1. They Limit Social Media
That’s right. According to a study out of the University of Michigan, spending time on Facebook and other social media sites generally makes us feel less happy and more isolated. The researchers found that social media results in comparisons with other people, and since others generally only post about the good things that happen to them, our lives seem disproportionately less awesome. And even knowing this doesn’t seem to help make us feel better! So consider limiting your time on social media each day — you just might notice a big difference.
2. They’re In Control Of Their Money
Happy people are generally in control of their money. This doesn’t mean that they’re rich, or that they have tons to spend, it just means that they know where their money goes and have a solid sense of their budget. Feeling in control of something so important helps alleviate stress, which leaves more room for enjoyment.
3. They Choose Experiences Over Stuff
Happy people tend to choose to invest in experiences over material possessions. Countless studies have shown that life experiences, like travel, or time spent with friends and loved ones, generate more lasting positive feelings than belongings.
4. They Practice Gratitude
Happy people generally consciously think about what they’re grateful for every single day. This can be as extensive as writing it down in a journal, or as simple as just thinking about it in your head when you wake up or before bed.
5. They Take Care Of Themselves
People who are happy tend to focus on their health, whether it be through eating nourishing foods or making sure they take the time to exercise. She also noted that this entails taking steps to manage your stress and mental health as well, which she said is equally important to our health.
6. They Don’t Have To Be In Control
Sometimes we need to accept that we can’t control everything, and realising this is actually incredibly freeing. It helps us be less bothered by the actions of others, as well as less disappointed when something doesn’t go the way we expected.
7. They Make Time For Themselves
This is my one and only personal tip on this list. I do know that I’m much, much happier when I’m not overextended. I used to think that if I wasn’t always busy I was somehow doing something wrong, and I’d literally feel guilty if I had a lot of downtime. It took becoming way overstressed to realise there’s no real victory in feeling miserable and anxious. So if you’re feeling overstretched, absolutely don’t feel bad about taking something off your plate.
8. They Read Something Positive
Happy people often read something positive and uplifting every day, whether it be a self-help book, a happy story, or something they find spiritually meaningful. This can be super helpful in an age when the internet can make us feel inundated with bad news and negativity.
9. They’re Present
Happy people are generally present in a given moment. This means they’re not scrolling through their phones at dinner, or checking work e-mails as they walk down the street.
10. They Listen To Music
Music has the ability to affect our moods, and that listening to music from times when we were happy can actually make us feel happier. Pretty cool, right? So pump up those jams and prepare to feel better almost instantly.
11. They Sleep
Our sleep and our moods are incredibly connected; as in our moods suffer dramatically when we’re sleep deprived. Do yourself the hugest favour and simply make sure you get a good night’s sleep on a regular basis. Your body — and your mind — will thank you.
Happiness isn’t necessarily easy to achieve, but there are definitely things we can be doing on a daily basis to make it less hard on ourselves. Try incorporating some or all of the above techniques into your daily routine — you just might find that you’re happier!