1. Exercise more, even 7 minutes a day might be enough.
Research with three groups of patients with a diagnosis of depression indicated
that of the three, the group that exercised, without taking any
anti-depressants, were much less likely to relapse after 6 months.
2. Sleep More. Having enough sleep makes us less
susceptible to feeling emotions such as anger or fear. We feel happier.
3. Shorten your Commute. Nothing like a long commute
to drag you down during your work week.
4. Spend time with friends and family. The most
important key to happiness in life, according to various research studies, is
having good relationships with family and friends. Money doesn’t appear to buy
happiness, once a certain point is reached.
5. Go Outdoors. Happiness is maximized at 13.9 C.
That’s 57 F. The study was done in England. Might be higher in Arizona.
6. Help Others. 100 hours a year is the magical
number.
7. Practice Smiling. A fake smile doesn’t do it. Try
to find something to smile about. A fake smile can lead to a real one, however,
so don’t despair.
8. Plan a Trip. You don’t necessarily have to take
it. The best part of a vacation seems to be during the planning of it.
9. Meditate. Meditation increases calmness,
contentment, and empathy for others.
10. Practice Gratitude. Keep a journal on gratitude;
share your good times with friends or family. Give thanks to others.
Finally, just getting older tends to make people feel
happier. One hypothesis is that older people have learned how to regulate
their moods better than younger ones. They do the things that maximize their
happiness. Whatever floats their boat!
From:
10 Simple Things You Can Do Today
That Will Make You Happier, Backed by Science by Belle Beth Cooper. The
full article is here:
http://blog.bufferapp.com/10-scientifically-proven-ways-to-make-yourself-happier
- Adapted from: http://www.taosinstitute.net/2014-janfeb
