7 Things to focus on in your life for more happiness
Would you like to wake up every day feeling happy? Of course you would. Everyone wants to wake up in a good mood, feeling content and fulfilled. Research has shown that happiness makes us more productive, healthier, and kinder. It can help us achieve our goals and improve the lives of others. Small wonder we want more of it! We know happiness when we experience it, and yet it can be really hard to quantify. That’s because people experience it in different ways – and the amount of happiness an individual experiences even impacts how they define it! With just seven simple steps, you can boost your happiness on a daily basis.
1. Get A Good Night’s Sleep
Sleep and mood are closely connected; lack of sleep (or poor-quality sleep) can cause irritability and stress. Healthy amounts of sleep can enhance your well-being. Studies have shown that people who get adequate sleep are more likely to rate their lives as happier and other researches have found that sleep quality is the single most influential factor in rating daily mood.
2. Improve your diet
Food is directly linked to three areas of brain function that impact happiness: your capacity to focus, plan, and remember; emotional balance; and energy regulation.
Healthy foods can improve your brain health, boost your mood, and increase your focus. Fruit and vegetable consumption, in particular, has shown to improve happiness and overall life satisfaction.
3. Get some exercise
Exercise increases happiness in so many ways. It relieves anxiety, creates a sense of control, boosts self-confidence, provides a sense of accomplishment and improves physical performance.
4. Spend some time in the sunshine
Natural sunlight elevates mood, improves sleep, increases energy and vitality, and strengthens our immune systems. Your body produces Vitamin D when exposed to the sun, which helps improve overall health and fights disease. Sunlight also decreases anxiety and feelings of depression.
5. Stop and smell flowers
Pausing to appreciate the little things in life increases happiness. In a recent study, it was found that fragrances namely floral scents stimulate feelings of joy. Essential oils and candles can offer fragrance, but for the best boost, bring real flowers into your home each week.
6. Soothe your soul with music
Music can certainly be a source of entertainment, but this art form is proven to have many health and mental benefits as well. Music is commonly used for pain management and stress reduction. It creates positive energy, enthusiasm, and increased productivity, and particular songs are often linked with positive memories. Whether with lyrics or strictly instrumental, music has a dramatic impact on mood.
7. Meditation
Meditation improves sleep, lessens mood swings, reduces fearfulness, and cultivates pleasure and joy. Consistency is the key to gaining the benefits of meditation, but the good news is, you only need to meditate a few minutes a day.