Most of us would like to feel happier if we could, and even if you are living the best life ever, there are ways to improve your happiness. Most of us experience both happy and sad feelings throughout a single day, and that is perfectly normal. However, if you are finding that overall you are less happy than you were before, or finding it hard to get enjoyment from life, then you may need to find some ways to make yourself happier. If you have a case of the blues, here are some ways to increase happiness.
- Exercise
When you find that you are feeling low, exercise can give you the mood boost you need. When we exercise, our brains produce hormones that are known to make us feel good. In fact, regular exercise has been shown to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Try to exercise every day, even if it is just a brisk 30-minute walk, and you will find you have a more positive frame of mind, and be better able to take on daily challenges.
- Sleep Well
When you lack sleep, it can feel like every little thing gets on top of you. You may feel irritable, tearful and depressed. Getting a good night’s sleep works wonders in improving your mood, as well as being good for your health.
If there is anything stopping you from getting the sleep you need, then make an effort to sort it out. For example, you might find you often go to bed late, have a lumpy mattress, or that your bedroom is too hot. Try to make your bedroom a calming environment in which you can relax and unwind, and get a restful night’s sleep.
- Take Up A Hobby
Do you find that you need a creative outlet, or want to try something new? Taking up a hobby is a great way to occupy your mind, be creative and feel proud of an achievement. It could be learning to dance, completing a cross-stitch pattern or making something new out of upcycled materials. It doesn’t matter what it is as long as you enjoy it. Perhaps you had a hobby in the past that you lost touch with if so, reigniting your passion in something is a great way to boost your happiness.
- Become a Pet Owner
There are lots of ways that owning a pet improves our happiness. They provide companionship, and give you a sense of purpose. Cuddling up with a pet, such as a cat or a dog, can be therapeutic and reduces the effect of daily stress.
It is important not to rush into the decision to get a pet, as they require lots of commitment to ensure they are well looked after. Make sure you have the time to give to a pet, and the funds to feed and care for it. You can look at prices of pet supplies, such as from this website, to give you a view of how much you might need to spend.
- Practice Gratitude
Practicing gratitude is a good way to get things into perspective when you are feeling low. When you go to bed each night, either write down, or think about, the things that happened during your day that you are grateful for. It might be that ten-minute conversation you had with someone in the street, it could be the hugs you got from your children, or that you made the effort to prepare a nice meal. It is the little things that make a difference to our happiness, so remind yourself of them to help you see what is really important.
- Make Time for Friends
Having a healthy social life is a key factor in feeling happy. Making the time to see friends and have a chat helps you to build bonds, get a different view on things and lets you be a support to others if they need it. That doesn’t mean you need lots of friends to be happy, but having at least one or two people you can have a heart to heart chat with means that you are not isolated.
When you have friends to socialize with, you are open to new activities that you might not have done on your own, and this leads to a happier and more fulfilling life.
- Spend Time in Nature
Did you know that spending time outside in natural surrounding helps you to be happier? There is something about being outside that refreshes the senses, and getting a little exercise and fresh air at the same time can work wonders to blow away some cobwebs from your mind.
Whether it is a walk in the woods, a stroll through your local park, or a cycle ride, being outdoors is a time when you are surrounded by natural beauty and more in tune with the rhythms of the season. This gives you a grounding effect that makes it easier for you to appreciate the good things in your life, and not worry about the small things that make you feel stressed.
- Be Mindful
Mindfulness is a meditation technique that helps you to be consciously present in the moment. To be mindful, you need to be aware of what is going on around you as well as accepting your thoughts and feelings, and being aware of your body sensations. It sounds like a lot to take up your concentration, but it is a natural way for a human being to be. When you practice, you will find you are able to be mindful for longer.
Mindfulness opens you up to feelings of unity, improves relationships, and gives you a positive frame of mind.
Happiness is something that we could all work on from time to time. If you see happiness as something that you can cultivate, rather than just waiting for it to come to you, then you will begin to see great changes that bring you more joy and happiness in your life.
