The modern world has led us to believe that happiness is a destination that every person is constantly trying to reach. However, with time and nature, the destination keeps changing and evolving. Happiness holds different meanings to different people. For a child, happiness could be limited to getting his favourite toy, for a student it could mean being first in class, for a lover it could mean spending the rest of their life with their partner. One cannot exactly define happiness in limited words, it has infinite meanings.
But in reality, happiness is a profound feeling of contentment, that you take with you everywhere you go, and you need to decide whether you want to nurture that feeling or destroy it. What one must understand is that happiness does not happen by chance- it's a skill that one can gradually develop with the right habits.
Here are 5 Happiness Habits to change your life:
1) Smile: A person tends to smile when they are happy. And smiling causes our brain to release dopamine, which makes us even happier. Attitude is contagious, and the more you stay cheerful and smile, the better the environment around you becomes. So the next time you feel unhappy try smiling a little and see the change yourself.
2) Exercise: “The human body isn’t designed to sit all day,” says Jeff Migdow, M.D., an integrative physician in Lenox, Mass. Exercise may not be directly linked to happiness, but even a small amount of physical activity can help reduce stress and depression while boosting self-esteem and satisfaction. A positive mood is only one workout away. Do not start right away with a rigorous exercise program, but take small steps and begin with one of the following:
(a) Take a 20-minute walk.
(b) Start your day with 10 minutes of stretching.
(c) Start playing a sport of your choice.
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3) Get enough sleep: A restful night's sleep is no walk in the park. We all know the effects of not getting enough sleep. That cranky, irritable, just lying on the floor feeling and not being able to talk to anyone. Sleep affects the way our brains function, which means that our daily lives are very different with a healthy, well-rested brain than with a brain that's sleep deprived. Research has shown that our sleep duration is inextricably linked to our overall happiness. Lack of sleep increases the risk of developing depression and the likelihood that we'll be exposed to higher levels of stress. Most people require at least seven hours of sleep per night. And a person is more likely to feel active and productive if they get enough sleep, giving them a feeling of contentment and happiness.
4) Eat mindfully: Someone rightly said, "You are what you eat, so don't be fast, cheap, easy, or fake." If you stick to a healthy diet, you'll have fewer mood swings, be happier overall, and be able to concentrate better. Studies have even shown that a healthy diet can help with symptoms of depression and anxiety and can even improve your mental health. If you want to eat acc ording to your mood, you should start by choosing one food each day according to your mood. For example, swap a big, sweet breakfast pastry for Greek yogurt with fruit. You'll still be full, and the protein will help you avoid a morning energy crash. Consider swapping out a new food item each week.
5) Keep a journal: Journaling is the process of simply writing down your thoughts and feelings to understand them in a better way. It helps you in monitoring your emotions and improve your mental health. It provides the opportunity to engage in positive self-talk and identify negative thoughts and behaviours. And once you understand the problems, you can work on them to improve and reduce your stress .
Inculcating these habits in your daily life can result in generating a positive outcome, and help you in staying affirmative and cheerful.
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