Happiness Hacks

That’s right, spending money can make you happy—as long as you spend money on doing things and not on stuff. Spend your hard-earned cash on pleasurable or enlightening experiences like concerts, vacations, trips to art museums, cooking classes, yoga workshops, or a night out with friends. Participating in experiences has been shown to provide more long-lasting happiness than buying things. Spending money on other people (such as family and friends) is a great way to boost your happiness levels . . . and get out there and have fun with the ones you love. Truly enjoying pleasant life experiences allows you to “smell the roses” and train your brain to more fully experience higher levels of zest and happiness.

Anticipation is often sweeter than the actual experience, particularly when the upcoming event is guaranteed to be pleasurable, such as going out on a romantic date or taking a beach vacation. Anticipating future rewards lights up the pleasure centers in your brain in the same way that experiencing the event does. Think about it: you feel butterflies and grin endlessly an hour before that special date. That’s be- cause your brain recognizes all of the pleasant situations leading up to the ultimate reward. So dream up something that will lead to joyful anticipation! Even if making it happen seems an impossibility, envision what you’d like to happen in minute detail and savor each mental picture. Remember, intensely visualizing something can trick your brain into thinking it’s an actual experience. It really is almost like being there.

We all love Thanksgiving for the release of serotonin that comes from eating turkey, which is loaded with tryptophan. Extra tryptophan in your diet leads to extra serotonin in your brain, which is why tryptophan supplements are touted as a sleep aid and mood lifter (among other things). Foods that provide tryptophan include roasted white turkey, ground beef, cottage cheese, chicken thighs, eggnog, milk, and almonds. 

Pay attention to the people around you. Instead of silently standing next to a stranger for an elevator ride up several floors, look her in the eyes and offer a greeting. “Hello!” is easy to say. It’s only one word. It might lead into a conversation about the weather, the latest news about your city or town, or something about the surroundings (the noise next door due to construction, for example). You’ll never know where elevator chitchat might lead if you don’t open your mouth in the first place. That stranger could become a new friend or romantic interest! 

Let your best friend know how much you value her friendship by inviting her along for a relaxing afternoon at the spa. Treat her to her favorite relaxation treatment or a hot stone massage. Imagine how great she’ll feel when the massage therapist places warm stones of smooth volcanic rock on her tired back, shoulders, and neck muscles. If there’s been any friction between you, a spa day can ease that as well. Go ahead and book that appointment! Invest some time and cost in your friendship—a happy relationship with your best friend is worth every penny.

Always keep some cash on hand, even if it’s only a small amount. Not only can cash help in an emergency situation, there’s something reassuring about having money in your purse or pocket. You’re never broke or helpless as long as you have cash. Not only can that money help you feel secure, but it also can work as a mental boost. Imagine that money attracting more money into your life. Positive and hopeful thinking and dreaming can get you started, goals will pull you a little further along, and creative ingenuity and concrete effort will remove obstacles and shift a flow of money into your life. 

During a crisis, your body releases turbocharged stress hormones that flood into your cardiovascular system to prepare you to deal with the emergency at hand. Unfortunately, stress hormones flooding the system can also cause damage. Antioxidants—which are beneficial natural chemicals found in high levels in certain foods—act as scavengers of free radicals, the by-products that are created when cells use oxygen. Antioxidants can both prevent and repair damage caused by free radicals. Squeeze or use a juicer to extract the juice from organic fruits and vegetables such as oranges, limes, strawberries, apricots, peaches, cantaloupes, carrots, and green leafy vegetables. Pomegranate, purple grapes, and cranberries are high in phytochemicals and antioxidants as well. Drinking fresh, organic juice is especially beneficial when you are under duress. 

Nothing is more frustrating (and in some cases more frightening) than being lost in a new city or unfamiliar place. Be the person you would like to meet if you were lost! If you notice a distressed visitor trying to figure out a map in an area you know well, offer to help him. Point him in the right direction. When you give directions, write them down and carefully explain the distances, turns, and notable landmarks. Communicate as clearly as possible. Who knows? Your kindness may one day in- spire that same distressed traveler to help another person in the same way.

No one enjoys picking up dirty, wet towels or cleaning sinks and showers of soap scum, whiskers, and hair. Housekeepers and motel workers make very little money, yet their work—in addition to being tedious and dirty—is often thankless. Your generous tip will help them better provide for their families and tell them that you appreciated their work. And you can feel happier knowing that you brightened someone’s day. 

What’s your primary personal goal? Is it to lose weight, spend less, or earn more money? Whatever it is, write out an affirmation for achieving it. For example: “From now on at mealtimes, I will eat one-third less” or “I will walk for a half hour each day.” Try to keep your affirmation succinct and to the point. That way, it will be easy to recall and repeat at least three times during the day. The more specific your affirmation, the more effective it will be in helping you attain your goal.