Happiness is what many people want to achieve. However, finding out what really makes us happy and how to feel happier is not an easy journey.
What does it really take to be happy? Happiness, is one of those things you either have or don't have based on the combination of life circumstances and natural disposition.
Here are 8 ways to feel happy:
1. Do one nice thing for yourself daily.
How about taking some time everyday to do nice things for yourself?
Either you get yourself a small treat by buying yourself a nice cup of espresso at your favorite coffee shop or taking a 30 minute to an hour nap before going out to do your adult stuff.
It would also be nice if you can schedule bigger self-care activities like massages or going on a vacation on a monthly basis.
If you start doing nice things for yourself and taking care of yourself, you'll find the feeling of fullness and happiness and should be able to help others.
2. Prioritize your health.
Start taking supplements and vitamins! You body need those. Having the right fuel to push your body and increase your strength and stamina is one way of getting the feeling of happiness.
Sugar and other bad eating habits affect our energy and mood which hinders us from being happy.
Try to have a goal of exercising at least minimum of 5 days a week. As for the type of work out that's really up to you. The rule is do what makes you happy.
Choose an activity that you will enjoy and not get bored with it!
If your not into hard core activities, then try doing yoga or pilates as long as the blood and oxygen is properly circulating inside your body that will activate the body's natural healing powers that can give you the feeling of happiness.
3. Forgive yourself!
Forgiveness plays a big part in being happy! There are times that we don't really think of forgiving ourselves. But little did we know we often criticize ourselves and it brings down our confidence level.
Forgiving yourself is quite challenging, as most of us have been getting angry at ourselves for some things that we did wrong as we age.
We often think of the things that we could have done and could have not done to make things better.
A lot of us get into trouble because we tried to be perfect and beat themselves up if they're not. Loving yourself for who you are means accepting yourself.
4. Start your day with a SMILE!
Start your morning with a prayer and a big SMILE!
Being grateful for a great sleep and waking up in the morning is something that you should be happy about.
Did you know that when you smile, the muscles in our face send a signal to our brains and create a better mood biologically.
When we smile, our body releases a powerful chemical reaction in our brain that can make you feel happier.
A smile can change everything, that one thing that you'll realize quire fast especially when you are traveling. It's the most international language that everyone knows.
It's even contagious, not just because of how it looks from the outside but also because of the intention and the feeling that is behind that smile.
Pretty sure you'll realize that if you smile a someone you don't even know, or some who just pass by you, it will bring them good vibes, which make you want to pass that smile to the next person and son and so forth.
5. Be kind to someone.
Why does being kind to someone is one way of being happy? Showing gratitude to others can be easy and quick, most inexpensive ways to keep anxiety at bay.
It helps calm the mood and takes the focus off yourself. Being kind to someone, produces a contagious smile.
You are most likely causing them to smile and if you see that smile for yourself, you know that you made someone happy and you made yourself happy.
With all the stress that we face each day be it sitting in traffic for many hours on your way to work in the morning, a small act of kindness can turn things around and reduces the stress level a bit.
The moment you focus on doing an act of kindness to someone, it helps you get a break from your own problems hence resulting to you having that feeling of happiness.
Helping someone in your own little way is a big factor on your daily life leading you to have that feeling of happiness.
6. Schedule something fun.
How about planning a day trip out of town? Or inviting friends over for a movie night or dinner at this new restaurant you saw on facebook?
Looking forward to a long road trip or traveling to your next dream destination is one thing that can hype you up and bring up your excitement.
Having something to look forward gives you a good feeling and will also give you an "Atmosphere of growth” to your life, because the future seems bright.
Anticipation is the key, by having something to look forward to, no matter what the conflicts are, as long as it will bring happiness into your life well before the event actually takes place.
Sometimes, the happiness in anticipation is greater that the happiness that you will experience in that moment.
7. Get enough sleep.
As an adult, research shows we need to have at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep for the body and mind to fully rest.
We all know that without enough sleep our body and mind cannot function without enough of it.
That's easy to say, most of you may be thinking, who has the time to sleep when you got loads of work to do to make a living?
If you think that the hours of lost sleep to finish your work related projects, then how about consider the effect it will bring to your daily happiness than getting one extra hour of sleep a night?
They don't call it beauty rest for nothing as anyone who wakes up with a dark under-eye circles and sallow skin can attest.
Our body and mind needs a lot of resting so it can do its process of repairing and releasing the growth hormones that are needed by our body.
Many of these are fixing damaged tissues including the skin. If you don't get enough sleep, you are risking the boosted levels of stress hormones, which can wreck your skin and age prematurely.
