As I work on things for Project Build Happiness, I’ve become a little focused on what makes us happy on a daily basis. I’ve been reading and soaking up as much knowledge as possible to pass on to others. I truly feel that spreading happiness (in ourselves and others) is the secret to making this world a better, happier place.
Life doesn’t always present us with an easy path to happiness and that’s okay. Our unhappy moments allow us to appreciate the happy ones when they come along. (Click to tweet!) Despite life not always cooperating with us, there are some simple ways that you can boost your mood right now (even if you’re having one of those downer days). All you have to do is browse the list below and pick out the one that works for you! (I’ve even given you my reasoning behind including each one on the list. Gotta love all that reading I’ve been doing on the topic of happiness!) Remember to pick the one that works for you – happiness isn’t one size fits all!
1. Go for a walk.
This one will help boost your happiness in two ways. The first is that exercise releases endorphins (as the lovely Elle Woods tells us in Legally Blonde). The other is that the sunshine will help brighten your day. (If it’s gloomy outside, you might want to stay in. Sometimes gloomy weather can affect our mood negatively.)
2. Turn your frown upside down.
We’ve all heard the phrase mentioned here. It simply means to smile. Smiling is one of the easiest ways to boost happiness because it tricks the brain into thinking you’re happier. I’d say this one falls under the “fake it til you make it” category. Some even say smiling is contagious so you could be helping someone else out by smiling in their direction. (Just don’t make it a creepy or suggestive smile – then you might have a different problem!)
3. Get in touch with a friend.
Friends help boost our happiness – that’s why we keep them around. If you’re feeling a little blue, it might be a good time to check in with a friend via text or phone. Conversation with someone we enjoy can help make us happier.
4. Put on your favorite outfit.
I don’t care if you’re just sitting at home – get up and put on something you love. It doesn’t have to be an entire outfit but at least a piece of jewelry or an article of clothing. Wearing (or being around) things we love typically makes us happier.
5. Exercise.
Remember number 1? Exercise releases endorphins and endorphins make people happy. It may not seem like it’ll help but try out a quick 10 minute workout – you’ll be surprised by how much better you feel afterwards. (Plus you’ll be helping your body!)
6. Eat a snack.
Have you heard the expression hangry? (If you haven’t, hangry is hungry + angry.) For some people, a lack of food can put them in a bad mood. (So can the foods you choose to eat but we don’t have time to cover that here.) Think about it – food is our fuel and without fuel we slow down and stop operating properly. So, if it’s been a while since you ate something, grab a small (nutritious) snack and see if it makes a difference!
7. Do something creative.
Being creative uses a different part of our brain. When you’re feeling down, try out a creative activity. It’s likely to help your mood because you’ll be using a different part of your brain. Creative activities can backfire if you’re not careful though. Pick an activity that you enjoy. Picking one that frustrates you won’t help improve your mood. (I can’t play an instrument to save my life so I wouldn’t benefit from picking one up to boost happiness.)
8. Take a break.
Something frustrating you? Set it aside for five or ten minutes and take a break. You could pick one of the activities mentioned above to do during that break or you could simply sit for a few minutes and enjoy the silence or your background noise. Overworking ourselves can lead to burnout so breaks are important. In fact, breaks can even increase your productivity if timed well.
9. Light a candle or diffuse oils.
Our senses play into our moods a lot more than we realize. Why not activate your sense of smell by burning a candle or diffusing some essential oils? Depending on the scent that you choose, you can improve your productivity and focus in addition to your happiness. (You’ll have to do a little research on scents though because we don’t have time to cover that in this post!)
10. Do something nice for someone else.
Helping others has been shown to help our own moods. So, if you’re feeling a little blue, maybe you can brighten someone else’s day by doing something nice. It doesn’t have to be elaborate – a simple compliment can do wonders.
Want even more ways to boost your happiness and to build a happier world around you? Join us in September for Project Build Happiness. I can’t even mention how great this challenge is going to be or how many freebies you’ll get by joining! Did I mention that it’s free? Head on over to the sign up page for all of the details and to reserve your spot today!
Feeling a little lazy today? I’ve got you covered – just fill in all of your information below and you’ll get the details emailed to you! Easy peasy, right?
Are you ready to be happy?
