Roselle Umlas
Do you ever find yourself wondering how some folks seem to be happy all the time? Do they know a secret you don’t?
Well, here’s the truth about happiness – it’s not something that just happens to you, nor is it something you chase after and get in one blow.
Happiness is something you actively cultivate with your daily habits and practices. That means you’ll have to take a closer look at your everyday routine and see which ones can contribute to your happiness.
In this article, I’ll help you do just that by sharing 10 daily practices of genuinely happy people. Read on for some easy ways to “hack” happiness!
1) Start your day with gratitude
Let’s take a look at how you begin your day. Do you jump out of bed feeling frazzled? Or do you look at each day as a gift?
That probably sounds cheesy, but hey, each day really is a gift, isn’t it?
In fact, let’s not stop at looking at the big view, let’s really take a magnifying glass and see what else in life we can be thankful for.
For me, starting my day with gratitude gets me thinking positively right off the bat.
I like thinking about how everything in my life is cause for joy – from the little succulent sitting on my window sill to my dog wagging its tail on the kitchen floor to my mom, who still checks up on me even if I’m already grown up and a big girl.
Honestly, once you choose to be grateful, you’ll never run out of things to be grateful for!
2) Practice mindfulness
Another thing that I’ve been working on for years is mindfulness. It’s about being present in the moment and paying attention to my thoughts and feelings without judgment.
How does that make us happy?
Well, because it frees us up from the regrets of the past and our fears about the future! Mindfulness nudges us to focus on nothing else but what’s right in front of us. To savor the moment, so to speak.
Practicing mindfulness might look different for each one of us, but I like doing it through meditation or taking pauses throughout the day to do a deep breathing routine.
It really helps me feel calm, centered, and objective enough to do this next thing…
3) Practice self-reflection
In today’s noisy world, this one’s a real challenge. Many of us operate on autopilot, going from one moment to the next without a thought about how our actions impact others.
But once you start being more mindful of yourself, you’ll naturally develop a capacity for self-awareness. That means you’ll get into the habit of looking inward and examining your thoughts, feelings, and behavior.
It can feel uncomfortable, especially when you’ve got some hard truths to admit, like maybe you’ve been selfish, maybe you’ve been unkind, and all that.
But the good news is, that means you’ll now know what to change! After all, positive change can only happen once you know and accept what needs to change.
4) Practice self-care
Self-reflection and mindfulness are two ways to practice self-care. Self-care is another thing that many of us forget to do today.
I get it – packed schedules and people asking so many things from us can really get in the way of self-care.
But as they say, you can’t pour from an empty cup. That’s why we should prioritize giving ourselves some love.
For me, it means taking time to do things that make me feel good, like taking a bath or reading a book. It’s a small gesture of kindness to myself that helps me feel more relaxed and happy.
It took me a long time to understand that self-care is not being selfish; it’s about making ourselves full enough to be of service to others, which is a huge ingredient for happiness!
5) Get moving
One huge way we can take care of ourselves is to move.
Yes, lounging around in bed or on the couch all day sounds so good. Sitting at your desk all day sounds so productive.
But guess what? Those are actually counterproductive and won’t make you happier in the long run.
Exercise will add to your happiness quotient. It’s a great way to boost your mood and reduce stress because it releases endorphins, our feel-good chemicals. .
You don’t even need to lift heavy weights or run a marathon to reap the benefits of exercise. Even a short walk around the block or a quick yoga session can help you feel more energized and focused.
6) Take breaks
In my younger days, I could go on and on at work without taking breaks. I remember one time that I completely forgot to eat lunch! I worked straight from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. in my desperate desire to get everything done for that day.
Boy, I really short-changed myself big time those days. Not only did I feel exhausted, but in the end, I had this thought – does it all matter? What is the point of working this hard?
Eventually, I realized that rest is an essential part of feeling happy day after day. I wasn’t doing anyone any favors, especially myself, by forgetting to take breaks.
So, learn from my mistake – take short breaks throughout the day to refresh your mind and body and stay focused. Go for a quick walk outside, stretch, or simply close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Find ways to take breaks that work for you and your schedule.
7) Connect with others
Another way to recharge is to reach out and build strong relationships.
Look, you might be an independent person or an introvert used to being on your own. That’s totally fine. But that doesn’t mean you’ll never need company!
Research shows that spending time with others can help boost feelings of happiness and connection.
Whether it’s a quick chat with a coworker or a longer conversation with a friend or family member, make time for social connection each day.
It will leave you feeling fuller and more confident that no matter what happens, you’ve got someone out there who cares about you. And that thought is always going to make you happy!
8) Laugh more
And you know what’s great about having social connections? You’re more likely to laugh more! And that’s absolutely a key part of happiness.
Laughing doesn’t just boost your mood and make you feel lighter. You’ll actually be healthier because it stimulates organs and decreases your heart rate and blood pressure.
And of course, it definitely relieves stress!
In short, laugh more, live longer – and happier!
9) Learn something new each day
Speaking of living longer, here’s another habit that will get you there – learning something new everyday.
According to life and wellness coach Dennis Buttimer, this practice increases your level of happiness. It won’t be a euphoric or intense feeling, but you’ll have an overall sense of well-being. And if you’re aiming for long-term happiness, that’s the way to go!
So, go ahead and chase after those things you’d love to learn more about. You’ll be able to look back at your life and be amazed at how you’ve tried out a lot of things!
10) Practice kindness
Finally, we get to a daily practice that gives us huge rewards in terms of happiness – being kind.
Here’s the deal: when you do something nice for another person, you can’t help but feel good.
You can’t help but feel like you have a purpose – no matter how depressing life may seem, there’s still something you can do that matters. Even if it’s just to one other person.
Science leaves no doubt that kindness boosts our mood and contributes to long-term happiness. You know why?
Because being kind boosts your mood, you’ll feel more inclined to be even kinder. It’s a lovely cycle!
