How to be Happier – 10 Habits to Help

Everyone’s definition of happiness is different. Maybe it’s being at ease with who you are, having a close group of friends who accept you no matter what, or the ability to follow your deepest desires.

Living a happier, more fulfilled life is possible, regardless of your definition of ultimate happiness. That said, it’s all too easy to tell yourself that you’d be happy “if only…,” but this is simply not the case. Happiness is something you can learn, not something that is based on circumstance.

In fact, being a happier and more positive person can be as simple as making a few changes to your daily routine to help you get there.

Here are some habits to get you started on your journey. Just keep in mind that everyone’s definition of happiness is unique, as is their road to reaching it. In addition, if any of the following behaviours add to your stress or don’t match your lifestyle, that’s fine, just eliminate them. With a little time and effort, you’ll be able to find out what works for you and what doesn’t.

Ten Happiness Habits – How to be Happier

1. Get Outside

Spending time in the great outdoors can make you feel happier and more relaxed by boosting your mood and reducing stress. Even 20 minutes spent sitting in a park or walking can improve your mood and help contribute to happiness.

It is interesting to note that some doctors now even provide “nature prescriptions” to their patients (along with pharmaceutical prescriptions when needed) in order to urge people to get outside to boost their general sense of well-being and stress reduction. So, try to spend time outside as much as possible for an instant mood boost: take your morning coffee on your balcony, go for a walk during your lunch break, or try to work near window. Whenever possible, do your workouts outside and spend some of your free time at a local park or beach (instead of on your couch).

2. Exercise regularly

We tend to forget that exercise isn’t just for our body. Exercise is highly beneficial to our mind as much as our body. It reduces stress, anxiety and depression while also increasing self-esteem. Even just a tiny bit of physical activity can make a significant difference – you don’t have to train for a marathon to reap the benefits!

The key is to avoid overexertion. You’re more likely to become frustrated (with sore, achy muscles) if you immediately start a tough routine. Instead, consider a couple of gentle exercise ideas to get started slowly:

• Each night after dinner, go for a walk around the block
• Enroll in a beginner’s Pilates class or follow along with a workout at home on YouTube
• Go for a short bike ride in your local area

3. Practice gratitude

Simply being appreciative can improve your mood and provide other advantages. A recent study discovered that practising thankfulness can significantly improve feelings of happiness and hope. Why not begin each day by expressing gratitude for one thing. You could try this while brushing your teeth, drinking your morning coffee or during your commute to work.

In addition, keep an eye out for nice things that happen in your life as you go about your day. These can be significant events, like receiving a well-deserved promotion or smaller things such as someone holding the door open for you or smiling at you. With just a little bit of practice and awareness, you’ll notice more positive things around you which will in turn make you feel happier.

4. Be kind to others

Research shows that practicing acts of kindness can make you feel happier.

Giving a genuine compliment is a simple and effective method to make someone’s day while also boosting your own pleasure. You’ll be surprised at how amazing it can make you feel to make someone else’s day and see them smile at your sincere comment.

Alternatively, why not offer to help out friends and family where possible. You could treat your friend to a coffee sometime, cook a meal for someone, drive a loved one to a doctor’s appointment or make some cookies to share with your work team.

5. Be mindful of what you consume

It’s essential in today’s world to be mindful of how your mood is affected by what you consume. We may not realise it, but the friends we spend time with, the TV shows we watch, podcasts we listen to and the Instagram profiles we follow all have an influence on our mind and mood. For example, when we consume negative things such as the news or violent films, these don’t boost our mood and can leave us feeling worse. Instead, nurture your mind by watching, reading, and listening to upbuilding and positive things. Why not start today? For example, take a close look your Instagram or Facebook feed, are the accounts you are following hurting or helping your happiness? Or, why not try listening to a podcast on a positive or funny topic and start reading some self-help books instead of your thriller novel?

6. Declutter

Clean space, clean mind. Decluttering doesn’t have to be a large undertaking, just spending 20 minutes a week can make a significant difference. Set a timer on your phone and clean up a specific area of one room, such as your wardrobe or junk drawer and donate any extra items that aren’t helping you. You can use this approach once a week, once a day, or whenever you feel that your space needs to be freshened up. Living in a clean, well maintained and organised space will help you feel better about yourself.

7. Spend time with those you care about

As humans, we are social beings, and for many of us, having close friends who we trust can makes us feel better. Why not make time to connect with friends or family members who you care about. Plan to meet up for a coffee date or even just to have a chat over the phone. Remember that it’s not about the number of friends you have, but rather enjoying meaningful connections, even if that’s with only with one or two people.

If you would like to make new friendships, why join a local hobby group or enroll in a class that interests you so you can meet like-minded people in your neighbourhood?

Last but not least, remember that companionship does not have to be restricted to just humans. According to many research articles, pets can provide similar benefits and bring us much joy and happiness!

8. Have a regular self-care routine

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to forget about self-care. But, your emotional and physical well-being is essential to your survival, so doesn’t your mind and body deserve a little TLC?

Perhaps it’s taking a long, hot bath to decompress after a long week at work. Alternatively, you may start a skin-care routine that makes you feel pampered. Or, it could be setting aside an evening to slip on your cosiest pjs and watch a film with your favourite snacks.

Looking after yourself will keep you healthy, reduce stress and help you feel mentally fit and better able to cope with any future challenges that may come your way. So, whatever self-care looks like for you, make time for it. If you have to, write it down in your planner and book an appointment with yourself.

9. Stop holding grudges

This may be easier said than done. Often, we tend to view forgiveness as helping the other person but really, letting go of a grudge benefits you more. By being forgiving, you can embrace gratitude, optimism, peace, thankfulness, and joy.

Take a close look at your relationships. Are you holding onto resentment toward someone? If you find that you are, why not reach out to that person, and make an effort to bury the hatchet? However, forgiveness doesn’t always mean reconciliation and it doesn’t mean that you condone their actions. Instead, it means seeking peace in your life by not continually criticising or being angered by someone after they have hurt you – allowing you to feel happier. Learn more about the benefits of forgiveness here.

10. Consider speaking with a therapist

When we learn to deal well with our challenges, we are unquestionably happier.

If you feel like you’ve hit a brick wall and feel overwhelmed with life and are wondering how to be happier, it may help to meet with a mental health professional on a regular basis to work through things.

Psychologists are there to assist you in improving your coping abilities and teaching you skills to thrive so you can be happier and live the life that you want. Even just a few sessions may help you learn some strategies that you can add to your emotional toolbox.

It’s worth noting that to see a therapist, you don’t need to have a diagnosed mental health illness or be in a life-threatening situation, you don’t even need a referral from your GP. In fact, you can get started today by organising an appointment to meet with one of our online psychologists here.

Or, take our online happiness quiz below to get an indication of whether you are satisfied with your life.

To learn more about becoming the best version of you, give us a call today on 1800 327 477 (AU) or 0800 327 477 (NZ) or click here to book.