Increase Your Daily Happiness

Today I’m excited to share this post with some ideas for how to feel happier and more joyful throughout your day.

Image by Pexels on Pixabay

Most of us have the same type of routine. We wake up, shower, eat, head to work, come home, eat, and slope off to bed. Of course, some things happen in between like spending time with friends and having great conversations. But by and large, five days a week we are pretty much beholden to certain obligations like work.

It can often feel like you are so busy being busy that you forget to relax, unwind and take stock of things.

A great example is: when was the last time you checked in to see how happy or fulfilled you are?

Or: relax your jaw, shoulders, and neck. Most of us are walking around day to day with them tight and clenched.

Small things can slide by unnoticed because we are so busy taking care of the ‘bigger picture.’ The truth of the matter is you are the bigger picture. You are the small things and the big things that need to be taken care of.

There is only so long you can pour liquid from a cup before it is dry with nothing more to give. You are the same. You must keep your cup full.

So what things can you do to inject a little more mindfulness and happiness into your days?

First, think about how much time you have available every day. Commuting, getting ready, the work itself, cooking and that type of thing will take big chunks of time. So what do you have left? Maybe a few hours in the evening?

What are you doing to maximize those hours for yourself? If you are sitting each evening watching series after series on Netflix, chances are you’re not giving yourself enough mental stimulation.

Once you have worked out how much free time you really have available, you could think about what you want to do with it.

Of course you’ll also want to consider having an active lifestyle, drinking plenty of water and eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. But what else can you start building into your routine to pep you up a little each day?

Pump It Up!

We all have a selection of music that really sets the tone for the rest of the day. When you are getting ready in the morning, put on the music that you love. Dancing and singing to upbeat music helps us to let go of stress and feel joyful.

Choose music with a positive slant, to really maximize this.

Scent

You know the smell in the air on a summer's day that brings you back to when you were 14 and playing with friends with days that seemed to stretch out in front of you? Fragrances play a significant part in our happiness levels.

Think about the smells that you enjoy. They might be floral, or maybe musky, spicy aromas. Whatever scents you enjoy, do a little research to find out what you like and then buy a room spray, candle or perhaps even perfume.

Spray a little around during the day and take a big breath.

Be Good To Others

There is something warm and fuzzy about doing something nice for someone else. You might choose to give up some of your free time during the weekend to volunteer, or reach out to friends so that you can offer a listening ear to anyone who needs it.

Another easy way to increase your happiness levels is to express gratitude. Thank someone who matters to you and tell them why you care.

Get Some Rest

Sleeping is of course the most important method for rest, but it’s not the only way to help your body relax and wind down. If you have trouble winding down, check out an app like Calm, or Headspace. These apps are packed with great features to help with meditation and methods for relaxing your body and mind.

Do You!

We all have things we are interested in. You might love travel, learning languages, collecting stamps, or studying real crimes. Whatever your hobbies are, if you make sure you have time, or make an effort to indulge in them you’ll be satisfying the need we all have to pursue our passions.

Turn The Tables

Many people have a habit of putting themselves down, or being really harsh critics when it comes to who they are and what they look like. Negative thoughts obviously have a negative impact on our emotional wellbeing.

So next time you catch yourself criticizing yourself, or putting yourself down consciously grab that thought, and replace it with twice as many positive points. This will get you into the habit of letting go of negative thoughts and replacing them with positive ones.

Happiness isn’t a given. Sometimes it takes a little work and a little patience while you build those moments and feelings into your life.

I’m curious, friends — which of these ideas from the contributed post above resonate with you? What other ways do you increase your happiness levels on a day-to-day basis?

Namaste.