Happiness habits
Here are some daily habits that may help you achieve more happiness in your life.
Breathe deeply
You’re tense, your shoulders are tight, and you feel as though you just might “lose it.” We all know that feeling.
Instinct may tell you to take a long, deep breath to calm yourself down. Turns out, that instinct is a good one. Research supports the fact that slow breathing
and deep breathing exercises can help reduce stress.
If you’re having a hard time taking slow, deliberate breaths, try counting to five in your head with each inhale and exhale.
Acknowledge the unhappy moments
A positive attitude is generally a good thing, but bad things happen to everyone. It’s just part of life.
If you get some bad news, make a mistake, or just feel like you’re in a funk, don’t try to pretend you’re happy.
Acknowledge the feeling of unhappiness, letting yourself experience it for a moment. Then shift your focus toward what made you feel this way and what it might take
to recover.
Would a deep breathing exercise help? A long walk outside? Talking it over with someone?
Let the moment pass and take care of yourself. Remember, no one’s happy all
the time.
Give freely
Taking the time to help others will make both them and you happy.
Acting with kindness has been found to increase the release of oxytocin, “the love hormone”, in our brains and that’s why we feel a surge of happiness.
Centuries ago, Plato wrote: “Caring about the happiness of others, we find our own.” He was right.
Ask yourself, how can I make someone else’s day better today? It can be as simple as that.
Do something you love every day
Too often we end up doing what we have to do, and put off the things we really want to do.
Make time for what you love. Prioritise, and find the time to do something you love every day.
Write down all the things you love doing, and what makes you happy, then choose one thing that you can start doing.
Find reasons to laugh
Laughter really is the best medicine.
Studies have shown that laughter lowers our levels of cortisol, the “stress hormone”, boosts our mood, relieves pain, improves our immune system, and stimulates the release of endorphins the “feel-good hormone.”
Laughter is good for your health, and draws you back to the present moment. You’re not thinking about the past or the future, you’re lost in the moment.
