If I’ve learned one thing in life it’s that no one can be a ball of sunshine all the time. But you can make the decision to actively try to improve your happiness by making a few simple changes.
No matter who you are, a dip in mood is a natural thing. For some, it can be a frequent occurrence, while for others it’s purely hormonal or stress related. And while it might be easy to shy away when we’re at our worst, not all of us have the privilege. There are times when we have to grin and bear it, especially if we work with the public. But there are some small and simple things you can do to improve your happiness and boost your mood when you’re feeling blue.
10+ Proven Ways to naturally improve your happiness.
Keep on top of your basic needs.
Our basic needs are the bare minimum required to help us live happy lives. Without a solid foundation of sleep, hydration and adequate nutrition, we’re fighting a losing battle.
When you’re feeling low, it’s important to reflect on your current lifestyle. Are you sleeping enough or too much? Is your diet enough to sustain you? And are you eating the right foods? What about hydration, are you drinking enough water? These seemingly simple things can be the difference between a happy body and one that’s struggling to get by.
A perfect example would be the term ‘hangry‘ used to describe that irritated feeling you get when you’re hungry. Maybe it’s just me and the positive impact of recovery, but I simply can’t function if I’m not well-fed! Likewise, if I’m over-tired. Sometimes, like a toddler, I need to step back and either have a snack or take a nap.
Indulge in nature!
If you’re looking to improve your happiness and reap the health benefits of fresh air, there’s nothing better than stepping into nature. But what exactly do I mean by nature and what if you don’t have the privilege of a ‘green space‘ nearby? Nature can be your own personal garden, greenhouse, or balcony where you have access to plants and sunshine. For others, it could be taking your exercise routine into the open air by running in a park or hiking in the local mountain ranges. And, if you live in a built-up area, nature could be a ‘man-made’ park, botanical museum or even just a simple raised bed. Of course, the impact will vary depending on your quality of ‘green spaces’ but the principle is the same.
You can even consider bringing the outdoors in and nurturing houseplants!
Open the curtains for some natural light.
Natural light won’t only improve your happiness, but also works to increase your body’s production of serotonin! In fact, sunlight is linked to a number of benefits for our mental and physical health, not just our moods. It reduces instances of depression, increases our vitamin D uptake, regulates our circadian rhythms, and so much more!
Be more creative!
Taking the time to be creative is a surefire way to improve your happiness! Especially if you’re already a naturally creative person. Yet, as we grow older, the majority of us allocate less and less time to spend on our creative hobbies.
Art, no matter the form, is an amazing way to process and express emotions and allows us to feel the fun of being a child again. Whether you’re splashing paint across a canvas, creating digitally or playing with clay, allow yourself to feel the fun! Even if it’s not monetised or ‘productive’. Leave behind the hustle and just allow your mind to be free!
You can learn more about the importance of being creative here!
Random acts of kindness.
Nothing will improve your happiness like paying it forward. And better yet? You’re also making someone else feel good! Being kind, even in the smallest way, boosts our feelings of empathy, gratitude and can help reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. Dopamine plays a big part here and you’re left with a rewarding feeling.
Practice gratitude daily.
By now I’m assuming that we’ve all heard of the term gratitude even if it’s just in passing. I first learned about gratitude in early twenty-nineteen and what first felt like a waste of time eventually began to show results. Now I write down three things I’m grateful for every day, even if it’s felt like the worst day of my life. Gratitude has helped me see the sky above the trees, even if those trees are similar to an enclosed canopy.
But what is the purpose of gratitude and just how can it improve your happiness?
Gratitude is all about giving thanks or appreciation for what we have and receive in life. When things seem nigh impossible there is always something to be grateful for, even if we can’t see it. While going through difficult times in our lives we shield our eyes from the world around us and tend to focus only on the pain. But by taking the time to be thankful for the small things we have in life, we begin to see just how lucky we are.
Not sure how to practice gratitude? Check out this post!
Listen to feel-good music.
There’s nothing like a good, upbeat playlist to boost your mood. I have a playlist ready for almost every occasion, from feeling low to spring cleaning! