Happiness is a state-of-mind, and it is hard to define. Happiness is unique to each person. What makes you happy might be different than what makes your colleague or neighbor happy.
Happiness is a difficult concept to define. But it has universal appeal. It is something that almost everyone strives to achieve, but not all will.
A recent Harris Poll revealed that despite the economy’s apparent recovery, only one third of Americans are very satisfied, meaning that two of them are not.
You can start today to achieve happiness, no matter how abstract and elusive it may seem.
Table of Contents
1. Regular Exercise
Exercise is the best way to overcome depression. It can make a significant difference to your mental health. A Duke University study, for example, looked at three groups who tried drugs and exercise, or drugs plus exercise, in order to determine which treatment was most effective. The exercise-only group was found to be the most successful at maintaining wellness and avoiding depression relapses 10 months after their initial study.
Exercise can still make you happy even if your mood is not low. Exercise can make you feel good about yourself, as well as boost levels of brain chemicals that promote health, such serotonin and dopamine.
Instead of viewing exercise solely as a tool for weight loss, disease prevention, and living longer, all of which are benefits that will occur in the distant future, try to view exercise as an everyday tool to improve your mood, reduce stress, and feel happier.
2. Get Correct Sleep
Lack of sleep can make it difficult to remember pleasant memories. However, gloomy ones are easily recalled. A lack of sleep can also increase your vulnerability to negative emotions such as anger and fear. Taking a nap during the afternoon, however, may boost positive emotions.
Sleep deprivation has also been linked with psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, and depression. Getting the right amount sleep, however, is associated with positive personality traits such as optimism, greater self-esteem and a greater capacity to solve problems.
Past the extreme actual results of getting sufficient rest, you needn’t bother with me to let you know that a terrible night’s rest can genuinely influence your state of mind.
3. Decrease Your Commute
Do it if you can. Even if you can afford a larger house or a better job, a long commute can be stressful and exhausting. According to two Swiss economists, such factors cannot compensate for the stress and anxiety caused by a long commute. In general, an increase of 40 percent in salary would be needed to compensate for a job that requires a longer commute.
4. Nurture Your Relationships
Spending time with friends and loved ones makes you happier, according to research. Relationships are valued at more than $100,000 when it comes to life satisfaction. Income changes, however, only buy a small amount of happiness.
5. Spend Time Outside
Just getting some sunshine and fresh air outside can boost mood, improve working memory and broaden thinking. A study showed that 20 minutes of sunshine can make people happier. Other research shows that happiness is greatest when the temperature outside is 57 degrees F.
6. Help Others
Volunteering reduces your risk of anxiety and depression, and can improve your mental health. It keeps you on your toes and active, while also bringing in a social element, which is a major contributor to happiness. Volunteering can also give you a sense of purpose. It may even result in a “helper’s High” because it releases the feel-good hormone oxytocin, while decreasing stress hormones such as cortisol.
They additionally found that chipping in additional oftentimes implied more prominent advantages. The individuals who chipped in no less than once a month detailed preferred psychological wellness over the people who assisted unpredictably or not in any way shape or form.
7. Laugh
Faking a smile can actually make you feel worse, but smiling after thinking positively can lift your spirits. Smile at people and they are more likely to return the smile. This creates a positive feedback loop.
8. Plan your Vacation
Even if you never go on a vacation, planning one can make you happy. Researchers found that the anticipation of a vacation was at its peak during the planning phase. Happiness levels quickly returned to normal after the vacation.
9. Meditate
Meditation can help you calm your nerves, focus your mind and support inner peace. It can lead to changes in the brain, such as an increase in areas that are associated with self-awareness or compassion.
Reflection is much of the time promoted as a significant propensity for further developing concentration, clearness, and ability to focus, as well as assisting with keeping you quiet.
10. Practice Appreciation
Those who express gratitude for their possessions are more able than others to deal with stress and have a positive outlook on life. They also achieve better goals. Keep a gratitude list or journal, and actively record what you are grateful for every day. This has been associated with happier moods and greater optimism, as well as better physical health.
True Satisfaction Comes from the Inside
The tips are all connected by the fact that happiness can only be found from within. It is impossible to achieve lasting happiness from outside sources. Remember that happiness is not dependent on who you are, what you own or even what you do. It’s all about what you believe.
Affirmations can help boost your happiness.
Furthermore, while there is no standard or unique equation that can make an individual continually blissful, joy will in general come all the more effectively when you center around creating positive social connections and pleasant work, and have a feeling that life has meaning. Generally speaking, having an otherworldly aspect will in general be a fundamental part of satisfaction for the vast majority too.
