Simple Habits that Can Make Your Happiness Last

Lisa Franchi November 11, 2015

Happiness. It is something we all want to experience. And when we do, we want to make it last. The ability to hang on to positive emotions is critical to our mental health. Therefore, making happiness last should be one of our top priorities.

But how do we make happiness last? Such a difficult question. It is easier to spark happiness. Eat ice-cream. Chat with your best friend. Watch a funny video. Travel. Positive moments bring about positive feelings. But what happens once the positive moment is over? Do you go back to feeling sad and lonely? While happiness comes from fleeting moments, the good news is that we can work on improving our savouring skills. That is - we can hold on to happiness much longer. And there are just a few things we need to do:

Be mindful.

So the positive moment leads to great happiness, we must pay close attention to it. Whether you are having coffee with a friend, eating your favourite dish, or cuddling with your hubby, you can let the good time pass without noticing it. In our ever-busy world, we often get too distracted by so many things - including our computers and mobile phones. Most people are fond of multi-tasking. If you are one of them, it’s time that you consider ditching this habit. This makes us miss the opportunity to take a deep breath and enjoy the moment.

Count your blessings.

You don’t need a lot of fun moments each time to stay happy. Even though you are alone in your room and not doing extraordinary things, you can strengthen your happiness savouring skills by simply counting your blessings and appreciating what you have. Acknowledging the good makes it easier for you to go through difficult moments. And since you are practising optimism by being grateful, you attract happiness more.

Work on your self-esteem.

It is hard to feel and stay happy when you don’t feel good about yourself. Some people choose to be sad and lonely because they think that they aren’t worthy of experiencing such joy. Others hold on to negativity because it has been part of their identity.

Share the happiness.

Happiness is meant to be shared, not kept alone. Savouring a positive emotion with someone else can boost feelings of happiness and gives you a sense of fulfilment. As the popular saying goes ‘happiness is only real when shared’.

Value your relationships.

Lasting happiness is found in positive social relationships - friendships, family, and romantic relationships. It can also be found in the workplace and everywhere you go where you are able to establish a good relationship with other people.

Look forward to happiness.

It is hard to feel happy when your mind is bombarded with negative thoughts. You attract what you think. By developing an optimistic mindset, you are guiding yourself to lasting happiness. Keep those positive feelings flowing. Research published in 2005 in the Journal of Happiness Studies shows that people who reminisce pleasant memories for just ten minutes twice a day reported having longer periods of happiness.

Yes, you can make happiness last. And here are some great strategies to do.