Let’s begin this high on happy hormones article with a joke. Indeed a good idea when you are about to know science-backed tricks to be instantly happy. It goes like this.
Woman one: Why you are unhappy? The world is full of happiness.
Woman two: Why do you have asthma? The world is full of fresh air.
A joke that speaks volumes about how difficult it could be to find happiness, and lead a positive life. Finding happiness is more like knowing the destination but never being able to figure out the route. Yes, emotions are very complex and as a human, we can only define and process tangible things, but when it comes to fragile yet strong emotions we are just unable to process them. Maybe we need a bit more evolution for taming them, but the good news is a lot has been already done in the field of medicine and psychology to unlock the key to ultimate happiness.
Science-backed tips to be happy
Now that you are familiar with all the incredible benefits being happy to bring to you and changes your lifestyle. It becomes essential to work in the direction of being happy, and to help you here are some of the proven tips to welcome joy into your life as reported by Jeff Hayden in a report.
● Don’t underestimate workouts
Exercising has such a positive impact on our pleasure and well-being that it is an effective antidepressant approach. Three groups of patients were treated for depression with medicine, exercise, or a combination of the two in research referenced in Shawn Achor’s book The Happiness Advantage. The findings of this study are surprising: whereas all three groups initially experienced equal increases in contentment, the follow-up assessments revealed a drastically different picture.
Six months later, the groups were examined again to see how often they relapsed. Three-eighths of individuals who had taken the medicine alone had relapsed into depression. With a 31% recurrence rate, those in the combo group fared just marginally better. The exercise group, on the other hand, provided the largest shock: their relapse rate was only 9%.
● Seek it in nature
You’ll be onto something terrific if you combine your cardio workout with nature. Spending time in nature has been shown to improve our spirits (Barton & Pretty, 2010). A nice stroll or run in a nearby park or woods, as well as some gardening, may provide many advantages.
● Sleep off your issues
We all know that sleeping aids our bodies in recovering from the day and repairing themselves, as well as allowing us to focus and be more productive. Sleep, it turns out, is essential for happiness.
Another research published in the BPS Research Digest shows that sleep influences our susceptibility to unpleasant emotions. Researchers used a facial recognition test to see how sensitive individuals were too good and negative emotions over the course of a day. Those who worked all day without napping become more susceptible to unpleasant emotions like anxiety and rage.
● Don’t forget to practice gratitude
When things go wrong or you get trapped in a loop of wondering “why has this happened to me when I’m having a poor day,” it’s tempting to complain, but practicing thankfulness may help you overcome this and increase your emotions of contentment. Before going to bed, just jotting down three things for which you are grateful may do wonders for your mood (Emmons & McCullough, 2003).
● Spend time with friends and family
One of the top five regrets of death is not being able to communicate with friends and relatives.
If you need further proof that spending time with family and friends is good for you, study shows that it might make you happier right now.
Even for introverts, social time is really essential when it comes to enhancing our happiness. Several studies have discovered that spending time with friends and family has a significant impact on our happiness.
● Be mindful
Mindfulness can help you become more aware of your daily sentiments and let go of unpleasant events, allowing you to appreciate positive experiences and emotions more fully (Campos et al, 2016).