15 Mini Habits for a Happier Life

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If you want to be happier, you do not necessarily need to make any significant changes in your life. You could find yourself smiling more often if you had a slightly different outlook. So, do not make any radical changes just yet. Read these fifteen simple changes you could make to your life that could make you happier.

 

1. WAKE UP EARLIER & CHILL OUT

Step one towards your newfound happiness is to wake up half an hour earlier. If you leave it until the last minute to get out of bed every day, you will have no time to chill out in the mornings. You will be rushing around and stressing about being late for work. An extra half an hour will give you time to wake up slowly, eat breakfast at a leisurely pace, and perhaps read a book, do a short meditation or any type of activities that will kick start your day the right way. 

 

2. MAKE YOUR BED EVERY MORNING

Making your bed is more significant than it seems, and gives you a sense of motivation and achievement you need for the day.  Many experts - such as Jordan Peterson and US Navy Admiral William McRaven - agree on the importance of making your bed every morning.  It is not just about accomplishing a mundane task, it is about having a quick win under your belt as soon as you wake up. Whether you realize it or not, it gives you the right start for the day.  Keep reading:  6 Reasons To Make Your Bed Every Morning

 

3. BE GRATEFUL

Expressing gratitude can be a great way to make you realize that your life is not so bad after all. So, take some time to write a gratitude journal. Make a list of all the things that you are grateful to have. If you have good health, friends, food to eat, and a roof over your head, you already have four things that some people do not have. When you add up all the things that you can be grateful for, you will find that they outweigh the things that are getting you down. Now, that has got to put the first glimmer of a smile on your face.

 

 

4.  SURROUND YOURSELF WITH HAPPY OPTIMISTS

Renowned businessman Jim Rohn once said, “You're the average of the five people you spend most of your time with.”  If you spend enough time with miserable pessimists, their gloomy outlook on life will inevitably rub off on you. So, say a fond farewell to the moaners and groaners and surround yourself with the happy, smiley people instead. Laughter is infectious, so go out and get yourself a dose of fun!

 

5.  STOP OVERCOMMITING YOURSELF

Are you the type of person who always says yes, even when you know you do not have the time to do what you are being asked? If you are, then your next step to happiness is to stop taking on commitments that you cannot meet. If you promise yourself or other people the impossible, you will only be disappointed. So, stop overstretching yourself and only commit to what you know that you can do comfortably.

 

6. STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHER PEOPLE

Theodore Roosevelt is quoted as saying: "Comparison is the thief of joy." There will always be someone who has a better job and a bigger car than you do. But stop worrying about that, because you have no idea if all that is making them happy. And you do not know what else is going on in those people's lives that might be making them unhappy. Everyone is different, and yes, some people will have more than you, but the only person that you need to worry about is you.  Keep reading:  How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

 

 

7. HELP OTHER PEOPLE

It has been proven that helping other people is far more satisfying than gaining material possessions. So, volunteer to help at the local homeless shelter, or offer to do the shopping for an elderly neighbor. You will be amazed at how good it feels to be able to help someone in need, even if what you do for them is only a tiny thing. Why not do something that makes you and someone else feel uplifted for the day?

 

8. PRACTICE SELF-CARE

Self-care is a priority. You cannot take care of others if you have not taken the time for yourself first. Give your body a break and spend some quality alone-time doing something that makes YOU happy!  Try a Spiritual Bath: How to Create a Healing Ritual

 

9. STOP PROCRASTINATING

If you have been putting off doing something for a long time, make a decision, and do that thing today. Whether it is phoning a friend that you argued with or cleaning out a closet, if you put off things that you know you need to do, those things will weigh on your mind. When you have a long list of things to do, it is easy to wind up doing none of them at all. So, be decisive, stop procrastinating, and start ticking off some of those overdue tasks on your to-do list. Once you have cleared the decks, you will have more time to relax and enjoy yourself. Keep reading: 7 Ways to Stop Procrastinating.

 

10. SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR FRIENDS

We are social beings and spending quality time with our friends is an excellent way to recharge our batteries.  If you feel drained after spending time with your friends, you should investigate the reasons why. Are they the right friends for you? Do you feel comfortable sharing your personal struggles with them? Are they supportive? Johann Hari has found that a poor social connections is one of the causes of depression.

 

 

11. TRY SOMETHING NEW &  GET YOURSELF OUT OF THE RUT AND 

If you are stuck in the same routine, week after week, you will get bored, and that will get you down. So, try making a few small changes to your routine to get you out of the rut. You do not need to make significant changes right away. You could start by changing little things, like what you eat, what you watch on TV, or where you go at weekends. You can graduate to trying more dramatic ways of not being be predictable, like bungee jumping or sky diving, later! The crucial thing to do, though, is to make your life just a little bit less predictable. Then you will have new experiences to enjoy every single day. 

There are so many fabulous hobbies on this list that it will be impossible to only pick one! 20 Hobbies That Are Good for Your Body, Mind & Social Life

 

12. STOP LISTENING TO SAD MUSIC

In the same way that happy people will make you happy, the type of entertainment that you choose will also affect how you feel. So, when you are scrolling through the TV channels, select something light-hearted or humorous to watch. Listen to happy, uplifting music, and read books with happy endings. If it is live entertainment that you want, give the depressing goth music a miss, and go to a comedy club instead! There is enough sadness in the world without you choosing sad things to entertain you.

 

13. GET SOME FRESH AIR

It is important to get outside and enjoy the fresh air every day. Spend at least 15 minutes walking around your neighborhood or in a park near you, breathing deeply before coming back inside! 

 

 

14. START JOURNALING

Journaling generally involves the practice of keeping a diary or journal that explores thoughts and feelings surrounding the events of your life. There are several different ways to do this. Journaling, as a stress management and self-exploration tool, works best when done consistently, but even occasional, sporadic journaling can be stress relieving when the practice is focused on gratitude or emotional processing. Here is a list of 10 Amazing Journals for Self-Discovery!

 

 

15. DIGITAL DETOX

It is important for your brain to have a break. Turn off your phones, computers and other screens for an hour. You will feel better after you do this! It is a great way to focus on yourself without distractions getting in the way. Find out the 5 Reasons to Schedule a Digital Detox Day

 

BEST BOOKS ABOUT MINI HABITS WITH BIG IMPACT

 

As you can see from the above points, you do not have to make massive changes in your life to make yourself happier. You can, if you so choose, make yourself happy by changing only a few small things. If you start with these tiny steps towards happiness, who knows where it will lead?