Even by just taking a 30 minute nap between the day can give you the feeling of happiness
8. Talk to a friend or Call someone.
Social contact is a main contributor to happiness. It doesn't really have to be a phone call, it can be an email or even sending them a message and asking them how they are doing can make a big difference and can bring out the happiness in you.
This small gesture can show your friend that you really care about him/her and want to know what's happening with his/her life at the moment.
Asking how they're day is doing and what he/she has been up to, can give you an exchange of conversation that you both can benefit from and get that feeling of happiness.
Taking some time to show interest in your friend without wanting anything in return will both brighten up your day.
“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.”
― Nicolas Chamfort
Articles about happiness are confusing. Every one of them says different things. But sure, there are some that overlap. And with these overlapping ideas, we can draw a hypothesis about what really works.
This article is an attempt to tell you what will work…
If you want to actively pursue happiness and joy.
Before we begin, you learn more about the Wired For Joy Program Here: [Link this to https://dreamlifetrack.com/aff/wjc/YourIDHere/YourTracking]
8 Activities to Wire Yourself for More Joy
1. Take Time to Laugh
Really take the time to savor every laugh. Feel the joy rushing through you. Laugh it out. Don’t take that moment for granted. You may have lots of it. But savor every moment.
At times when you’re feeling low…
Remember these moments when you’re laughing…
And these will be your anchor to keep going.
2. You laugh and smile because you’re happy. But sometimes it works the other way around.
Yes, we laugh and smile because we’re feeling good. But it can also work the other way around.
When you’re feeling a bit lonely, try to make a way to make yourself smile. Have a cup of tea, watch a funny video.
There’s one research I’ve heard or seen somewhere that putting a pencil in between your teeth…
Therefore making your face do a smiling gesture…
Makes you ‘feel’ happier. Don’t believe me? Then try it!
3. Create ‘happiness routines’ and stick to them. Fulfillment can make you happy.
Everything will run smoothly if it’s systematized. Businesses, families, communities…
Think of airports.
Your happiness can also be systematized.
How?
Make a ‘happiness routine’, this is a group of activities you can do every day.
Your happiness routine should include healthy activities…
Some of which I’ll be discussing more later.
Basically, your happiness routine will make you feel fulfilled when you’ve done them correctly.
It will start your day right, and if you manage to keep that momentum going…
You’ll feel that you’re in a state of happiness throughout the day.
Even if the day throws something unexpected at you… You’ll be able to handle them with grace.
This routine can be done in the morning ideally, but you can also have happiness routine in the evening…
This is so you’re better prepared for the next day.
4. Don’t forget exercise.
Exercise is something you can add to your happiness routine.
There are countless studies on how exercise can make your happiness chemicals fire (dopamine, endorphins, etc.).
When you include exercise to your happiness routine, you’ll greatly enjoy the benefits. Not to mention it will also make you healthier.
An 8-minute exercise will work. As long as you can get your heart beating faster and get a little sweat out…
It doesn’t matter if it’s 5 minutes or 8 minutes or 30 minutes…
Although yes, the longer the better, but consistency is more important.
5. Eat nutritious foods.
If you think eating can’t make you happier, think again…
The right nutrients can help your brain fire up more happiness chemicals.
There are studies linking diet and exercise to depression. And there’s a reason why.
With that said, I’m not here to tell you what to eat…
You already know what’s nutritious and what’s not.
But Mediterranean diet is known to have these effects.
6. Take care of your relationships.
Stress in the family equals stress in your life. Make sure your relationships are always in check. This can be really helpful.
Taking care of your relationship means putting in the effort. The effort to make the people in your life as happy as possible.
Unsolved issues and problems…
Or maybe sometimes you can’t handle arguments well, etc. There can be a lot of issues.
But without resolving all these, that icky feeling will stay there and be bothersome.
Your efforts to do this will be worth it.
7. Spend most of your time with happy people.
A healthy environment that supports your desire is important. This applies to everything.
If you want to get financially ahead, spend more time with people who are financially doing well.
If you want to get fit, spend more time with fit people.
This applies to happiness too.
People who always complain and whine will spread negativity like a virus. Guard yourself. Your happiness is important.
This doesn’t mean you’ll stop seeing these people…
But you can try ‘loving them from afar’ or simply spend less time with them.
8. Practice mindfulness
This is also another thing to add to your happiness routine.
Mindfulness increases your ability to deal with stress and focus on the present.
By doing so, you’ll be more capable of unneeded stress of the past and anxiety of the present.
Learn how to do mindfulness meditation. That’s the best way to practice mindfulness.
Remember to check out the Wired For Joy Program Here: [Link this to https://dreamlifetrack.com/aff/wjc/YourIDHere/YourTracking]