Happiness Hacks

Exercise releases endorphins throughout your body, creating feelings of happiness. While many people find it hard to motivate themselves to exercise, the mood boost you get after exercising is worth the effort. Researchers from Penn State found in a recent study that people who were more physically active had more pleasant- activated feelings than people who did not exercise. Additionally, exercise energizes you, helps you feel less stressed out, boosts your confidence, and can even fight insomnia. Any physical activity that gets you to break a sweat helps you build happiness—even a brisk walk works! So get that blood pumping and get happy.

From golden milk to spiced rice, turmeric has made big news headlines for its anti- inflammatory properties. But the active compound in turmeric—curcumin—also has antidepressant qualities. It can cause an increase in serotonin and dopamine (the “feel-good” chemicals) in your brain and help boost your mood. And it’s not just straight turmeric that gives you this mood boost but also dishes that contain the spice, like curries. 

Hosting a party can be stressful, but it can also be a whole lot of fun, especially when the only thing on the agenda is good food. Sharing food is about more than just eating and drinking—you’re sharing meaningful and pleasurable moments with great friends. If everyone has fun, make it into a regular thing, rotating the location to each member’s home. Planning and preparing a gourmet meal is not necessarily as difficult as you might think. All you really need is an idea of what to make, some fresh, wholesome ingredients, and a few basic pantry staples.

Some mornings, there is no greater pleasure than being able to hit the snooze button and go back to sleep for ten more luxurious minutes. Set your alarm clock for ten minutes earlier than you really have to get out of bed; then, when the alarm goes off, you’ll have the joy of knowing you can go back to sleep and ignore it. Sometimes that small triumph over the alarm clock can make the rest of your morning seem better. 

Happy, optimistic people give others the benefit of the doubt and expect to like other people (unless given a reason not to). Try adopting that mindset: when you meet someone new, choose to see that person as a potential friend whose company you might enjoy. Try this idea with your existing relationships too! Don’t assume a friend you haven’t seen in a while doesn’t care about you—instead, give that person the benefit of the doubt and assume that your friend’s absence has nothing to do with you. 

Commuting is a stress-inducing, anxiety filled activity that can wear down even the most patient of people. In a study of over one thousand employed Americans, the times of the day when they felt the worst was during their commute to and from work. In fact, people felt happier while at work and even while doing housework at home than they did when commuting. Couples with one partner commuting more than forty-five minutes have a 40 percent higher divorce rate. If you have a choice about where you live with respect to your job location, do yourself a favor and make your commute a reasonable distance.

The happiness that can come from reminiscing about happy memories is as real as the feelings that happened during the actual event. In fact, people who frequently reminisce about positive life events are the most likely to be happy. So take photos, make scrapbooks, bring home souvenirs, call an old friend, watch your favorite movies . . . do whatever you need to do to relive those positive memories. 

Instead of buying the latest smartphone, the coolest new car, or the best new laptop, buy several small things: fancy chocolates, a few nice candles, some music for your phone. It will actually make you happier to indulge in frequent small pleasures than to buy more extravagant (and expensive) delights. After all, you don’t get twice as much happiness from buying a car that is twice as expensive as another model! Use some of that money to pay for a weekend away with your partner. You’ll get far more satisfaction from your getaway weekend than you would from the luxury car. 

Everyone knows that sitting up straight and not slouching is good for your body. In fact, poor posture causes extra wear and tear on joints and ligaments, increases the likelihood of accidents, makes your lungs less efficient, and can lead to tension headaches and back pain. However, more and more people are losing their proper posture due to their devices. The condition known as “tech neck,” derived from staring down at a computer screen or phone, is becoming a real problem. In addition, slouching doesn’t just make you look bad, it can make your body feel bad too. When you slouch in a chair, your brain actually thinks you are tired or unsure of yourself. Whereas sitting straight can boost your confidence, give you more energy, and make you more productive. So sit up straight! You’ll feel better, look better, and have more confidence. 

Seeing as the brain has a tendency to focus on the negative, complaining may in fact be a natural human reaction. Still, that doesn’t mean complaining is the best reaction. Dwelling on how much something sucks is not good for your body or your mood. Besides, when has complaining ever gotten you anywhere? All it does is reinforce negativity. So rather than complaining about something, try to focus on something else, something positive. You’ll be happier.