Want to Be and Stay Happy? 8 Simple Tips

Sharon Moore January 21, 2014

A lot of things can happen every day. Some are good, some are bad. The struggles you encounter – such as the traffic jam, the intermittent internet connection, the long queue at the doctor’s office, and all those things, events and situations that stress you out – they can all affect your level of positivity and sense of well-being.

Whilst we can’t completely avoid stress, happiness is not totally dependent on external circumstances. We can be happy if we choose to. Yes, it only requires looking at the brighter side of life to overcome distress and be happier.

So if you want to be happier this 2014, take note of the following tips.

Don’t sweat the small stuff. Just missed the train? Forgot your car keys? If you pay more attention to these little nuisances, you are less likely to stay happy. Concentrate on what’s more important – things that are going to affect you in a long-term. A 2009 study published in the journal Emotion found that people who give more emphasis to brief joyful moments rather than the small, everyday negatives are happier overall.

Live in the moment. Happiness researcher Matt Killingsworth has found that most people were at their happiest when they were focusing on the current moment. Meanwhile, people are less happy when their minds are wandering. When you are being mindful, you get to really enjoy the moment – that smile on your face, a short chitchat with a friend, that romantic novel, and all things that are supposed to give you happiness. Set time for worrying about the future or reminiscing the past so they don’t interfere with activities that require you to be mindful.

Learn how to calm down. You can never avoid stress. But you can control how your mind and body will respond to it. To be happier, learn how to calm yourself down. It could be through practising breathing exercises, diverting your attention, visualising a positive scenario, meditating, or talking a short walk. To prevent the damaging effects of stress to your well-being, it is important that you have go-to strategies to calm yourself down.

Make friends. Having a significant other can greatly boost your happiness levels. But that alone is not enough to make you happier for as long as possible. By being part of a larger social circle, you are opening yourself to more happiness. According to a research reported in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, being surrounded by a larger social circle during midlife has a positive impact on psychological well-being. Another study which appeared in the British Medical Journal suggests that people naturally choose to connect with those who are happy because it improves their own happiness levels.

Be happy of others successes. Congratulate your friend for getting promoted or for establishing a new business. When you rejoice with others, you create an opportunity to multiply the good times you get to celebrate.

Appreciate the little things. Be thankful of the things that make you smile – your favourite song being played on the radio, the smile on your child’s face, the beautiful flowers blooming in your garden, etc. Gratitude is a key component of happiness. Practising it every day can have a significant impact on your health and well-being.

Say cheese! Show your widest grin whenever there’s a camera around. Researchers from DePauw University found that adults who fashioned big grins in their school photos were actually less likely to be unhappily divorced decades later. What could be the reason? According to them, people who smile in their photographs have a more positive disposition and more extensive social network. “When life throws us inevitable curveballs, those with a positive emotional disposition and strong social support tend to thrive,” said researcher Matthew Hertenstein in his book “The Tell: The Little Clues That Reveal Big Truths about Who We Are”

Share your happiness. If you are happy, share it! How? You can share it by being kind to others, showing that you care, and being there for them especially when they need you. Many studies have shown that being kind to others can improve one’s happiness levels.

It’s true what they say – happiness is a choice. By choosing to be happy today, you can indeed be happy.