Happiness is not one big goal to work towards, but rather, something you can experience all day, every day, at home, at work and in your personal life.
It’s all about the things you do and how you do them, surrounding yourself with people who make you feel good, and finding meaning in even the smallest tasks.
Here are 10 little things you can do regularly to feel happier.
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Put your screen time to better use – YouTube is full of channels that show nothing but funny animal videos, stand-up comedy performances and the like, so watch them the next time you’re feeling bored or a little down in the dumps.
Laughing makes you feel good because it’s believed to trigger the release of feel-good chemicals in the brain called endorphins.
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Treat yourself to a conditioning hair treatment, a facial, a body massage, a body scrub or wrap, and a manicure and pedicure.
Not only will you have something special to look forward to every month – which is enough to make anyone feel good – you’ll also feel incredibly relaxed and beautiful after, and if that doesn’t put a smile on your face, we don’t know what will!
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Think back to when you were a kid and you rode a bike or swam without any assistance for the first time. How did you feel? Accomplished? Proud? Happy? T
here’s no reason you can’t feel all those things again now that you’re an adult. Setting yourself a new challenge – and then achieving it – is the ultimate mood-booster.
Whether it’s picking up a foreign language, learning how to cook or taking up a difficult sport like rock-climbing, trying something new will help you conquer your fears, discover talents and skills you never knew you had and make you feel like you can do anything.
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ALSO READ: THE BEST WAYS YOU CAN INVEST IN YOURSELF FOR A BETTER YOU THIS 2019
You might think nothing of donating a few dollars to charity or giving up your train seat to an elderly passenger.
But why stop there if you’re capable of giving and doing more? Think of other ways you can make a bigger difference in the lives of others, for example, doing the weekly grocery shopping for an elderly neighbour, reading to kids in a children’s home, teaching underprivileged teens how to paint or cook, organising a fund-raising event for your favourite charity, and the list goes on.
Sharing your time, skills and talents with others won’t just make those people happy – you’ll feel good too, knowing that you’re being of service.
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ALSO READ: FRESH START: TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS STICK
This person can be a parent, a child, your spouse, or even your best friend. Spend some time thinking about how they make you feel and all the good times you’ve had with them – this is likely to bring back happy memories that’ll warm your heart and make you smile.
It doesn’t matter if you hate writing or aren’t a great writer; even writing out your feelings and memories in as a list should do the trick. The point is to open your heart to them and connect with the joy that they bring to your life.
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ALSO READ: THE BEST WAYS YOU CAN INVEST IN YOURSELF FOR A BETTER YOU THIS 2019
Studies have shown that physical clutter fights for attention in our brain, causing mental fatigue, and reminds us of all the tasks and chores we have yet to do, making us feel bad about ourselves.
If you have way too much stuff in your home or office, now’s a good time to get rid of what you don’t need, or at least start organising whatever you own. You’ll feel lighter emotionally, think more clearly, open up your physical space, and feel more accomplished.
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ALSO READ: FRESH START: TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS STICK
Get your buddies together and have a good night out. It doesn’t have to involve alcohol or expensive restaurants – throw a picnic under the stars at the beach, make it a potluck dinner at somebody’s home, or just share dessert in a coffee shop.
Most of us don’t spend enough quality time with our friends, but maintaining these close social connections is what enriches our lives and makes our relationships more meaningful.
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ALSO READ: THE BEST WAYS YOU CAN INVEST IN YOURSELF FOR A BETTER YOU THIS 2019
It’s hard to be happy when you’re surrounded by people who make you feel bad about yourself, bring you down and aren’t supportive of you. It’s also impossible to live well when your lifestyle is characterised by bad or unhealthy habits.
Only you can decide what and whom to let go of in 2019, and while these may be among the hardest and most painful decisions you’ll ever have to make, know that you’re making them for your own happiness and peace of mind.
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ALSO READ: FRESH START: TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS STICK
It’s tempting to want to complain about management or the way your boss handles important meetings, but how does this behaviour serve you?
You might think you’re just getting things off your chest, but the truth is that you’re just spreading more negative energy to others and taking on extra emotional burden.
The next time you feel like gossiping about your boss or co-worker, stop and ask yourself if it will make you happier or just angrier and more frustrated.
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ALSO READ: THE BEST WAYS YOU CAN INVEST IN YOURSELF FOR A BETTER YOU THIS 2019
Reading doesn’t just make you smarter; it can also lift your spirits and make you feel better about yourself.
A University of Liverpool study found that people who read for pleasure are less stressed and depressed, have higher self-esteem, and are better able to cope with challenges.
And you don’t have to read every day – just 30 minutes a week was revealed to bring about greater life satisfaction. So what are you waiting for? Get those dusty books off the shelves and get reading!
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ALSO READ: FRESH START: TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS STICK
