101 Ways to Be Happy

By Mara / Source: TripBaseBlog Do you want to be happy? Of course you do, who doesn't?! Here are 101 easy ways to achieve a better, happier life! It's not things that a!e us happy but our e"periences# $ravel can have a profound effect on us by ta!ing us out of our co fort %ones and opening our eyes to so e of the different places and lives that were un!nown to us# It's also &ust fun! 'e're obviously big fans of travel, but what else can to change your life for the better) $(*+,1. $ravel when you can# $ravel can open your eyes to the world and offer a fresh new perspective# /. $a!e a wee!end trip# If you haven't got the funds for a &aunt to 0aris, no wee!end or day long brea! fro ho e can a!e you happier# atter# ,ven a a!e you happy? (ead on for 101 ways

1. 2pend ti e by the ocean# $here's nothing li!e sand between your toes and fresh sea air# 3. 4o ca ping# 5o une with nature closer to ho e6the food will taste better and you'll sleep deeper in the great outdoors# 7. 4o s!ydiving# 8ace your fears and reap the benefits of this e"hilarating e"tre e sport6 you'll be euphoric for wee!s# 9. 4o starga%ing# 8ind a spot relatively free of unnatural light and night s!y# arvel at the beauty of the

:. 2it in front of a beautiful view# 8ind a spot close by with a nice view that you can visit when you need a brea!# 'O(; < . =a!e enough oney to eet your basic needs# 2tudies have shown that anything beyond that a ount will not necessarily a!e you happier# >. *void financial hierarchies# 8or a new &ob, choose a place where everyone a ount# 0eople feel better when they feel e?ual to their co@wor!ers# a!es a si ilar

10. 8ind satisfaction in the &ob you have# Don't e"pect to find one &ob that will a!e you happy6instead focus on the positive aspects of your wor! instead of bla ing a &ob for your unhappiness# 11. $a!e initiative at wor!# Aou'll gain professional respect, self@fulfill ent and feel control in the wor!place# ore in

1/. ;eep plants in your wor!space# $he -* $i es found that e ployees who decorate their office space are ore satisfied with their &obs# 11. Ba!e coo!ies and bring the wor!ers happy# H,*-$H 13. 4et enough sleep# 2leeping for < hours per night can elevate your you to greet the day# 17. $a!e vita in 5# ;eeping your i une syste ood and better prepare to wor!# Aou'll en&oy the ba!ing and a!ing your co@

happy will !eep you happy#

19. -augh out loud# -aughing releases endorphins and lowers levels of stress hor ones# 1:. 5oo! with ore garlic# 4arlic not only adds delicious flavor to pressure down to !eep you rela"ed and healthy# eals, it also !eeps blood

1<. 4et ore fresh air# 8resh air is invigorating and alters the levels of serotonin in your brain 6the stuff that a!es you happy!

1>. ,at ore foods with tryptophan# It has an a ino acid needed to a!e serotonin, the che icals that a!e you happy# $ry ore bananas, dairy products and poultry# /0. 'or! out# ,"ercising can not only a!e you feel better about yourself, it also releases endorphins in your body to give you a natural high# /1. ,at chocolate# Besides releasing endorphins and sti ulating serotonin production in your brain, chocolate releases phenylethyla ine, the che ical that causes feelings of love# //. =editate# *ccording to the Dalai -a a as well as several edical studies, editation not only decreases stress, but also triggers a neurological response that a!es you happy# /1. Do yoga# -earning to control your breathing through yoga practice helps you control your responses to stress and fear# /3. 4et a assage# Besides its rela"ing properties, the touch involved in assage creates war th in your body and releases the che ical o"ytocin6also !nown as the cuddle hor one# /7. ,at chic!peas Cor other beans.# 5hic!peas have an a ino acid that beans !eep your sugar levels steady throughout the day# a!es you happy, and

