(2012-08-12) 10 Simple Sciencebacked Ways To Be Happier Today

10 Simple, Science-Backed Ways To Be Happier Today.

7 minute workout

Exercise has such a profound effect on our happiness and well-being that it’s actually been proven to be an effective strategy for overcoming depression.

sleep

sleep affects our sensitivity to negative emotions

Those who worked through the afternoon without taking a nap became more sensitive late in the day to negative emotions like fear and anger.

employees’ moods when they started work in the morning affected their work day.

Our commute to the office can have a surprisingly powerful impact on our happiness

people never get accustomed to their daily slog to work because sometimes the traffic is awful and sometimes it’s not

Staying in touch with friends and family is one of the top five regrets of the dying. (connection)

Social time is highly valuable when it comes to improving our happiness, even for introverts.

Vaillant was asked, “What have you learned from the Grant Study men?” Vaillant’s response: “That the only thing that really matters in life are your relationships to other people.”

Good sibling relationships seem especially powerful: 93 percent of the men who were thriving at age 65 had been close to a brother or sister when younger.

The Lewis Terman study, which is covered in The Longevity Project, found that relationships and how we help others were important factors in living long, happy lives:

In The Happiness Advantage, Shawn Achor recommends spending time in the fresh air to improve your happiness

20 minutes outside in good weather not only boosted positive mood, but broadened thinking and improved working memory

Being outdoors, near the sea, on a warm, sunny weekend afternoon is the perfect spot for most.

happiness is maximized at 13.9°C

to make yourself feel happier, you should help others

spending money on other people makes us happier than buying stuff for ourselves

What about spending our time on other people?

volunteering is rewarding in terms of higher life satisfaction.

Smiling itself can make us feel better, but it’s more effective when we back it up with positive thoughts

smiling can improve our attention and help us perform better on cognitive tasks

As opposed to actually taking a holiday, it seems that planning a vacation or just a break from work can improve our happiness.

Meditation is often touted as an important habit for improving focus, clarity and attention span, as well as helping to keep you calm. It turns out it’s also useful for improving your happiness:

There are lots of ways to practice gratitude, from keeping a journal (daily writing) of things you’re grateful for, sharing three good things that happen each day with a friend or your partner, and going out of your way to show gratitude when others help you.