What is happiness?
Happiness is an emotional state defined by joy, pleasure, contentment, and fulfilment.
While there are numerous definitions of happy, it is often described as involving positive emotions and a sense of fulfilment in one’s life. When most people speak about happiness, they may be referring to how they feel right now or to a broader understanding of how they think about life in general.
Happiness is commonly referred to as “subjective well-being” by psychologists and other social scientists because it is such a broad notion. As the name implies, subjective well-being is concerned with an individual’s overall personal feelings about their current situation.
Two significant characteristics of happiness (or subjective well-being) are as follows:
- Emotional equilibrium: Everyone experienced both happy and negative emotions. Happiness is more closely linked to positive feelings than negative ones.
- The word “life satisfaction”: refers to how happy you are with various aspects of your life, such as your relationships, career, achievements, and other significant events.
Each person defines happiness in their way. Maybe it’s just being satisfied with who you are on your own. Another option is having a group of friends that accept you for who you are. Alternatively, the ability to follow through on your deepest desires.
You can live a happier, more satisfying life regardless of your definition of ultimate happiness. Making some adjustments to your daily routine will help you get there. Habits are crucial. If you’ve ever tried to break a terrible habit, you know how difficult it is.
Good habits are deeply established as well. Why adopt good practices into your daily routine?
Here are some daily, monthly, and yearly actions to consider to start your journey.
Add these habits to your life to be happier:
Exercise
Exercise is beneficial to both the mind and the body. Regular exercise can assist in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms while improving self-esteem and enjoyment.
Even a small amount of physical activity can have a significant impact. To be happy, you don’t have to train for a triathlon or scale a cliff unless that’s your thing. The goal is to prevent excessive exertion. If you start doing something strenuous right away, you will most likely become frustrated (and sore).
Consider the following exercise ideas:
- Every evening after dinner, take a walk around your locality.
- Enroll yourself in beginner’s yoga classes or tai chi classes.
Before starting your day, stretch for 5 minutes. Here are some stretches.
Consider any fun activities you used to like but have since abandoned. Or maybe you’ve always wanted to try golf, bowling, or dancing.
Get plenty of sleep
We all know how vital it is to get adequate sleep, regardless of how much modern culture encourages us to sleep less—a reliable source for healthy living, cognitive performance, and emotional well-being.
Many people require 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night. If you’re struggling for a nap during the day or feel fatigued, your body may be signaling that you need more rest.
Here are some ideas to help you create a better sleep schedule:
Keep track of the amount of sleep you get each night and how rested you are. After a week, you should better understand how you’re doing.
Every day, including weekends, I go to bed and wake up simultaneously.
Set aside an hour before night for quiet. Take a bath, read, or do something else to unwind.
Consume alcohol and food in moderation. Maintain a dark, chilly, and peaceful atmosphere in your bedroom.
Eat with your mind in the mood
You’re probably aware that your dietary habits influence your overall physical health. Some foods, though, can affect mood.
Consider the following example:
Carbohydrates release serotonin, a “feel-good” hormone. Limit simple carbs — sugary and starchy foods — because the energy boost is transient, and you’ll collapse. Complex carbohydrates are found in vegetables, legumes, and whole grains and are recommended to take into your diet.
Protein-rich foods include lean meat, chicken, beans, and dairy. These nutrients stimulate dopamine and norepinephrine release, improving energy and concentration.
Highly processed food or deep-fried food can make you feel depressed. Begin by making one healthier meal choice per day. Try Greek yoghurt with berries instead of a vast, sweet breakfast croissant.
Be grateful
Keep track of the amount of sleep you get each night and how rested you are. After a week, you should better understand how you’re doing.
Simply being grateful can boost your attitude and give other benefits. For example, a recent two-part study revealed that practicing thanksgiving significantly impacts feelings of optimism and happiness.
Begin each day by thanking God for one thing. You can do this while brushing your teeth or waiting for your snoozed alarm to go off. As you go about your day, keep an eye out for positive things in your life. They can be life-changing experiences, such as finding someone who cares about you or receiving a well-deserved promotion. They can also be minor gestures.
Give a compliment
Acts of kindness, according to research, can make you feel happy. Giving a sincere compliment is a simple and efficient way to brighten someone’s day while increasing your happiness.
They’ll know you’re serious if you catch their eye and say it with a smile. You might be surprised at how good it makes you feel. If you want to compliment someone on their appearance and looks, do so respectfully.
Breath deeply
You’re nervous, your shoulders are tight, and you’re afraid you’ll “lose it.” That’s a feeling we’ve all had.
Your natural tendency may tell you to take a long, deep breath to relax. It turns out that intuition is correct. Deep breathing exercises, according to Harvard Health, can help alleviate stress.
Try these methods the next time you’re worried or at a loss for words:
- Close your eyes. Consider visualising a good memory or a lovely setting.
- Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose.
- Exhale slowly through your nose or mouth.
- Repeat this numerous times until you feel relaxed.
Acknowledged unhappy moments
Although having a positive attitude is generally advantageous, awful things happen to everyone. It’s simply a fact of life.
If you’ve received bad news, committed a mistake, or are down, don’t pretend to be happy. Then consider what prompted you to feel this way and what you might need to do to get back on track.
Would practicing deep breathing be beneficial? A long walk in the fresh air? Is it worthwhile to consult with someone? Allow the moment to pass, and then return your attention to yourself. Remember that no one is ever happy all of the time.
Smile
When you’re happy, you tend to smile. It is, however, a two-way street. We smile because we’re so glad, and smiling triggers dopamine release in the brain, making us feel better.
That doesn’t mean you should always put on a false smile. However, the next time you feel low, try smiling and see what good happens. Alternatively, remember to smile to see yourself in the mirror as the first thing to do in the morning.
Face stress head-on
Stressors abound in life, and it’s hard to avoid them altogether. It’s not necessary. According to Stanford psychologist Kelly McGonigal, stress isn’t necessarily damaging, and we can even change our opinions about it.
Find out more about the benefits of stress. When facing stressors you can’t escape, remind yourself that stress affects everyone; There’s no reason to think it’s entirely your fault. And there’s a chance you’re stronger than you realise.
Plan your week
Do you ever feel like you’re flailing around? Make an essential list for the following week at the end of each week. Even if you don’t stick to it, scheduling time for laundry, grocery shopping, or working on projects might help you relax.
A complex planner for planning your week can be purchased, but a sticky note on your computer or a scrap of paper in your pocket will suffice.
Ditch your phone
Unplug. Really. Turn off all electronics and put your headphones away for at least an hour once a week. They’ll be waiting for you later if you still want them.
If you haven’t unplugged in a while, you might be surprised at how big of a difference it makes. Read. Meditate. Take a stroll and observe your surroundings. Make an effort to socialise. Alternatively, you can be alone. Be. Does it appear to be too difficult? Combine it with some outside activities for even more benefit.
Get into nature
Spending at least 30 minutes a week in greenery like parks and forests can help to decrease blood pressure and depression.
Your green area could be wherever you can enjoy nature and fresh air, such as a neighbourhood park, backyard, or rooftop garden. Even better, combine in some outdoor activity for added benefit.
Conclusion
It’s aggravating not to have control over your happiness. It’s a recipe for disaster if you rely on external events and circumstances to make you feel happy. Because when things don’t go as planned and things break apart, our happiness suffers.
It’s not about having all the pieces in place to be happy. It’s not about living free of problems or achieving a specific aim or objective. Instead, it’s about being able to have fun no matter where you are.