/9. Have se"# Du erous studies show that a healthy se"ual inti acy with a caring partner can have tre endous physical and e otional benefits# /:. Install ore windows in your house# 4etting enough e"posure to the sun has been proven to be crucial to happiness and well@being# /<. 0ut full@spectru lights in your ho e or office# If you live in a wintry cli ate that doesn't get uch sun, you can replicate the effect with light bulbs that i ic the sun's rays# />. Drin! coffee# 2tudies in Bra%il showed that people who drin! coffee every day are less li!ely to suffer fro depression# 5offee is the world's ost popular ood@enhancing drug, but re e ber to drin! in oderation 10. ,at ore spinach# 0opeye's favorite green is pac!ed with folic acid, an i portant vita in that boosts serotonin production# 11. ,at foods high in O ega@1 fatty acids# 5ertain !inds of fish li!e sal on or sardines have O ega@1, which is !nown to elevate ood levels6high doses are even used to treat depression# 1/. ,at ore colorful fruits and vegetables# $hey contain antio"idants which help re ove to"ins fro our bodies that cause stress and aging# 11. 0ut so e strawberries in your brea!fast# $he s ell of strawberries is !nown to invigorate and energi%e# 13. Drin! hot int tea# $he scent of fresh int is energi%ing and the stea will per! you up#

*$$I$ED, 17. 2 ile# It ta!es fewer uscles to s ile than it does to frown#

19. =a!e a grateful list# 8ocus on all the great things in your life to enhance feelings of &oy and attract ore good things# 1:. Brea! outside your co fort %one# Being co fortable doesn't challenging yourself does# a!e you happy6

1<. 8ollow your gut# =ost of the ti e your first instinct is not only correct, but the best choice# 1>. Don't regret your decisions# If it turns out you were wrong, don't waste ti e worrying about it, instead a!e the ne"t best decision and ove forward# 30. *ccept that you can't be happy all the ti e# 8ocus on being content and the truly happiness will be all that uch sweeter# 31. $ry to see fro others' perspectives# =uch of our unhappiness co es fro our frustration with other people not understanding us# $ry to i agine how they see the world and the frustration will ease# 3/. -et the little things go# $here's no sense in wasting your energy and inhibiting your happiness by worrying about things you can't change# 31. =a!e the decision to be happy# Happiness is an attitude, not a physical state# 33. Don't ta!e things personally# 2o often, anger and frustration directed at us is a result of so eone else's isplaced stress# (ecogni%e that it's not necessarily about you and you'll re ain cal er and happier# 37. 2avor the s all o ents# 0eople who ta!e longer to en&oy s all o ents and then reflect on the later in the day show significant increases in happiness# 39. *void co paring yourself to others# It's da aging to self@estee 6focus on your own achieve ents# 3:. =a!e eaningful goals# Harvard scientists say hu ans need a sense of purpose to thrive and that people with drea s and aspirations are happier than those without# 3<. , brace spirituality# (esearch suggests that people who participate in a religious co unity or e"plore alternate sets of beliefs are happier and better ad&usted in life# 3>. Have a good cry when you need it# *llowing yourself to brea! down co pletely is cathartic and you'll feel better after you let it all out# 70. -earn to forgive yourself# 8ocusing on your past !eeping you fro oving on# ista!es serves no purpose besides

71. =aintain perspective# 'hen life starts to feel out of control, re ind yourself of the positive things in your life and how luc!y you are# 7/. Define what happiness eans for you# Don't worry about what other people define as happy, find what a!es you happy and go for it# (,-*$IOD2HI02 71. 2tay close to friends and fa ily# =oving far away fro networ!s of support can ta!e a toll on your level of happiness6even if you have oved in order to a!e ore oney# 73. 4et a dog# $he studies showing the positive effects an's best friend can have on your psyche are nu erous) better e otional and physical health and a wagging tail# 77. 4ive ore hugs# Hugging releases the sa e che ical as assage and is always free! a!ing even a

79. =a!e ti e for your friends# 0ersonal connections are so i portant and little ti e to be with people who a!e you s ile can !eep you happy#

7:. =a!e new friends# =eeting other people is e"citing and finding a new person with who to connect can only enhance your fulfill ent# 7<. 'rite than!@you notes# ,"pressing gratitude a!es you and the recipient happy#

7>. 5all your o # Or your dad, or your grand a or anyone you haven't tal!ed to in a while and surprise the with a chat# 90. 4et a cat# If you're not a dog person, cats house ates and bed@war ers# a!e wonderful, loving, stress@reducing

91. 5uddle up with so eone you love# ,n&oy ti e with your !ids or your partner for instant happiness# 9/. Babysit for a friend# Being around children's infectious opti is ood# is sure to boost your

91. Hold a baby# $hey're cute and cuddly and without a care in the world6you'll feel instantly uplifted#

*5$I+I$I,2 93. De@clutter# * clean ho e is a clean ind, and you'll feel better in an orderly environ ent# a!e you appreciate what

