10 Things You Can Do Right Now To Be Happier

Feeling a little blue? Maybe your toxic ex just messaged you and wants to get back together, or your boss asked you to pick up an extra shift on your one day off. Maybe you were driving on the freeway and your car got hit from behind, or you just found out that Netflix no longer has “The Office” (Yes, I am crying too). Whatever the reason, I’m here to help you feel a little better! So try out any or all of these tips right now and be happier!

1. Perform a simple act of kindness.

Doing something nice for someone else is one of the best ways to feel good about yourself! It can be as simple as washing your mom’s car or even making a friend brunch. So for today, I want you to think about someone you care about (your parents, friends, or lover) and do something nice for them. You don’t even have to tell them what you did, let them stumble upon the sweet surprise all on their own!

2. Do a 30-minute exercise.

As Elle Woods from “Legally Blonde” boldly stated, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands. They just don’t.” It’s been proven, by numerous studies, that 30 minutes of exercise just three times a week is enough to curb depression, even better than taking an anti-depressant! And, the best part about this tip, is that it’s free! You can incorporate exercises pretty much anywhere, from running around your block, to executing indoor HIIT workouts on your living room floor. Get creative and get moving!

3. Stop comparing yourself to others… take a break from social media!

Ok, before you immediately roll your eyes and scroll down to the next tip, just hear me out. I’m not saying social media is all bad, there are some really great aspects to it (like connecting with friends and loved ones during a pandemic).

However, most of the time you are constantly staring at fake people living “their best lives.” You might be thinking, why am I not that skinny? Why does my job not pay that much? Why is her boyfriend hotter than mine???

Before you spiral down a rabbit hole of self-loathing, just pause for a second. You have within your power to control what you see and how much you see. So, let’s just try a little experiment for only three days. Seriously, I challenge you to delete your social media apps for ONLY three days and see if your happiness level increases. Don’t delete your accounts or profiles, just offload the app. If you go into this experiment with an open mind, I promise you will feel happier after those three days end.

4. Try a journaling gratitude prompt.

Sometimes, we need to be reminded of all the good in our lives. Sure, we might be going through a dark time, but there is always something to be grateful for.

For the next five days, each night before you go to bed, I want you to list five things you were grateful for that day. Meaning, really think about your day and those precious moments where you were in the here and now. Maybe you ate a delicious bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, or maybe you walked your doggie at sunset. Find the little moments that make up a life.

If you want to take this tip to the next level, as you go about your day, be cognizant of potential gratitude activities that you’ll write about later. This mindset will help you savor those sweet moments you encounter throughout the day. For example, if you’re taking a nice hot shower after work, in that moment think about how good the water feels, and be present.

5. Pet a puppy!

Without dogs, where would we be? If you get the chance to pet a dog, do it! Some research suggests that just staring into a dog’s eyes for longer than five seconds automatically triggers a release of the love hormone oxytocin. This is precisely why there are therapy dogs and service dogs out there, trained specifically to heal the hurt.

These furry friends are guaranteed to make you happier… Unless you are a cat person, at which point, go pet a cat!

6. Write a personal letter and hand-deliver it.

This is one of my favorite happiness tips. Simply pick one person who you love or admire. They can be a family member, a friend, a coworker, or a significant other. Then, write them a “just because” letter. Tell them how much they mean to you, what you like about them and why they inspire you. After you have finished writing down your thoughts, make sure to hand-deliver the letter to them. This part of the process will give you the most happiness. You can either read it allowed to them, watch them read it, or just hand it over and walk away. I promise this tip will make your heart glow!

7. Spend $5.00 on someone else.

Who said money can’t buy happiness? The trick is, don’t spend it on yourself! One of these days, spend $5 on someone else. A cup of coffee from Starbucks will do just fine, or a chocolate doughnut. This small gesture will leave your friend feeling loved, and you feeling happier!

Top 10 Late Night Food Places Around Kent State

8. Give a hug.

Social connections are everything, and I think we all learned that after a year in quarantine! And while texting and phone calls are great ways to stay in contact, nothing beats physical connections. Giving just one hug per day has been known to lower stress and improve overall health. So, when your sweetie comes home from work today, wrap your arms around them and squeeze like your life depends on it!

9. Send out “Happy Friday” texts.

Speaking of staying connected, try sending out “Happy Friday” texts to all of your family and friends! I bet your grandma hasn’t heard from you in a while, or your great aunt. Surprise your loved ones with a sweet text and start their day off right! They’ll know you were thinking of them and you will spend your whole Friday receiving equally as many happy text messages.

10. Focus on the here and now by meditating.

I can go on and on for hours about the benefits of meditating. First off, it helps our mind from wandering and we can better focus on the present. It can improve our overall health by lowering our stress, anxiety, and depression levels, and it is physically good for our muscles. If you can only give five minutes of meditation a day, do it, that’s perfectly fine! The important thing is to be consistent, so consider placing your yoga mat in a place where it’ll remind you to meditate daily.

Bonus: Treat yourself!

While many of the tips listed above are about doing something nice for others, every now and then you need to treat yourself! Maybe this means enjoying a beautiful hike with your honey, or walking your dog on the beach. If you want to treat yourself and spend money, try spending money on an activity or experience as opposed to a materialistic good. Do you really need another pair of shoes?