Are you happy? Not just content, comfortable or satisfied, but genuinely and truly a happy person day after day? So many people aren’t, and depression grips over 14 million Americans every year. Maybe you’re not suffering from depression, but you know you could stand a few doses of sunshine in your day to help get you back on track and loving life.
With International Day of Happiness around the corner on March 20, here at TITLE we are reevaluating our own states of cheeriness. After all, it’s easy to get drawn into the negativity of friends, work and the world in general (hello, election year – ew). Here are 10 simple ways to live each day happier and in turn, you’ll learn to love life and yourself. It’s a beautiful way to live.
- BE MINDFUL
This one is tricky for the younger generations. We are so wrapped up in social media and the overload of information in our daily lives, it’s hard to remember the last time we stopped and soaked up a moment. After you’ve read this article, put away your phone or laptop, stop to look around and simply breathe. Maybe you’ll see something you haven’t noticed before, or realize that just being here in this moment is something to be incredibly grateful for.
- DO GOOD
Know the feeling of wrapping up a gift you bought someone and anticipating how much they’re going to love it? Or the smile that appears on your face when you drop some change into the red buckets around the holidays? These actions of giving are essential to our own happiness, so we need to do more of it! When we do, everyone wins.
- DO WHAT YOU LOVE
We don’t mean your career – unless doing what you love actually makes you money. In that case, go you. But for the rest of us, the hobbies we love can easily become forgotten in the craziness of our lives. Even if it’s something simple like reading old books or taking nature photos, find those hobbies again and discover the pure happiness you get out of it. You are worth your me-time.
- WORKOUT
You know how you feel after an hour of pounding the heavy bag and focusing hard on the dozens of combinations your trainer is shouting at you? Yes, you feel sweaty and exhausted, but above all that you’re happy. We all know that exercise releases endorphins, but it does so much more, like increase your self-esteem, help you sleep better, and improve your immune function – all keys to a healthy, happy life.
- ACCEPT YOURSELF & OTHERS
This key to happiness is all about authenticity. Are you truly you, in relationships, with friends, at work and in public? Or are you trying to be someone you’re not? Start by accepting yourself and accepting others becomes natural. It’s not an easy task, but it can be worked on daily. The results create a happier world around you.
- MOVE ON
While learning from the past is important, it’s not healthy to obsess over things that went wrong. In fact, people who sulk in the past are more likely to be depressed. Accept your failures and move on. In the end, at least you tried and chances are you learned a lot. Taking those risks are always better than staying stagnant and not exploring new opportunities.
- EAT WELL
It’s a no-brainer, but the benefits of eating well go way beyond our waistline. Much of our happiness and wellbeing is dependent on nutrition from all the best sources like whole fruits and vegetables. Try incorporating more vitamin D-rich foods in your diet, and have a snack midday that contains mood-boosters like B-vitamins and folic acid.
- GO TO BED
A decent night’s sleep is your very first step to having a better day tomorrow. More and more studies show the correlation between snoozing a good eight hours and a higher overall wellbeing. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on the weekends. Your mood will thank you.
- DON’T BE NEGATIVE
We’ve all been “that person” at times who complains about other people, the weather, work, traffic … the list goes on. What are we really accomplishing when we complain about life’s mundane annoyances? Not a whole lot. When something bothers you, reflect about it inwardly first and try to let it go. You may notice that the small things simply don’t matter as much.
- SMILE!
Psychologists say that when you force a smile on your face even in your worst mood, it can trigger a positive emotional response in your brain. Why wait to be happy when you can create your own happiness? And don’t forget, smiling is contagious!