It may sound cliché but it’s true: happiness is good for you. A review of 35 studies showed that happy people may live up to 18% longer than their less happy counterparts. But being happy isn’t as easy as just deciding to make it so. Some of us struggle with anxiety and depression and things like medication and talk therapy are valid and sometimes necessary treatments for improving our happiness. But for those of us who just need a little push toward the sunny side of the street, here are a few science backed tips to turn that frown upside down.
1. Make yourself a priority. We talk about it all the time, but self-care really isn’t selfish. In fact, it’s critical to your overall happiness. It’s easier to help others when your needs are met. Happy people can help make other people happy. Read our blog on self-care for more tips!
2. Get more exercise. Even just a little bit of movement can improve your overall happiness and reduce stress and anxiety and giving your self-esteem a nudge in the right direction. Think about adding a walk after a meal, sign up for a beginner’s yoga class, or find a great stretching video.
3. Try grounding techniques when you’re feeling stressed out, anxious, or depressed. Grounding techniques like deep breathing, taking your body inventory by focusing on how each part of your anatomy feels in a particular moment, reciting your favorite poem or a mantra, or even watching adorable or hilarious cat videos on your phone have all been shown to reduce stress levels and improve mood.
4. Get a good night’s sleep. This one is kind of a no-brainer but it’s so hard for some of us to accomplish. Revan Rx’s blog on sleep hygiene is a good place to start for tips like keeping your bedroom cool and only for sex and sleep. A solid seven hours is what most adults need per night.
5. Compliment someone. We like promoting kindness and this tip is a great one for boosting not only your mood but that of someone else. Whether it’s someone you know or a complete stranger, a sincere compliment can really go a long way.
6. Keep a gratitude journal. Even if it’s not every day and even if it’s something as simple as having a good hair day, seeking out and acknowledging positive moments are a good way to boost mood.
7. Don’t compare yourself to others. There’s only one you and you’re amazing. No need to compete with someone who seems to have it all together. Underneath it all, even the most seemingly put together person has their struggles. Focus on being the best you that there is.
8. Socialize. Seeing friends who love you is an amazing way to boost your happiness. Plan regular get togethers with the ones in your life who make you feel good about yourself.
9. Give back. You don’t have to give money to a charity to reap the happiness benefits of a charitable contribution. In fact, hands-on volunteering bestows even more of the good stuff for your brain.
10. Know that unhappy moments happen to all of us. Look, no one is happy all the time. That’s just not how life works. When things take a downward turn it’s important to acknowledge your feelings and then try to seek out a way to pull yourself back up. Should you take a walk? Call a friend?
There are so many more happiness boosters out there but we hope these few will get you started on living a happier life and spreading that happiness outward into the world.
About Revan Health
Revan Health provides welcoming, respectful family medicine for all from infants to geriatrics. We understand the pain and frustration that comes with not feeling heard by your family care provider. We believe access to respectful care is key to improving medicine adherence and overall life satisfaction for our patients. Like us on Facebook (link) or visit us at revanhealth.com.
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2199189
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18725425/
https://www.healthline.com/health/dopamine-effects
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10902-018-9976-0
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022103117303451