Happiness Hacks

Happiness experts have established that a strong support network is vital to having higher life satisfaction levels. Humans are made to love others! Our relationships with our spouses, families, and friends provide us with meaning and happiness. Having a group of friends to do things with on a regular basis is a certain path to happiness, so bust out your cards, invite some friends over, and play your favorite card games. You don’t have to play for money—just hanging out with some good friends over food, drinks, and cards (and enjoying a little friendly competition) is all you need. 

With a little effort, you can retrain your impulse to blurt out commonly used negative words and phrases in your speech in favor of using positive words that are carefully chosen and thoughtfully offered. For example, phrases like “There’s always room for improvement” and “I’ve seen better from you” are not helpful. In fact, those phrases suggest that someone’s actions or thoughts have come up short and don’t meet your expectations. You don’t want people to say those things to you, so stop saying that to others—instead, offer positive, helpful feedback and comments. Speak honestly but caringly. You’ll inspire greatness from others and also generate happiness for yourself too. 

If you like stretching, walking, or running, do it in nature—for example, consider joining a group of people who congregate in a nearby park to practice tai chi, qigong, or yoga. Doctors say the best kind of exercise is the kind that you enjoy enough to keep doing consistently. If you like to socialize while working out, meet some friends at a high school football field, on a jogging trail, or at a local park. Breathe some fresh air, take in the lovely sights and sounds of nature, and work out while enjoying the camaraderie of others. 

As you fast, your body uses its energy to cleanse itself. Many people believe that fasting can make you more energetic, enable you to think more clearly, and in- crease your sense of well-being and happiness. There are many types of fasts, from total abstinence of food to eating only certain types of foods or juices. A fast can last for a few hours or for a day or more. People who fast usually drink water or juice to keep their bodies properly hydrated. Because so many debilitating diseases are related to food over consumption and diets that are high in processed foods, sugar, and other less-than-nutritious ingredients, consider undertaking a fast to detoxify and rejuvenate yourself. Before starting, however, check with your physician to make sure a fast would be a good idea for you. 

Happiness is closely linked to good health, and one way to stay healthy is to avoid exposure to various toxic agents. Read and follow safe-use labels on all products containing toxins or carcinogenic agents, including those for your garden or lawn. Instead of spraying chemicals, you might choose pest-resistant plants, pull off pest-infected leaves (and carefully dispose of them), yank out invasive weeds be- fore they re-seed themselves over the yard, and use compost and mulch to create healthy soil. You can also use less toxic products such as soaps and herbicidal oils to treat troublesome garden and lawn pests. 

In today’s world where the environment is taking a beating, one way to make your life more meaningful is to join others in working to save the planet. Sometimes things can be accomplished only when working in concert with other like-minded individuals in groups like the Sierra Club or the Rain forest Action Network. Joining a group of people who share your feelings about a common cause can inspire you to do things you might never do on your own. Plus, there is truth to the saying that there’s strength in numbers—although one person working alone may not be able to save a rain forest, thousands or millions of people rallying around a single goal might just accomplish it. In today’s world where the environment is taking a beating, one way to make your life more meaningful is to join others in working to save the planet. Sometimes things can be accomplished only when working in concert with other like-minded individuals in groups like the Sierra Club or the Rain forest Action Network. Joining a group of people who share your feelings about a common cause can inspire you to do things you might never do on your own. Plus, there is truth to the saying that there’s strength in numbers—although one person working alone may not be able to save a rain forest, thousands or millions of people rallying around a single goal might just accomplish it.

Playing a game of tennis is a great way to get a workout! Just be sure to warm up your muscles first, and while playing, use proper hitting and serving techniques to prevent injuries. Whether the players are eight years old or they’re seniors in their seventies or eighties, almost anyone can play tennis. Learn how to play now and enjoy it for a lifetime. Plus, tennis is social—it’s one of those games where you need another player; if you are playing doubles, you’ll need three other players. Tennis is a good way to meet new people, get a workout, and feel great at the same time. 

Prayer can center you when things are going right in your life, provide solace and a lift when you feel down, and constantly remind you that you aren’t alone. Praying can help you move forward when you feel stuck or provide hope when you need healing. Harold Koenig, MD, associate professor of psychiatry and medicine at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina, has observed that religious people tend to have healthier lives. (And better health means you are more likely to be more satisfied with your life.) Recite a prayer that gives you com- fort. Or, if you prefer, you can make up your own prayer. A simple “Thank you!” is a powerful prayer of gratitude. “I need your help” or “Please guide me” are also excel- lent ways to begin a prayer.

If you are like many people, as a child you had a little pillow or a security blanket that got you through the night. As an adult facing a crisis, you may wish you had something tangible like that to give you comfort. If you don’t have a favorite blanket or pillow, look in the linen closet and see if there’s a comfy throw, a worn afghan, or a silky coverlet you could use. Or go to the clearance table at your local department store and pick out something that could become a new favorite security blanket. As a child, you loved your blankey because it was yours and only yours. It had your scent on it. You knew what it felt like and looked like even with your eyes closed. The next time life is not going your way, seek comfort in what’s familiar and what makes you feel safe—wrap yourself in your blanket and let your inner child feel safe and comforted. 

Remember: the Buddha said that happiness is achieved when your words and your work benefit others as well as yourself. Create an imaginative and highly personalized toast for some newlyweds in your life. Whether you’ve been asked to offer a toast, provide material for a groom’s roast, or write a small wedding speech, make sure the main thread running throughout is a message containing your best wishes for their lifetime of happiness.