Every now and then, we all experience the feeling of getting stuck in a rut. Daily routines and habits are all well and good for creating order and organization, but they’re not so great for the soul when we start to feel bored, restless and uninspired.
Thankfully, shaking things up and feeling happy again is fairly easy to do. Read on for 50 happiness tips that will have you feeling like the happiest girl in the world.
1. Get up earlier
There’s something about watching the sunrise that reminds us how magical life really is. It’s also instinctive for humans to rise with the sun so changing your routine to go to bed earlier and rise earlier will have your body buzzing with happiness.
2. Play music
Music has the ability to dramatically lift and improve your mood in just a few minutes. If you’re having a bad day, just blast out your favorite song. Voila – instant mood boost.
3. Curl your toes into the earth
When was the last time you walked on the earth with bare feet? And no, I don’t mean cement or bitumen. I mean the actual earth. Dirt. Grass. Sand. Try it; you’ll be surprised how good it feels.
4. Get salty
If you’re lucky enough to live near the sea, you have access to one of the purest happiness boosters imaginable: salt water. Not only is it great for your health and your skin, but swimming in the ocean is amazing for your soul too.
5. Dance like nobody is watching
Get up. Right now. Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, I want you to stand up and throw your arms in the air and dance your little heart out. Forget that there are people around. Ignore their giggles. Just spend a moment dancing. See how good it feels?
6. Get a manicure
If you have the time and the inclination, getting a quick manicure at your local salon is a great way to feel better.
You get to spend time doing nothing while you’re being pampered which can help you take back control of your thoughts and you’ll also walk away with awesome nails. What’s not to love?
7. Call a friend
You know that friend you have that is happy all the time? That never has a bad word to say about anyone and can always make you laugh? Call her. She’d love to hear from you and more to the point; you’d love to speak with her.
8. Smile
Do you know it takes more effort to frown than it does to smile? And by smiling you instantaneously improve your mood by tricking your body into thinking it’s happy. Fake it ‘til you make it, baby.
9. Go for a walk
You know when kids get injured playing football and their coach tells them to ‘walk it off’? This is the motto you should use whenever you’re feeling angry, upset, confused or just unhappy.
Walking is incredibly therapeutic, for both the mind and the body. So next time you feel crap, just walk it off.
10. Get a massage
A massage is a great all rounder to help clear your mind, improve your mood and boost your clarity and composure.
For those really, really bad days, invest in a proper massage (best with aromatherapy and essential oils) and get your worries massaged away.
11. Cuddle a pet
Pets have this awesome ability to be able to take our minds off our problems. Whether you have a cat, a dog or a hamster, spend time each day playing and cuddling your pet.
12. Do something for someone else
We’ve all heard how powerful the act of giving can be, so why not try it out for yourself? There are plenty of ways you can help your community or a charity you’re passionate about.
Just give them a call and offer your skills, they’ll be happy you called and you’ll feel a thrill knowing that you’ve made a difference.
13. Hug a friend
Research has shown that hugging can boost your oxytocin and serotonin levels, which combats feelings of unhappiness and anger. Hugs also improve your immune system. Pretty cool, right?
14. Read an inspirational quote
There’s something about inspirational quotes that are just so, well, inspiring! It’s reassuring to know that others have been through similar circumstances and situations as what we’re going through and have made a success of themselves.
You can visit Pinterest and view their ‘quotes’ section or if you have an iPhone you can download free quotes app, Inspire Me Quotes.
15. Write down ten things you love about your life
Okay, so you had a bad day. We all have ‘em. But what’s good about your life? Sometimes improving your mood can be as easy as changing what you focus on. Remember, what you focus on grows, so keep your thoughts positive.
16. Watch a funny movie
I dare you to watch The Hangover or Dude, Where’s My Car and not feel better after. It’s not possible!
17. Go stargazing
There’s something incredibly humbling about lying on your back and staring up at the stars. For maximum happiness enhancing, bring a friend.
18. Stay away from Facebook
Spend 24-hours in a social media free zone. Because while social media can be awesome, it can also be a pain in the neck. Take away the stress and be social media free for a while. Your soul will thank you.
19. Meditate
We all know the health and wellbeing benefits of meditating. And yet so very few of us actually invest some of our day meditating. Spend just five minutes focusing on your breath and re-energizing.
20. Have a bubble bath
A lot of the time we don’t realize what’s worrying us until we slow down enough to pay attention. A good way to slow down is by taking time out to be alone, relaxed and at ease.
My favorite is a long, warm bubble bath where I can kick my feet up and indulge in a little daydreaming.
21. Release the endorphins
For a quick happiness boost, why not try physical activity? It doesn’t have to be regimented exercise, it can be simply going kayaking for the afternoon or playing volleyball with a few friends.
All you need is some huff and puff, sweat and movement and you’ll feel better in a jiffy.
22. Get some sunshine
We’re so scared of getting skin cancer these days that we’ve forgotten the healing power of the sun. Not only does it provide your body with essential vitamin D, but it also resets your body clock and improves your immune system. And who doesn’t feel better after a quick sit in the sun?
Note: please wear sunscreen if you are outdoors for extended periods of time or if you’re exposed to sunshine between 11am and 2pm. Stay sun safe.
23. Pick a bunch of flowers
Go to a nearby paddock or somewhere there are wild flowers growing and spend an afternoon picking fresh flowers. You can make daisy chains out of them or collect them to put in a vase at home.
24. Do something just for you
We all have our little indulgences and treats. For those ‘OMG, I don’t want to get out of bed’ days, why not schedule in an indulgence to motivate you?
It can be a trip to the hairdresser, a jaunt in the shopping mall or a bite of a red velvet cupcake. Just make sure you keep the indulgence as a treat and not a daily habit!
25. Do one thing differently each day
As I said earlier, routines and habits are awesome for helping us stay organized. But it can be pretty dull to live the same way day in and day out, like Groundhog Day. So for one week, make an effort to do things differently each day.
You might change your morning routine, or go for a walk at lunchtime instead of staying indoors. You might like to declare it a social media free week or spend an hour each day trying something new. Whatever tickles your pickle!
26. Be kind
I don’t know about you, but I feel pretty crappy when I’m mean to someone or I moan about someone behind his or her back.
Which is why I have made it a rule not to complain about others and be as kind as possible. This way, I don’t have a guilty conscience and I know I’m adding value to other people’s lives, not giving them a reason to be upset too.
27. Drink eight glasses of water each day
This might sound like an odd tip to boost your happiness, but so many of us are unaware of how our common complaints such as being headachy and lethargic are directly related to our water consumption.
Our brain is made up of 70% water, so it makes sense that if we don’t drink enough we’re going to be feeling pretty bad. Tip the scales in your favor by getting enough H20!
28. Focus on what you can change
And last but not least, only focus on the things that you can change or impact. If you’re stuck in traffic or running late, there’s no use worrying about it. Either you’ll be late or you won’t.
Instead focus on what you can do, like calling your work and letting them know you might be late in, instead of getting stressed and worried.
29. Choose to Be Happy
At the end of the day, happiness is in your hands and your hands alone. Nobody can make you happy but you.
So choose to be happy.
Cover photo: kouhl.com
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