Everyone has a different definition of happiness. It could be learning to accept who you really are, having a healthy network of friends, freely pursuing your dreams, etc. Whatever your concept, having a happier life is completely within reach. The fun way to live is to start practicing these 20 habits – today.
Why do we have to live happily?
Happiness is when you truly enjoy your life and desire to live every moment of your life to the fullest. This is the “secret catalyst” that helps us achieve success and do our best.
In order for life to always be fun, what I need most is to change myself.
Personality has a significant influence on happiness in life. Some people have a naturally optimistic nature, which makes it easier for them to learn to live happily and happily.
So what about people with a slightly “grumpy” personality? Their tendency is to pay attention to the negative rather than the positive – as a result, they are constantly in a state of pressure and sadness. However, as long as they have the will, happiness is completely within reach.
“The secret to living happily every day is no big deal – everything starts within yourself, from your way of thinking.”
Marcus Aurelius
Research has shown that more than 50% of happiness depends on things that are within our control. In other words, everyone can learn to live happier on their own. The trick here is to change your mindset, habits and way of life every day.
Kicking old habits is never easy. However, as long as you have the determination and practice for a while, you will quickly find that your life will gradually change.
Happy way to live: 20 secrets to live happily every day
1. Smile
Research has shown that smiling — even if reluctant — helps release endorphins, hormones that enhance feelings of well-being and reduce stress. Smiling more often will give you the extra energy you need to cope with pressure and live happier lives.
2. Exercise
Not only does it improve physical health, regular exercise also contributes to reducing stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, as well as boosting confidence and feelings of well-being.
Training yourself every day doesn’t mean exercising too much — unless, of course, you’re happy with it. The trick here is to train regularly. If you’re overexerted, you’ll just feel frustrated (or even worse).
Suggest some exercises for beginners:
- Take a walk around the house after every dinner.
- Sign up for yoga/tai chi/similar subjects for newbies.
- Do a 5-minute stretching workout every morning.
Remind yourself of any fun activities you used to love, but no longer work out, or activities you’ve always wanted to try (e.g., golf, bowling, dancing, etc.).
3. Get enough sleep
The modern pace of life often causes us to sleep much less. However, sleep still plays a crucial role in ensuring good health, brain function and mental well-being.
On average, adults need 7-8 hours of sleep a day. If you find yourself constantly struggling with lethargy and cravings for sleep, it could be a sign that your body needs more rest.
Here are some tips to help you build a habit of sleeping in moderation:
- Make a note of each night’s sleep time and how your body feels. After a week, you’ll have a better idea of your progress.
- Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, including weekends.
- Take some quiet time before going to bed. You can take a shower, read a book or do something relaxing. Avoid overeating.
- Keep the bedroom space dark enough, cool and quiet.
- Invest in buying the necessary items for the bed.
- If you need to take a nap, try to limit it to 20 minutes.
4. Pay attention to daily meals
The food we eat has an effect not only on your physical health, but also your mental state. Take for example:
- Carbohydrates work to release serotonin, a feel-good hormone. Foods rich in simple carbs (e.g., foods rich in sugar and starch) should be consumed to a minimum, as the energy supply usually does not last long and easily makes the body tired. Instead, choose complex sources of carbs (e.g., vegetables, beans, whole grains, etc.).
- Lean meats, poultry, legumes and dairy are high in protein. These foods work to release dopamine and norepinephrine, which enhance energy and concentration.
- Processed, fried foods often make you feel depressed. Skipping meals causes the same situation.
For this reason, pay attention to your daily food and choose healthy foods.
5. Focus on the positive
Learning to live happily requires you to “reprogram” your brain – from negative thinking to positive thinking. Spend 1-2 minutes each session reflecting on the positive things in life. Practice continuously three times a day for 45 days, and the brain will form new thinking habits. Repeat a positive statement during the day, such as: “It’s beautiful today” or “I feel grateful for all that I have.” In the face of challenges or setbacks, take a moment to look at the problem from a positive perspective. Not only will this make your mood happier – but according to the law of attraction, you’ll also get more luck in life.
6. Express gratitude
Gratitude is an effective weapon against negative thinking. Take some time each day to reflect on the things you’re grateful for in your life — even the smallest things. Even the fact that you still exist in this world is enough to make you feel luckier than a lot of other people.
The truth is, each of us has countless reasons to be grateful, and taking the time to reflect on those reasons is enough to significantly improve your mood. You simply stand up, walk around for a few minutes, and show gratitude for what you see. Example:
- I’m grateful for the rug on the floor. It makes the room a lot quieter and more beautiful.
- I’m grateful to the people who made the tapestry and put it here.
- I am grateful for my computer and the Internet for allowing me to interact with the rest of the world.
- etc…
Even the smallest things are extremely important.
7. Give
Be generous with your time and money. Give when others need help. Give what is most precious to those you love and care for. More than just showing altruism and humanity, acts of giving have been shown to reduce stress, improve your health, and help you live happier lives.
8. Practice Mindfulness
The crux of mindfulness practice is to bring your awareness and attention to the present moment. You learn not to judge and accept how you feel. This will help reduce stress, help you evaluate the problem objectively, find peace and trust yourself more.
