Lately, the stress has been adding up. Nothing that I haven’t felt before but there are times when, well, for lack of better words, I just forget to be happy. It’s not like we are taught how to be happier now in school. And let’s face it, hearing from someone else “Just be happy” doesn’t seem to do the trick.
But there are things you can do that will make you happy in an instant. These little things I call happiness switches. Things you can do in the moment and be happier now. If you need a quick fix on your happiness, these are sure to help!
Smile… The Easiest Way to be Happier Now
it’s amazing what smiling can do for you. It’s infectious, in the best way possible. Keep a smile on your face for a little while and you will soon find you are happier than before you started to smile. It’s an amazing gift we all have.
Listen to an Amazing Upbeat Song
Right now it’s the Greatest Showman Soundtrack in our house (and it’s playing while I write this). If you are looking for a happy upbeat playlist you can just ask Siri/Google/Alexa (or any other digital overlord) to play some happy music. Again what you are putting into your head affects your mood.
Decide to be happy
I guess this could have been number one, but it’s really an important step. Before you can become happier right now, you need to decide that you want to be happy. Once you make the decision that you want to be happy, you will find it a lot easier to become happy.
Get away from the soul suckers
This is a tough one, but the “ain’t it awful club” isn’t where you want to be if you want to be happier. Make a conscious choice that you won’t allow these people to create bad feelings in you. Try to avoid them for a day or two and notice how much better you feel. Sometimes we can be that person and it doesn’t help our happiness.
Get around people that make you feel good
If you manage to get away from the people that make you feel bad, the next step is to get around those people that make you feel good.
You know the ones.
Those people that when you see them, you start to smile from your eyes. There are a lot of positive minded people out there, and they want to be around like-minded people.
The good news is that’s you!
Stop watching the news
The news should be renamed “The Awful”, it’s designed to get you to watch and we are naturally more drawn to upsetting things than happy things.
It’s not your fault, it’s how we are all wired. It’s also why you can’t help but stare at a car accident on the side of the road when the rest of the world around you is still beautiful.
The bad stuff that happens is news because it’s abnormal. For 99.9% of life, most things are ok, but that isn’t newsworthy. Nobody will tune into “Everybody went to work today and was productive.” It just isn’t that interesting.
I quit watching the news in 2004. Somehow I still know that there have been new presidents, big events and host of other things. The stuff I don’t know doesn’t matter.
Give it a try and see how much happier you feel.
Go Outside
It’s amazing how a few minutes in the sun and some fresh air can improve your attitude. Take 5, and go outside right now get some sun on you and take a few deep breaths., I’ll wait…
Is that not a great feeling to have the sun on your face?
Do a minute of deep breathing
When we get stressed, we breathe more shallow, and that makes us feel less than stellar. Take a minute to breathe and just focus on your breath, it will get rid of all other thoughts for that minute.
BTW, once you do this, congrats, that’s essentially the beginning of meditation.
Meditate
I’ve been meditating for 4 years and I love the practice. It’s made me more aware of my thoughts and helped me to be happier in the moment. Personally, I use a Muse headband, as I like to have feedback about what I’m doing. Plus it lets me compete against myself and I love improving.
Change your posture
If you feel awful right now, I’m guessing your posture isn’t the best. Let’s change that, shall we?
Be proud. Square your shoulders, hold your chin up high and smile big.
Doesn’t that feel so much better? The longer you can hold it the better it is for your happiness. We tend to forget about our physiology, and I’m not a doctor (nor do I play one on TV), but I do know that when I feel terrible people can see it in my posture long before I open my mouth. So instead be aware of your posture and change it as needed. Your whole physiology will change for the better!
Laugh out loud for one minute
‘K. This one should be done when no one is watching unless you want to do it as a group. But here’s the thing.
You can trick your mind into feeling better. Just laugh out loud for a minute. Yes, a full minute (it’s a lot longer than you imagine).
Doing this by the end you will start to genuinely laugh. It will feel weird, you will feel uncomfortable at first, but it works. In fact, it’s a great one to have in your back pocket for whenever you want to be happier now.
Think of something funny
This is an easy one to do, remember back to a time when you were unconditionally happy. You have tons of memories like that. One where you were with your friend watching a funny movie and got the laughs so hard your sides hurt, then your face hurt because had never laughed so much. Those kinds of moments are great.
I remember when I was a kid and watching a scene from Spaceballs (huge Rick Moranis fan) where I laughed so hard milk came out of my nose (such a great visual, you’re welcome). It was 30 years ago and to this day, I still smile and laugh to myself when I think about it.
Think of something you love
Once you are a parent you will have an endless supply of these moments. If you don’t have a kid yet, think of a pet, or friend that always puts a smile on your face. Things that you love will bring happiness into your life, you just need to focus on them.
Think of all you have
In this world of instant gratification and the next bigger and better thing, we tend to forget what we already have. Think of all you have and you will find yourself smiling.
Think of all you’ve done
Again, when we are moving towards the next goal we tend to gloss over all we have done. Take a few minutes to think about all you have accomplished this year or even in your whole life. You will be amazed that you can accomplish so much. Smile! You deserve to be proud of all you have done.
Watch a funny movie
Anything with John Candy in it will do usually, but you have a few favorite comedies that just make you laugh, no matter how many times you have seen it. This is a great way to lighten your mood and make you smile. In fact, watching a movie transports you away from your daily life into the story and is almost a guaranteed way to make you be happier right now.
Stop watching dramas
This can be paired with the last one. If you find yourself associating with movies and shows too much, then I strongly recommend cutting out dramas and replacing them with comedies to see how your mood improves. My guess is that it will do wonders for you.
Get Off Social Media
I’m sorry but I’m tired of the “look at how awesome my life is” trend in social media these days. When you compare your day to day life with someone else’s brief moment of out-of-the-ordinary excitement, it’s natural for you to feel less.
That’s why if social media is not making you feel amazing (because you deserve to feel amazing), then you should take a break, or snooze that person for 30 days. Personally, if someone’s post doesn’t make me feel great, I snooze them. Life’s too short to feel bad, while getting off social media may not make you feel instantly happier, you will likely notice a change in your overall mood once you start to lighten up on it.
Move around
I’m finding I just don’t move as much. When you work at a desk this is pretty common. Make a point of moving around and get your muscles engaged. It doesn’t have to be anything overwhelming, a walk will do, but you will find with action your mood improves.
Give Yourself Something to Look Forward To
This has been my big one lately, with kids in activities and life filling up the calendar, I find it’s so much better to have something to look forward to.
If you don’t have anything to look forward to, give yourself something. It can be as small as a treat at lunch, to something bigger like a night out, or even a huge thing like a trip.
Having something to look forward to shifts our minds, it gives us a reason to anticipate. You’ll find when you do this that you can’t help but get a little excited about what’s coming up. With that excitement comes happiness and you start to become happier in the moment.
Make Someone Else Smile
If you want to feel happier now, I mean right now, go out and smile at someone. Doesn’t matter who, when they smile back at you, you have just brightened their day.
Doesn’t that feel awesome!
It’s not about you, it’s about them. And you made them feel better. You took their day and took it to a new level. That’s the power you have in life.
This is my favorite way to be happier now, finding others that I can make happier.
I hope that this has helped you too.
Put your happiest moment in the comments so we can all share in the moment.
Share this so other people can find some happiness.
