Ever talk to a joyful, bubbly person and think what do they know that I don’t? Good news! You can become that confusingly happy person too!
Here’s some things experts say you should try if you want to be more upbeat:
- Have realistic aims. being happy is all about little victories. We tend to get wrapped up in self-comparison. Instead of being disappointed by setting huge goals, we should celebrate taking small steps towards what makes us happy
- Count your blessings. Gratitude is glad-titude. jotting down somewhere “all the things that happened to you during the day that you are grateful for” could be the “most effective ways to increase happiness.” Build up a journal filled with thankfulness and you’ll be able to flip back on better days when you’re having a rough time.
- Help others. Professor Will MacAskill, a co-founder of Giving What We Can, says a $26k salary is the sweet spot, and anything after that won’t bring you any more happiness. So instead, he recommends donating that additional income to a cause you care about and giving back to your community. But if you’re not going to do that, you could try volunteering instead.
- Work Out. Do 20 minutes of some physical activity you love. Whether it’s a sport, walking your dog, or whatever “it takes 20 minutes of exercise before the happiness endorphins are released in your brain.” So if you want to get those upbeat juices pumping, you’ll need to push past your 19-minute wall.