Everyone wants to be happy.
That’s why people spend their whole lives chasing fame and glory. They think they need to become rich, famous, popular, desired, and successful, but really, they just want to be happy!
But what if I told you that there was an easier way that you could be happy? What if I told you that happiness was within your grasp?
In this article, I’m going to share with you 13 simple ways to be a happier person every day, starting with today.
Let’s get started:
1) Get enough sleep
The first thing on my list is getting enough sleep.
Just think how horrible you feel when you don’t get enough sleep. You don’t have a lot of energy and you’re irritable and cranky. So how do you expect to be happy in such a state?
Getting enough sleep allows your body to recover from the day’s activities, increases your energy levels, improves your mood, and decreases the risk of depression and anxiety. That’s why people who get enough sleep are more likely to be happy than people who lack sleep.
What’s more, getting enough sleep is good for your physical health.
So with all these benefits in mind, why not start getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night?
2) Exercise
Did you know that physical activity releases endorphins – the brain’s feel-good hormones?
Putting aside some time each day for physical activity can make all the difference when it comes to happiness.
And don’t worry, you don’t have to spend two hours in the gym each day to feel the benefits of exercise – you can go for a quick run, crank up the music and dance for half an hour, or even have sex!
Sounds good, right?
3) Don’t compare yourself to other people
It’s easy to fall into the pattern of comparing yourself to other people. But the problem with that is that you end up creating unrealistic expectations for yourself and ignoring all your achievements.
This has become an especially big problem with the rise of social media.
Let me explain:
People go on social media and look at their friends’ pictures.
They see people laughing and smiling and taking selfies on tropical beaches. It looks like they all have their s**t together and are living happy fulfilled lives.
That makes them examine their own less-than-perfect lives and feel bad.
But do you wanna know the truth?
Social media doesn’t show a realistic picture of people’s lives – it shows only what they want you to see. I know so many unhappy people whose marriages are falling apart or who feel lost, depressed, and anxious, but you’d never be able to tell that by looking at their social media.
So instead of comparing yourself to other people, look at what’s good in your life and be proud of your achievements – no matter how big or small they may be.
4) Do something for yourself
Do you ever find yourself rushing around trying to finish what feels like a million things, only to realize that none of them is actually for you?
From taking your kids to school to picking up your boss’s laundry to taking your grandmother to the doctor, you’re trying to be there for everyone, but you end up neglecting someone very important – yourself.
No matter how busy you are and no matter how crazy your day is, try to set aside some time for yourself.
Whether it’s taking a nap, ordering something from Amazon to treat yourself, or reading a chapter of your book before you go to sleep, doing something for yourself every day – no matter how little – will help you be a happier person.
5) Appreciate the little things
We tend to think that only big things will make us happy.
- If we go on this amazing holiday to the Bahamas, we’ll be happy.
- If we make enough money to buy a house, we’ll be happy.
- Or, once we get our Ph.D., we’ll be happy.
But while those things may be great, there’s no guarantee that they’ll make us happy.
And the thing is that while we wait for the “big” things to happen, we forget to appreciate the little things.
If you want to be happy now, then you have to look around you and appreciate what’s there – whether it’s getting to drink coffee outside in the sun in the middle of winter or getting to enjoy a nice meal with your family.
The bottom line is that life is full of little sources of happiness, we just need to know where to look.
6) Surround yourself with the people you love
Surround yourself with the people you love and I guarantee that you’ll be a happier person.
And while you’re at it, avoid negative people (or energy vampires as I like to call them). They will drain you of your energy and make you feel hopeless and sad!
7) Spend more time in nature
There’s nothing like getting back to the basics to make you feel whole and happy.
There’s just something about being surrounded by trees, streams, mountains, and animals that makes us feel good.
Now, if you live in a city, you may not get a chance to go into a forest or climb a mountain every day. But you can find a park to stroll in or have your lunch in.
And when the weekend comes, you can use your free time to get out of the city.
8) Get a pet
And I mean a real pet – like a cat or a dog.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with fish and hamsters but if you want to feel happy, you should get a pet that you can really interact with – a pet that will wake you up to cuddle; a pet that will give you unconditional love and a sense of purpose.
Pets reduce stress and anxiety and provide emotional support (trust me, they work better than antidepressants).
But that’s not all!
With pets like dogs, you get a chance to interact with other dog owners and make friends – and positive human interaction will contribute to your happiness.
You wouldn’t believe the number of people I’ve met and interacted with since getting my dogs!
9) Practice mindfulness meditation
Mindfulness is all about bringing your attention to the present moment.
When we find ourselves feeling depressed or anxious, it’s often because we’re thinking about things we regret that are past, or things that make us worry that haven’t happened yet.
By focusing on the present moment without any judgment – mindfulness meditation can reduce anxiety, depression, and stress while increasing the feeling of well-being and happiness.
And if you’re worried about finding a class, there are actually lots of free guides to mindfulness meditation online – so you’ve no excuse not to give it a try!
10) Be kind to yourself
Think about how hard you can be on yourself sometimes.
Would you ever be as hard on someone else?
Don’t be so quick to be self-critical, give yourself a break from time to time and you’ll be happier.
When things don’t go your way, be kind to yourself. Tell yourself, “That’s ok, I’ll do better next time.”
If you have a hard time being kind to yourself, think about someone who really loves you, like your mother. Now, ask yourself, how would she act toward you? What would she say? Use her as an example of how to treat yourself.
11) Declutter your home
There’s just something about decluttering and organizing your surroundings that makes you feel lighter and happier.
Decluttering your home will give you a sense of purpose and something to keep you busy. And once you’re done, it will make you feel good to have some order.
And here’s a little tip: You can do a little bit at a time, you don’t have to have a big “spring clean” all at once. Start with that messy cabinet in the bathroom.
12) Spend less time on social media
If you want to be happier then you need to spend less time on social media.
Did you know that the average user spends two and a half hours a day on social media?
Imagine all the other stuff you could be doing for those two and half hours that could actually contribute to your happiness – from having coffee with a friend to baking a cake or painting a watercolor!
13) Do something nice for someone else
If you’ve ever done something nice for someone else, you’ll know just how good it feels!
Help an old lady carry her groceries or a kid get their ball down from a tree and your day will be a little bit better and happier.