Achieving Happiness and the Science Behind It

Last month, we discussed how happiness contributes to our general well-being and how it helps us to live a healthier life. On this article, we will focus on the ways on how we can be happy.

happy people at the beach

Generations had gone and passed and humankind is still in search for that one thing that will make us live a good life: happiness. But in today’s research and studies, happiness can be achieved through different scientifically accurate ways. Read on and find out how you can be happier.

Write and Say Thanks

woman happily writing

According to a study from Harvard University, being thankful is a source of greater happiness. By being grateful, you remember the good things you receive and achieve moments of daily happiness. You can also take it a notch higher by keeping a gratitude journal, giving out thank you notes, or by telling a person why you are thankful for him/her.

Free Time = Happiness

woman enjoying the sunset

They say that money can’t buy happiness, but it surely can buy time. Freeing up a chunk of your day to do the things you want to do (hobbies, passion projects, relaxation among others) gives a person a sense of contentment. The best way to do it is through hiring people to do stuff for you if you have the resources and the means to do it. Some household chores can be tiring and time-consuming but letting others do it for you guarantees that you get the time for yourself that was supposed to be spent with a task you don’t enjoy doing.

Cherish Relationships

couple hugging each other

One of the top regrets of the dying is the failure to get in touch with friends. Robert Waldinger said “Loneliness kills. It’s as powerful as smoking or alcoholism.” And true to his words, it has been proved through an 80 year Harvard study that nurturing healthy relationships and embracing community promotes happiness and excellent mental health. Taking care of ourselves is amazing, but never forgets to take care of our relationships.

Help Others

Men helping a woman

Turns out, you need to spend at least two hours per week (or 100 hours per year) helping someone. In a study by The Journal of Happiness, participants reported that they were happier after purchasing something for someone else rather than for himself or herself. With this, you create a loop of happiness because an act of goodwill will make someone else happy too. Imagine a world of people helping each other out and creating a never-ending loop of happiness.

Look Good, Think Good, Feel Good

woman beside the leaves

Smiling won’t just make you look happy, it will also make you feel happy when you back it up with positive thoughts. In a recent study, when you tie thinking anything good with smiling, it really does wonders. It doesn’t matter if you’re at work and you’re thinking about a vacation, as long as it is a thought that gives you a good feeling, you should always welcome it. Remember that when we smile, our eyes smile with our mouth when it’s genuine so when you smile, mean it.

 

References:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier

https://www.pnas.org/content/114/32/8523.full

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/01/top-five-regrets-of-the-dying

https://youtu.be/8KkKuTCFvzI

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/04/over-nearly-80-years-harvard-study-has-been-showing-how-to-live-a-healthy-and-happy-life/

https://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/04/is-there-a-way-to-create-a-positive-feedback/#ixzz2b2m2LMBe

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-02/msu-sfa022211.php

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