Happiness Hacks

Rather than letting resentment grow and ruin your happiness, find a way to work with an adversary. Say you owned a vintage dress shop four doors down from an- other secondhand dress store that just opened. Would you sit down and meet with the new owner if the knowledge you gained from the meeting would help you both compete better? That might be a good idea, right? Suggest having coffee as a way to open dialogue between you and your “adversary.” Use the time to see where your two ideologies dovetail and where they depart. Actively listen and repeat aloud what you think you just heard. You may discover discrepancies between what was actually said and what you thought was said. See if you can find common ground. Is there a way you might team up to bring more business into both stores? Find win-win scenarios that might serve you both well. 

Nothing makes you feel happier than the love and appreciation of your dog. That tail wagging in joy is a great smile-inducer! So treat your best friend well by keeping him healthy. Instead of buying dog biscuits or other doggie treats, consider making some healthy homemade treats. Look for recipes on the Internet or make up your own using natural ingredients (just be sure to first look up what dogs can and can- not eat). Just like humans, dogs like foods that taste good. Remember to avoid no-no foods like chocolate, onions, and grapes, as well as artificial ingredients and additives that might cause illness (or even be deadly) for some dogs. You’ll feel better knowing that your dog is healthy and happy. 

You praise your friends, your coworkers, and your spouse whenever they accomplish something praiseworthy, so why not give yourself some praise? You’re not being a braggart or egotistical when you acknowledge that you finished a task or made a breakthrough—you work very hard and accomplish many things that no one but you ever recognizes. If you finally played a complicated piano composition all the way through or found an ingenious way to increase your project’s budget, tell yourself how wonderfully brilliant and accomplished you are. Bask in the glory of the moment! You deserve it. 

If you and your friends enjoy wine, consider forming a wine club. (A club where you get to drink is one of the best kinds!) Host monthly meetings where you have blind tastings. Here’s how you do it. First, before each meeting, decide on one type of wine you will taste that session: Pinot (Noir or Gris), Cabernet Sauvignon, Burgundy, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, or whatever you like. Have each person bring a bottle of the selected type of wine and one appetizer to share with everyone. (If you’re going to be drinking all that wine, you’ll want some food in your stomach too!) Wrap each bottle in a numbered paper bag so that no one can see the label (and possibly form a bias), then give everyone pencils and note cards and have them write down their comments about each bottle they taste. Let the adventure begin! You may discover a new favorite wine. At the very least, you’ll have a great time trying something new with your friends. 

Essential oils are distillations of plants that have beneficial properties. Some are stimulating; some are calming. You can find a large number of relaxing aromatic oils on the market, but the most popular include lavender, sage, sandalwood, frankincense, and chamomile. How you use them is up to you. Some people light scented candles as they relax after a hard day’s work; others prefer to place a few drops of scented oil in their bathwater or on their pillow to help them unwind and fall asleep faster at night. The important thing is to select a fragrance that is both appealing and relaxing. Floral scents tend to work best, because food scents can make you hungry. Avoid tart or biting fragrances, such as lemon, because they may have the opposite effect, perking you up instead of calming you down. You may have to experiment until you find the scent that is right for you, but it is definitely worth the effort.

How exactly will learning CPR bring you happiness? Imagine the happiness you would feel if you were personally able to save someone’s life. You can prepare by learning some simple first-aid techniques, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the Heimlich maneuver. Classes are offered through the American Heart Association, parks and recreation departments in many cities, and also through local hospitals and clinics as part of community outreach programs. Find and take a class near you. Then, if you witness someone having a medical emergency, you can apply what you have learned. You may even save someone’s life through your quick actions. Now that’s something to be truly happy about!

You know how stiff your body feels when you finally get out of a chair after hours of crunching numbers or going through email? Fortunately, it only takes a few minutes to stretch. Some stretches can even be done while sitting in a chair or standing in front of your desk. If you happen to have a yoga mat, take it with you on your break or your lunch hour to a private, peaceful area and do some stretches. You’ll feel rejuvenated, flexible, centered, and happier. 

Every one of us has experienced losses—some more extreme than others—but there is often a seed of triumph hidden in those losses. It may be hard to see at first, but it’s there. Try asking yourself: “What is the good in this? What lesson can I take away? How can I share my knowledge with others?” Bring to mind two or three events that may have seemed totally awful up to this point and write down only the good things and/or the benefits gained from each. Looking for the brighter side is a great habit to develop—you’ll become a happier and more compassionate person. 

Lack of sleep often makes people miserable, so hedge your bet when you are traveling and bring your favorite pillow with you. Pillows generally stuff easily into a carry-on bag and can serve as a terrific insurance policy against sleepless nights. Traveling can sap your energy by various means, including jet lag, but one of the best ways to regain that lost energy is to get plenty of rest. When traveling on a business trip or a family vacation, the pillows in your hotel room (or on a cruise ship or train) may not be great, but you can always pull out your favorite pillow and know that blissful sleep is only moments away. 

It’s often difficult to admit that you made a mistake, especially to your superiors at work. However, doing so demonstrates your sense of responsibility and your willingness to shoulder blame. Taking responsibility for a screw up by you or your team shows your managers and bosses that you are a person with values and moral principles. Although a mistake has been made, you’ll be better off admitting it and moving forward than deceiving, lying, or covering up the error, all of which can have disastrous consequences for you later, when others finally find out the truth.