9. Meditate for a minute
Research has shown that 3 minutes of meditation a day is enough to improve the mind. In your free time, take a few minutes to meditate or do some deep breathing exercises. Just a few minutes of meditation can serve as a kind of mental “reboot” button, reduce stress, soothe anxiety and anger, and give a much happier mood.
10. Positive affirmations
Positive affirmations are a proven technique that improves mood, reduces stress, and boosts self-confidence. This is because your subconscious mind tends to believe what you repeat over and over again. This is why people who think negatively tend to assert their negative views – and over time, what they say also becomes true.
Fortunately, the opposite is also true. You can use positive affirmations to exert subconscious power and change mindsets. Depending on your goals, interests, and current situation, choose affirmations that lift your spirits and inspire you, then take a minute to repeat to yourself. Example:
- I am courageous and willing to stand up for myself.
- I’m always full of energy and joy.
- I have everything I need to do whatever I want.
- I’m becoming calmer and more focused with each breath.
- I’m happy and at peace when I get everything I need to do.
- I am using my “gifts” and limitless talents to realize my personal dreams and goals.
- I always find solutions to every challenge and easily overcome them.
- Today is the happiest day of my life.
- etc…
11. Promote creativity
You might think that artists are erratic and sad. However, research has shown that regularly engaging in creative activities will actually make you happier. Those who spend time practicing their imagination and creativity are more active and feel happier. Some creative activities can be mentioned as: writing, painting, performing music, etc.
12. Listen to happy music
Music has been shown to have a powerful influence on people’s minds, emotions, and souls. A study published by the University of Missouri in 2013 concluded that listening to cheerful music — even for a short period of time — was enough to improve mood and increase feelings of well-being. On the contrary, sad, slow songs will not bring the desired results.
If you want to learn how to live happily, the advice is to create a personal playlist of playful songs that you can always access when needed.
13. Accept imperfections
Perfectionism is everyone’s common disease. But to be truly happy, you have to understand that imperfection is part of life. “The Infinite Cause”. Requiring yourself and others to follow these standards is impossible. Accept that life is not perfect — and that is a beauty to cherish.
14. Celebrate small successes
In the midst of this life full of ups and downs, we often do not pay attention to the small “feats” we achieve. Instead, take some time to celebrate these small successes.
Have you accomplished all the things you need to do that you’ve been putting off for a long time? Have you wiped out thousands of emails that filled your inbox? Be delighted with these simple achievements. The little joys of life when combined will bring you greater joy – in other words, the joyful way of life is to never ignore anything meaningful in life.
15. Seek work-life balance
Work takes up a lot of time, but it shouldn’t be the only thing you do during the day. It is important to pursue activities and interests outside of work. Do you have any hobbies? Are you spending time with friends and loved ones? Do you exercise regularly? Work-life balance will help reduce stress, give you the opportunity to express yourself and live happily.
16. Do what you love
It’s hard to feel happy if you hate your job. Don’t waste the best years of your life on an unhappy job — even if it helps you live enough, even if it’s plentiful. What are you interested in? What are you really passionate about? The happy way to live is to focus on building a career in your area of interest – and happiness will also increase exponentially.
17. Spend wisely
You may believe that happiness goes hand in hand with money. But in reality, it’s the way you spend your money that makes you feel happier. It’s important to spend wisely. Set aside money for experiences such as: traveling, eating, watching concerts, etc. will make you happier when shared with others. The happiness associated with material possessions will pass, but the experience will help you understand your purpose and passion in life.
18. Nurture meaningful relationships
“If you want to be happy for an hour – take a nap. If you want to be happy for a day – go fishing. If you want to be happy for a year – inherit a fortune. If you want to be happy all your life – help someone.”
Happiness, love, friendship and community go hand in hand. The basic human need is to interact and connect with others. Our natural instinct is to seek out and participate in communities who know us well, are willing to support and accompany us throughout life. Without meaningful relationships, we would feel lonely and isolated. Happiness is about having good friends.
19. Close to nature
If you’re looking to have fun, don’t forget to stay in touch with the natural world around you.
A small suggestion is to get out in the sun more. In fact, research has shown that people who are exposed to more sunlight during the day sleep better at night, stay awake, are more productive, and are less likely to suffer from conditions such as depression.
If the weather and conditions allow, take the time to step outside, get some fresh air, and absorb a little sunlight. Just for a while, you will notice a significant change in mood and quality of life.
20. Keep a journal
Journaling is a simple — but effective — way to organize your thoughts, better understand yourself, master your emotions, and plan for the future. Fortunately, you don’t need to be a literary genius or have writing experience to do this.
What you need to do might be as simple as jotting down a few thoughts before bed. If necessary, you can always tear up what you wrote afterwards. It’s the process of recording your thoughts that really makes sense – helping you raise your sense of self and develop yourself.
Final Thoughts
Above is a compilation of useful tips to help you learn to live a happier life. One improvement at a time, when combined, will bring about great and lasting change in your life.
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