There’s an unfortunate reason why happiness is often elusive — our brains simply aren’t wired that way. Our brains have evolved to survive, to protect ourselves, to keep us safe. Anything more than that, you have to work for it. Here are the top 20 things you can do every day to discover the secrets of being happier.
Do what you love
Focus on building a career in an area that motivates you and will provide you with a high level of satisfaction.
Be creative
Those who spend time using their imagination and being creative have more enthusiasm and are more likely to have feelings of long-term happiness and well-being.
- Activities such as writing, painting, drawing, and musical performance make people happier and more enthusiastic.
Accept imperfection
Perfection is impossible, and holding ourselves and others to these standards is futile.
Build meaningful relationships
Happiness, love, friendship and community go hand in hand
You do you
Be yourself – don’t be dependent on the approval of others, but accept yourself for who you are.
Spend wisely
It’s how you spend your money that helps you feel happier. The key is to do it wisely.
Spend time in nature
Studies have shown that the more time we spend in nature, and the more we relate to the natural world around us, the greater our sense of happiness.
- Our connection to nature also plays a role in maintaining positive mental health. (See also: physical and emotional exercise.)
Live in the moment
Reality is what you are experiencing in this very moment.
Celebrate little victories
Most of the time, life is full of ups and downs, but in between we have a lot of little victories that go unnoticed. Celebrate these small wins.
- Did you check off all the things on your to-do list that you’ve been procrastinating on? Yay!
- Finally, clear out that thousand emails that have been filling up your inbox? Woohoo!
Find your work-life balance
Pursue activities and interests beyond your job
Focus on the positive
Spend one to two minutes a day looking for positives in your life
- Choose a positive mantra for the day
- When things go south, try and see it from a positive light
- Never underestimate the importance of recognizing the silver linings in life
Nothing compares to you
Stop comparing yourself to everyone around you.
Hang out with happy people
Moods can be contagious – the more we share experiences with one another, the more our emotions and behaviors become synchronized
- One secret to long-term happiness is surrounding yourself with others who are also happy
- Find a balance between sharing experiences and being uplifted
Cultivate gratitude
Giving thanks and being grateful for all you have will make you happier and more content
Give back
Be generous with your time and money
Practice mindfulness.
Mindfulness mediation brings your attention back to the present moment. It’s about being nonjudgmental and accepting how you are feeling. Accepting what we are going through decreases stress and helps us see situations for what they are.
- Through mindfulness, we can find peace and affirmation in ourselves.
Remember happy memories
Nostalgic feelings, or reminiscing about our past, can help us reconnect with feelings of love and a sense of wonder and fulfillment.
Surprise yourself
Set goals outside your comfort zone and work toward achieving them.
Listen to and engage with music
Listening to music makes us feel better, in part because listening to music causes our brains to release dopamine, a neurochemical connected to pleasure and reward.
Stop Worrying
Constantly worrying about everything creates toxic anxiety, where your mind is steeped in negative, spiraling thoughts
- Worries plague your mind and make you afraid and apprehensive about things you often have no control over
- You cannot experience joy or contentment when you’re consumed by worry