97. Donate to charity# 4iving to those less fortunate than you will you have#

99. (ent a co edy# $a!e an hour and a half out of your day for pure laughing entertain ent and you'll feel instantly boosted# 9:. 'atch !ittehroulette#co # If watching nonstop videos of playful !ittens doesn't lift your spirits, nothing will# 9<. $a!e a nap# * ?uic! power nap, especially on a sunny afternoon, is lu"urious and will help you a!e it through the day# 9>. 5hange one thing in your daily routine# Aou'll stave off boredo ight discover so ething new that delights you# and

:0. $a!e a wal!# $a!ing a ?uic! wal!, even &ust around the bloc! can clear your ind and raise your ood# :1. 2urround yourself with s ells that a!e you happy# 2 ell is a uch overloo!ed sense that greatly affects our ood6try a coconut sha poo that re inds you of a vacation or ba!e coo!ies that re ind you of childhood# :/. -isten to upbeat usic# ,ven &ust a few inutes of a hip@sha!ing tune gets your blood flowing and a!es you feel ore positive# :1. 2et your alar early on a day you !now you get to sleep in# 'hen you wa!e up you'll get the pleasure of reali%ing that you don't have to get out of bed6then rolling over for so e ore satisfying %%%'s# :3. 0aint a roo in your house yellow# -oo!ing at the color yellow has been proven to i prove oods# :7. =a!e a ho e coo!ed@ eal# Aou'll get not only tasty food, but the pride of having ade it yourself# :9. Dress up for no reason# 0utting on clothes that increases your self@estee and your ood# a!e you feel good

::. *dd so e soft blue to your bedroo # -ight blue has been shown to be the ost cal ing color and can set the ood for a restful night's sleep6essential to a positive attitude# :<. Do so ething you loved as a !id# (iding a roller@coaster or going sledding can help you connect to your inner child and re e ber si ple thrills# :>. 'ear red# (ed can a!e us feel confident, powerful and strong#

<0. 2plash on so e perfu eFaftershave# 2tudies show that floral scents can

a!e you happier#

<1. +olunteer your ti e# 2elfless acts and helping others is a fast route to genuine content ent# </. Decorate your ho e for the holidays# 0reparing for holiday celebrations is always fun and a great e"cuse to invite friends and fa ily over# <1. $a!e ti e for yourself# 4o to a re@connect# ovie, or a useu or a wal! around town by yourself to

<3. 0erfor rando acts of !indness# Hold open a door for a stranger or leave so e oney in the vending achine, for no other reason than doing so ething nice for your fellow an# <7. 2end snail@ ail# (ediscover the pleasure of old@fashioned co unication#

<9. =a!e ti e to curl up with a good boo!# It can be either a thought@provo!ing to e or a guilty pleasure# <:. Invest in fancy bedding# Be co%y and happy drifting to sleep and wa!e up to a happy orning# <<. 4o bowling with friends# $hrow bac! to your younger years, and bonus points for atching shirts# <>. Dance# *lone or at a club, dancing is fun and stress@releasing# >0. 0ay off your credit card debt# Debt can be a when you eli inate it fro your life# a&or source of stress and you'll feel great

>1. 5lean the house# ,ven if you don't li!e cleaning, a clean ho e can drastically i prove your attitude# >/. +olunteer at a local ani al shelter# Aou'll get the pleasure of !nowing you're lending your ti e and brightening the day of so e furry friends# >1. 8ind a hobby# 0ainting, singing, tai chi6it doesn't e"press yourself# atter as long as you have an outlet to

>3. $urn off your phone for a day# -et people !now in advance that you are ta!ing a personal day and can only be reached in case of e ergency# 2avor the silence# >7. 2ing in the shower# It doesn't possible# atter what you sing, &ust a!e sure you belt it as loud as

>9. 2tash so e oney in a secret place so you can discover it later# 0ic! a spot you're li!ely to forget so you get a thrill wee!s or onths later when you stu ble on it# >:. ,n&oy a guilty pleasure $+ show# =a!e so e popcorn and banish the guilt6we all need a

cheesy escape so eti es# ><. 4o for a wal! or &og in the rain# $he high produced by e"ercise will be heightened by the cool rain on your face# >>. ,n&oy a cold beer or chilled wine on a hot day# Deed I say 100. 4o to hear live usic# Hearing usic live puts you in the ore? o ent in a way an i0od can't#

*nd finally 101, 2hare with others! $ell us what a!es you happy6the places you've been or the things you've doneGwe can all learn fro each other! Click to share this article: