There is no magic formula or proven way to feel and be happy all the time. If it were that easy then everyone would be doing it and the world would be a very different place than it is today.
However, that’s not to say you don’t have any control over your happiness and overall satisfaction with yourself and your life. There are some simple yet powerful ways to boost your happiness so you can get to a better place soon and make a shift that will benefit you over the long-term. Apply these tips and you’ll be on your way to feeling happier and living your life to the fullest.
Focus on Positivity
One simple yet powerful way to boost your happiness is to focus on positivity. Maintain an optimistic outlook and try to see the glass half full. You’ll soon discover that you’re in a better mood most days and that negative thoughts and assumptions take a backseat. See the bright side and refuse to give in when your self-talk goes south. It may help to read daily positive affirmations and other content that allows you to make this change. Live for today and stop looking back or worrying too much about the future. Be patient with yourself as you take on new challenges and don’t expect to see results overnight. Be proud of yourself for what you’re doing to better your life and remind yourself that you’re doing your best.
Make Time to Rest & Relax
You must avoid rushing around all the time if you want to be happy. Instead, a powerful yet simple way to increase your happiness is to make more time for rest and relaxation. “Me” time is essential to you having more balance in your life and feeling your best. For instance, instead of going out on the weekends or after work, consider coming home to sit on the couch for a few hours and binge-watch a popular show such as The Queen’s Gambit. You can avoid spending money this way and drinking alcohol and instead enjoy watching TV and going to bed early. You’ll wake up much happier in the morning when you’re well-rested. You’ll discover you feel ready to take on the new day and that you’re much more joyful when you get enough sleep and don’t feel sluggish.
Stay Physically Active
If you want to increase your level of happiness then stay physically active. You can stay fit this way and will drop unwanted pounds. You’ll love the way your clothes look and that you feel in a good mood most days. Working out is beneficial for your physical and mental health and will keep you healthy and well. Exercising releases happy chemicals in your brain so you’ll have no choice but to feel happier. Being physically active is also a way to reduce and manage your stress so that you don’t let it consume you and you feel happy most days. When you focus on working out and being healthy you’ll likely find that you eat better and drink less alcohol too.
Keep A Gratitude Journal
Another simple yet powerful way to boost your happiness is to practise gratitude regularly. It’s easy to get caught up in going about your schedule and forgetting about what life’s all about. However, you must stop and take time to reflect and think about your blessings if you want to be happy. Keep a journal that you can write in and record down what you’re thankful for. Review it morning and night so you’re in the right headspace each day and before you go to bed. You’ll begin to notice that there are a lot of blessings in your life and that there are many reasons to be happy. It’ll help you to focus on what’s going well and what you do have instead of what’s lacking.
Forgive & Let Go
You may be holding onto grudges and feeling resentment toward others which can steal your happiness. Therefore, a simple yet powerful way to boost your happiness is to learn to forgive and let go. Avoid focusing on the negatives or ways in which people have wronged or harmed you and concentrate on the situations and people who make you feel good. Not only forgive others and move on but be willing to forgive yourself and move forward from your past. Stay in the present moment and live one day at a time so you can feel more in control and appreciate each day as you live it. Forgiving may be challenging at first but you’ll likely notice you feel so much more free and happy when you get in the habit of doing it.
Choose the Right Crowd
Who you hang out with and spend time with also impacts your happiness. You should surround yourself with people who lift you up and make you feel wonderful. Maintain healthy relationships with others and distance yourself from those who bring you down or make you feel less worthy. You want to have people in your life who encourage you and you know are looking out for your best interest. You’ll be much happier when you feel comfortable confiding in others and have individuals in your life who you can trust. You want to have people who you can talk to and share with and depend on when you need them the most.
Find Meaningful Work & Hobbies
Working is a big part of your life and takes up a lot of your time and energy. You’ll be much happier when you love what you do and are following your passions and dreams. Find meaningful work that challenges you and puts your skills and talents to use. Also, look for productive and fun ways to spend your free time by engaging in hobbies that force you outside your comfort zone and to utilise different abilities. You’ll not only be having a good time and feeling happy but you may also meet others and find that hobbies are another way to socialise and build new friendships. Try new things and learn and grow and you’ll likely find that you feel much happier and more content with yourself and your life.
Help Others
You may also find you’re a lot happier when you volunteer and give back. Help others regularly and notice that it also boosts your mood. You might discover that you soon have a more rewarding view of life and people and that it’s a refreshing perspective to gain. It’ll make you happy to know that you’re helping others and putting a smile on someone else’s face. Lending a helping hand to those who are in need is an excellent way to improve the world and your community and you’ll likely observe that it changes your life for the better too.
Avoid Comparisons
If you want to be truly happy then avoid comparisons and measuring up yourself and what you have to others. Instead, focus on yourself and your goals and what you want to achieve in life, and the person you want to be. Take breaks from scrolling through social media and spend more time working on yourself and being out in nature and reflecting. The more you compare yourself to others the more you’ll notice and think about what you don’t have or your problem areas. Turn inward in this case and begin to do the work it takes to be your best self so you can boost your happiness and live without worrying about what others are up to or what they have.