22 Daily Habits of Genuinely Happy People
Understanding the science behind happiness has been a great challenge for positive psychologists around the world. Research has shown that there is no precise formula for happiness. As Professor Lord Layard of the London School of Economics puts it, “happiness has always been seen as too vague a concept”. Just the term ‘happiness’ stimulates no specific picture in our brain, but series of pictures that tend to suppress each other.
Measures of happiness are based on population-based studies, which involved surveys and assessments of people about their own levels of happiness. Let’s take a look on the traits and characteristics that seem too common among genuinely happy people.
They appreciate simple pleasures. Whilst they dream of having grand vacations abroad, a job promotion, or more achievements in life, happy people don’t forget to appreciate simple pleasures that they instantly find by simply looking around, like the beautiful flowers in the park, the cute playful pets running around, or the beautiful sky up above. Being grateful for every little thing you have, and every little blessing you receive can greatly boost your happiness, according to a 2010 study published in the journal Psychiatry.
They reach out to others. The saying “the more you give, the more you receive” is most probably true. A long-term study entitled Americans’ Changing Lives suggests that volunteer work is good for both physical and mental health. Here, researchers found that people who practised altruism were happier and experienced better physical health and less depression.
They ‘savour’ every moment. When they sleep, they sleep with no worries in mind. When they eat, they taste ever flavour and texture that touches their tongue. When they mingle with friends, they forget about their mobile phones or iPads and just focus on the moment. When happy people engaged in an activity, they give all their heart and attention to it. Being mindful is one great way to enjoy the moment and cultivate happiness.
They love to exercise. Exercise has been shown to ease symptoms of depression, stress and anxiety. In a research published in the Journal of Health Psychology, exercise improved how people felt about their bodies, even if they didn’t lose weight or achieve noticeable improvements.
They spend money on other people. Maybe money could really buy us happiness, if spent on other people. That’s according to a study published in the journal Science. Happiest people aren’t always the richest but often, they are the most generous.
They value sleep. Lack of sleep could cause low mood and energy, poor concentration, anxiety and fatigue. It is also linked to heart disease, depression and other chronic illnesses. Happy people give high regard to the value of sleep in their physical and mental health. They make sure they are getting 7-8 hours of full sleep each night. Taking power naps is also beneficial.
They look on the bright side. One of the greatest predictors of happiness is optimism. Numerous studies have shown that optimistic people are happier than their pessimistic peers. Being positive does have plenty of benefits. It makes you less stressed, and more resilient to pain (physical or emotional) – all these contribute to happiness. In his book Learned Optimism, Martin Seligman, the Father of Positive Psychology, said that optimistic people tend to believe defeat is just a temporary setback, that its causes are confined to this one case.
They try to be happy. Just thinking about happiness, without doing something to make it happen, would less likely help. According to a recent study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology, researchers found that participants who actively tried to be happier experienced significant improvement in mood and well-being than those who didn’t. Actively trying to be happy plus using the right method (such as listening to ‘feel good’ music) can cheer you up.
They are thankful for even the smallest victories. It is important to celebrate hard-earned accomplishments, but smaller victories are also worth celebrating. Being mindful of the positive things that come your way, like receiving a smile from a stranger, arriving early to the office, or getting your order ahead of time, gives you a greater sense of accomplishment throughout the day.
They’re up for serious talks. A study published in the journal Psychological Science revealed that people who engage in substantive conversations experienced more satisfaction than those who simply had some trivial chitchats.
They pause and listen. Happy people are good listeners. Listening is a skill that helps strengthen relationships between people, which in turn increase satisfaction and happiness.
They have faith. Studies have seen a close connection between spirituality and happiness. Basically, positive traits being taught in churches, such as compassion, gratitude and charity have been proven to raise happiness and well-being. In a 2009 study by the University of British Columbia in Canada, researchers found that children are happier when they are encouraged to develop a strong sense of personal worth.
They make time to ‘see’ their friends. With the availability of the social media, it’s very easy to say “Hi”, “Hello” to our friends, even those who live far away. But nothing beats having personal interactions with them. According to Dr John Cacioppo, director of the Centre of Cognitive and Social Neuroscience at the University of Chicago, whilst social media keeps people in touch, it doesn’t allow them to physically touch, which promotes health and well-being in plenty of ways, such as lowering blood pressure, relieving pain, increasing immune function, and reducing anxiety. Spirituality also helps people build better personal relationships, improve their health, manage stress, and find their purpose in life.
They do ‘digital detox’. Happy people take some time off from their work to relax and unwind. They allow themselves to go out without bringing their phones or iPads to take a walk, interact with nature, or meditate. Talking on the phone has been shown to increase blood pressure and stress whilst sitting in front of the screen for longer hours promotes depression and fatigue. Another thing, the artificial light from TV and computer screens affect melatonin production and disrupts the body’s circadian rhythm, thus preventing deep, restorative sleep, according to a study by the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Getting some kind of digital detox can greatly reduce your stress levels and increase your resilience.
They go out. According to the study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, dosing yourself with fresh air for at least 20 minutes can make you feel revitalised. When the sun is out, don’t miss the chance to take a walk and feel nature as it embraces you.
They eat well. Happy people observe a healthy lifestyle. They eat more of nutritious foods such as fruits and vegetables and less of processed ones. Research has shown that what you eat directly impacts your mood.
They cultivate resilience. One of the greatest qualities of the happiest people on earth is their ability to bounce back from failure. Happy people are optimistic realists. Meaning, they are hopeful for all the good things but they are still aware that setbacks that could happen. Happy people don’t run away from failure. Rather, they use it to strengthen their resilience. No matter how many times they fall, they get up and move forward.
They get silly. You’ve heard it before – laughter is the best medicine. A good laugh stimulates the production of endorphins, the feel-good chemicals in the brain that boosts moods and sense of well-being, according to University of Oxford researchers. In addition to giving a ‘buzz’, endorphins also raise the body’s ability to fight pain. Another study by Loma Linda University suggests that laughter can be as beneficial as exercise.
They are music lovers. Music does have a therapeutic effect that is similar to massage therapy, according to the study by the Group Health Research Institute. But choosing the right tunes is critical. Find the music that you’re most comfortable at.
They let go of grudges. Happy people are forgiving and forgetful (after they forgive, they forget). Holding grudge means holding resentment, anger, hurt and other negative emotions that keep your heart heavy. Letting go of grudges is one way to take out negativity in your body and allow positivity to replenish your soul.
They hang out with cheery people. It’s true, happiness is contagious. The Framingham Heart Study, which involved over 20 years of investigation on the science of happiness, found that individuals who are surrounded by happy people are more likely to be happy in the future.
They don’t compare. In a recent study, University of Michigan researchers found that regular use of the social network such as Facebook results to a decline in happiness. One of the easiest ways to feel unhappy is to compare oneself with others by simply looking at their photos or posts online. Happy people realise that their life is unique so there is no point of comparing it with other people’s lives.
What habits listed here do you practise every day? We’d love to hear from you. Feel free to post your comment below.
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