is to write down the things you want meaning your luxuries. I mentioned that there are times that I bought things that are a bit expensive but I have wanted for a long time. What my husband and I do is that we give ourselves a chance to buy our own luxury item every month. This is where 10% mark-ups most often go to. This is our reward for being able to stick to our budget. If I bought something for myself this month, my husband will buy something for himself next month and we'll buy something for our son the next month after that. This way, everybody gets a chance.

My list is often very long. What I do is that I rank the items based on what I want to buy the most. Whenever I get my chance, I buy the first thing on my list. This explains why the expensive things I buy are also the ones I wanted for a long time. Our wants change all the time so having a list is a good way to know what it is you really want.

8) Check your closet.

This is best for people who don't have the time to do their laundry whenever their baskets of dirty clothes are full. In order to know how often you need to do your laundry and which pieces of clothing you need to do first, you have to check your closet. Try to notice which pieces of clothing you run out of faster. Do you often have less clean socks and underwear to wear than shirts and pants? This will help you know which to prioritize. If you can afford it, just buy more socks and underwear so you can just schedule when and how often you need to do your laundry than also worrying about which pieces to clean first. Make sure to schedule them on your calendar so you won't forget.

9) Check your shoes.

Are your white shoes now brown? Shoes are the often the first thing people notice. Make sure they are always clean and try to  notice how long each pair can last its cleanliness. Make a schedule of when you have to clean your shoes.

10) Check your bedsheets, curtains and any other things that need to be regularly changed.

Your dirty pillow case can be the cause of your acne. Make sure to change them regularly. This is another chore all of us sometimes forget to do. Think about how often you need to change everything. This will also help you know when to do your laundry.

11) Check for dusts.

I know how annoying it is to have so many chores scheduled on your calendar. I'm a mother and that's what mothers do.

My husband and I have sensitive noses. We'll notice it if the the room we're staying in has not been cleaned recently because we'll immediately start sneezing. My husband also likes cleaning our windows and electric fans because he feels like the air in the room is cleaner if those things are also clean. Make sure to wipe the dusts off your AC system regularly. Look for places and things you often forget to vacuum or clean. Scrub the walls if your child has drawn on it again. My son sure loves his crayons.

You probably think that I'm only talking about being organized with chores but it's actually something more than that. Having an organized life at home will actually give you one less thing to worry about when you're at work or at school and just imagine what the reactions of your visitors will be like when they see how clean and organized your house is. These advices, if followed, will give you a perfect place to meditate in. Besides, if you want to be an organized person, you have to start with simple things. Everything starts at home. Your mother will probably thank you (or your wife, if you're a married guy). You should definitely do these if you're living by yourself.

12) Always replace the empty batteries of your wall clocks and wristwatches.

Having a reliable way to check the time is vital. It will let you know how long it takes to complete a chore. That way you can also have an idea when to schedule them. When scheduling anything, you have to know long that "thing" will take so make sure that your watches and clocks are always working. Some people like to advance the time in their watches and clocks so they will still be early for work or school when they think they're already late. This doesn't work for me since I still know by how many minutes the clock/watch was advanced. Plus, I think my visitors may get confused if what they can see in my wall clock is not the right time and I wasn't there with them to say that it was advanced. Time is gold. I think going to work or school 30 minutes before the given schedule is a waste of valuable time. Being 15 minutes early is enough for me but to each his own. You don't have to follow everything I do.

You don't have to buy an expensive wall clock. It is better to splurge on your wristwatch and on long lasting batteries This is the wall clock we have on our bedroom.

13) Assess your social life.

Think of five people who can help you be a better person or at least five people who make you happy then try your best to spend more time with those people. This is also something that I still have to improve. Being with the right people can give you the same satisfaction as being organized so it is best for you take care of your relationships with them.

Speaking of social life, I've thought about five people who I admire the most right now. I would like to take advantage of this post to praise them. FIRST IS MY HUSBAND. He is the kind of person who doesn't hold grudges. It's actually amazing how he can easily shake off things that will easily annoy me if it happens to me. He's a well-liked person. I don't even think he has enemies except maybe for an ex-girlfriend and a few of her friends. What I lack in social skills, he has a lot of. I'm more of a public speaker while he's good and very comfortable in small talks.

SECOND IS MY CLOSEST FRIEND, LEVY-LEEN. Do you notice how some people like to voice out that they're upright and religious and yet you can't even see it in their actions? Well, this person doesn't even have to say anything, you'll just see that she has a strong relationship with God in what she does. She's the most humble person I know. Sometimes I can't even believe she's real. She's like a living saint to me. If there's someone who can make me a better person, it's probably her.

THIRD IS ANOTHER GREAT FRIEND OF MINE, DENIECE. I like her because I feel like I can totally be honest with her. She's also the only person that I can always talk to about budgeting. I really like being with people who are simple. I hate having to keep up with the rich kids. She's actually the person that I talk to the most. She's also the only one who knows everything that has been going on in my life. She's that one friend that I always want to update whenever something good happens. I feel like my day is not complete if I don't talk to her.

FOURTH IS MY ROLE MODEL, ROSHEEN MAY. This person has inspired me in a lot of ways she's not even aware of. I feel like she's the most mature person I have as a friend. She's also the most artistic. Plus, she seems to be the only one who is living her life to the fullest. When it comes to anything "lifestyle goals" related, she's the one I always ask. We have the same interests so I'm really thankful that I know her. We've known each other since high school and I must say that she has blossomed into a beautiful lady.

LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST, MY "BESHIE", GENESIS. I've never heard this person brag. She's very down to earth even though she does have a lot to be proud of. She's beautiful and she's also a great writer.  I like her because even if I don't talk to her everyday, she will always be my best friend. Whenever we see each other, it's like we have never been apart. She is the sweetest and most thoughtful person I know. Lucky is the guy she'll marry. Of all my friends, I'm hoping that she will be the one to ask me to be a matron of honor.

I've got a lot of friends that I also want to thank but I don't want to further bore my readers with my long post. There are a lot more things you can do to organize your life, these are just the things that I do myself. Thank you for reading and for your patience. :)