Category: HACK 101-200

Gardening gives you the opportunity to work out in the fresh air, and besides, nothing beats fresh-picked herbs when you want to intensify the flavors of salsas, sauces, savory dishes, and drinks (mojitos, anyone?). Tackling weeds and digging holes for plants can also give you a workout. If you love to cook and also appreciate having fresh herbs and produce packed with vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, consider planting a garden . . . and then combine the gardening with cooking for a healthier you! 

Say you’re sitting in your seat on a crowded bus or train and you notice an elderly person or a pregnant woman standing, or a small child standing and holding onto his parent’s leg. Don’t just sit there—get up and offer your seat to the person in need! Think of the good karma you’ll be generating. Seniors may not be stable on their feet, young kids can’t always reach rails and straps to steady themselves, and pregnant woman are often tired due to, you know, growing another human being. Give up your seat and give these people the safety of sitting. You’ll feel good knowing that you showed an act of kindness to another—and you are a better person for having done it. 

A sheet of poster paper or a foam board can host images, inspirational words, goals, and dates for accomplishing your goals as well as ideas of new directions to take your dreams. Maybe you want to find a way to help your school establish a theatrical group or an arts program. Perhaps you are an artist yourself and can help make masks, costumes, stage sets, etc. Cut out pictures of representative images from magazines and paste them on your vision board. Do you know other artists who could help you launch such a program? Write their names on your board and contact them. You’ll soon learn that a dream doesn’t have to be a solo dream—it can come about through a team working together on a shared vision. 

In spite of any negative circumstances you may be dealing with, find little moments throughout the day to notice the things that give you pleasure. Take time to appreciate seeing the neighbor’s yellow roses that have just burst into bloom, the taste of a perfectly ripe and sweet apple, the sound of your favorite music, the painting you bought on your vacation that’s now hanging in your room, the feel of your favorite shoes, the warmth of your partner’s hand on yours. Savor the gifts of sight, sense, taste, touch, and smell—they’re still reacting to your surroundings even as you deal with your lousy day. Take comfort in simply noticing the blessings in the small things and in your short moments of happiness throughout the day. 

Think of three things you could do to make yourself happier on the job. Would listening to your favorite music lift your spirits? Would seeing pictures of your family members taped to the bottom of your computer screen inspire you to be happy? Would checking your email at noon instead of when you first arrive at work keep your mood elevated throughout the morning? Find ways to be happy while at work, and your creativity and productivity are likely to rise along with your mood. 

Are you the keeper of family photos? Why not create a scrapbook to trace your family’s lineage and to document births, deaths, marriages, and other important events? During this process, you can explore your ancestry or discover your vital health history too. A scrapbook can contain pages with old letters, documents, deeds, and other keepsake documents. You’ll not only have hours of fun working on your book and sharing it with relatives during celebrations and holidays, you’ll feel a sense of pride and joy from knowing the details of your family’s lineage. 

Host a dinner party for family, relatives, friends, business associates, or members of your community. Serve Chinese food; then, before passing out the fortune cookies, make sure you have inserted little slips of paper containing a compliment or a happiness quote into each cookie. You want to make everyone feel uplifted, happy, and full of good cheer! You can accomplish that by filling their tummies with great food and their minds with pearls of joy. 

Plan a little time off just to do some inner reflection. The amount of time is not as important as getting the respite you need. Make your time away a priority! It’s a chance for you to clear your head, gather your energy, and get perspective. Retreat to someplace peaceful where you can relax and have a break from the responsibilities of work and family. Don’t know of any great retreat places? Take your favorite book and head to a beach. Find a shady bank along the edge of a lake, creek, river, or a pond—someplace where earth and water meet. Sink into your beach chair, tune into the sounds of nature, open your book, and lose yourself in a story. Or just sit back, close your eyes, and let your mind wander. You don’t have to do anything while on your retreat—just make space for tranquility and joy to fill you. 

If you’ve got a tree in your yard strong enough to support a tree house, get the children in your family involved in helping you create a design for a tree house, shop for the wood and nails (and all the other construction materials you’ll need), and build it. Not only will the children love you for building something that will surely give them many hours of fun memories, but you’ll be creating a special space where you can share your inner child with the children in your life!

When you find a happiness quote you love, add it to your email signature so that it will be read by everyone you correspond with throughout your day. Also, when you happen upon a funny meme, hilarious story, joke, or quote, text them to someone you know who needs a boost. If the recipient is having a bad day, your dose of optimism, humor, and happiness may be just what that person needs to start gig- gling and get back into a joyful groove.