Got joy?
Sometimes it can feel hard to keep up a happy state of mind. The feeling, like all the others, isnt always permanent. But there are ways to keep it up or boost it when you need it and fortunately, theyre simpler than you think.
In honor of the International Day of Happiness, weve culled expert tips-off, the investigations and just a few feel-good suggestions of ways to boost your mood.Take a appear below 😛 TAGEND
Play fetch with Fido or sneak in a few cuddles with your kitten. Interacting with your pets can release oxytocin in the brain you know, the warm and fuzzy hormone resulting in that joyous feeling.
2. Count your boons.
Theres nothing like a little thankfulness to boost your mood. Research shows carrying gratitudecan construction you happier. Try writing down three things youre thankful for at the end of each night.
PSA: You are awesome you just gotta believe it for yourself. Survey present self-acceptance is crucial to a happier life, but its a habit we scarcely practice.
Pick up that phone. Research suggests hearing your mommies voice can help reduce stress. And less stress entails a happier you.
The list of meditation benefits seems endless, but perhaps one of the more positive perks is what the practice can do for your mood. Research shows that allowing yourself a few moments of zen-like escape each day may induce you happier.
Admit it: Theres nothing quite like a solo jam session, and apparently science concurs. Research shows that trying to boost your mood while listening to music actually can help lift you to a more positive state. Press play ASAP.
No, truly. Surveys also suggest listening to sad music can help boost positive feelings.( We just see this as another excuse to listen to Adele on repeat .)
We didnt get to where we are without a little help, so why not widen that same generosity to someone else? Not merely will your kindness influence others, examines depict itll alsomake you happier, too.
Joy really is contagious. Research shows the more you surround yourself with positive people, the happier youll feel. Time to go catch up with your BFF?
Find something that tickles you, watch and let the giggles ensue. Laughter can reduce stress, after all.
The anticipation for a trip-up is almost as good as the trip-up itself. Prepping for a vacation has been shown to increase our happiness levels, the New York Times reported. The warm sun or exciting slopes are merely an added bonus.
Feeling blue? Tap into your inner chef and hit the kitchen. Researchers say people who employcreative process in small styles like coming up with a new pasta recipe for dinner feel happier overall.
Consider this our love letter to exercise. Not only is it good for your body, but its equally as beneficial to your brain. When you work up a sweat, you release endorphins, immediately upping your happiness levels. Go ahead, get moving.
A fulfilling life doesnt lie in our possessions, its found in the experiences we have and the people we share them with. If youre going to expend a little moolah, expend it on a trip, a concert or any other experience that will bring you exhilaration. Science saysyoull be happier in the long run.
We get it smiling may be the last thing you want to do when youre in a sour mood, but it could help to turn that frown upside-down. Research shows faking a smilecan help elevate our mood, even if were not genuinely into it right away. Talk about the power of suggestion.
Take advantage of your backyard or stroll a park youve never been to before and thank yourself subsequently. One survey found that going for a brief walk in nature going to be able to improve your mood and alleviate stress.
Research reveals building friends increasesour happiness and well-being. Join a club, talk to your coworker or strike up a dialogue in the grocery line “youve never” know what kinds of new connections you can make.
Dairy contains tryptophan, an essential amino acid that helps create serotonin, the happy chemical in the brain. Milk: It not only does the body good, it does the brain good too.
If that isnt the look of happiness, we dont know what is. Plus, research suggests that warm baths stimulate us feel warm on the inside, too.
More sleep= A happier you. Too little shuteye slows down our cognitive processesand increases health risks of depression. Try making the pillow 30 minutes earlier each night or taking a nap in the middle of the day.
Most people wish they could avoid aging, but examines show that were happier as we get older. Experts theorize this could be because the older we get, the more we reflect on positive experiences. Sounds like a great reason to love those birthdays.
It voices counterintuitive, but it may actually work. Research has found that weeping can lead to positive increase in mood following the flow of tears. Those in the study reported feeling better than they did before they had a reason to cry.
This theory, was established by positive psychologist Barbara Fredrickson, holds that for every one negative experience you have, you should havethree positive ones in order to achieve happiness. Makes sense to us!
Technology isnt all bad. Take a breach from your overflowing inbox and switch gears to a different kind of email. We fight so hard against the negative and we forget to tell people how powerful a two-minute positive e-mail could be, Harvard-trained researcher and Before Happiness writer Shawn Achor told Oprah in 2014.
Your generosity will make your day and theirs. Appearing for a route to give praise that isnt superficial? Here are some ideas.
The weather outside has a direct influence on how we feel on the inside. One survey found that happiness is maximized at an approximate 57 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sometimes the most mundane moments turn out to be the loveliest source of happiness. Research presents recording these everyday events may construct us happier later on because we appreciate thema lot more when theyre revisited. In other words, if you feed a scrumptious chocolate brownie on Wednesday, write it down.
Eau de Happiness? One examine on how scent affects joy found that participants who were in a floral-scented room selected three times as many happiness-related words than negative terms.
Heres a good excuse( not that you need one) to hit the sheets: Research indicates having sex can reduce stress. Of course, how much is up to you. But worth a try, eh?
Can you think yourself to joy? Some researchers believe so. According to two experimental studies, taking happiness into your own hands can boost your well-being.
Residents of Denmark, one of the happiest countries in the world, expend less time than most Americans in the office. Merely 2 percent of Danes work long hours, which is categorized as 50 hours per week. And full-time workers still dedicate 66 percentage of their day to self-care, like eating and sleeping.Maybe do as the Danes do?
Spirituality and religion have been linked to higher happiness and well-being, according to a review of studies on spirituality and health. Sometimes it helps to know youre connected to something greater than yourself.
Theres power in small moments. Whether its getting written answers correct at trivia or catching your favorite song on the radio, indulge in the little wins of your day. I think when we take time to notification the things that go right it means were get a lot of little rewards throughout the day, Susan Weinschenk, writer of How to Get People to Do Stuff , previously told HuffPost. That can help with our moods.
Research proves nostalgia constructs us happier and most optimistic. Time to dig out those old yearbooks?
Anyone can talk about the weather. Let yourself get a little more connected and have a substantial conversation with someone research shows it will boost happiness and well-being.
You can either create your own or were identified online( personally, we like these encouraging words ). Search for a phrase thats going to bring meaning to you. Research demonstrates having a mantra can help with bad feelings. Find yours!
Investing in other people truly does pay off for them and for you. According to one 2008 analyze, spending money on others promotes your own happiness.
How much do your actually pay attention to your dialogues? Researchers theorize the more we listen, the happier and more meaningful our lives are particularly within our relations. As Epictetus once told, We have two ears and one mouth so we can listen twice as much as we are to talk.
The next time person judges you for taking one of those infamous front-facing photos, show them this: A 2016 survey found that selfies actually increaseconfidence and construct you happier . Boom.
Put down that phone and log some real FaceTime. Human beings aresocial creatures( and not just on the internet ), so its period we tap into those resources. Research shows we simply feel better when were around other people.
Raise your hand if youve ever had a lackluster New Years Eve or Valentines Day. Its no secret that expectation can lead to disappointment if the bar is set too high( in fact, research backs this up ). Were not implying that you should set the bar low, but sometimes realistic ideas construct you happier in the long run.
There are perks to insuring life through a glass half full. Try looking for a silver lining in any situation. Optimists are not only more joyful, they also may live longer. Thats a lot of extra time to be happy.
Give one( or several) of these a try the next time youre feeling low. Happiness seems good on you.
A previous version of such articles appeared in March 2015.
Read more: www.huffingtonpost.com
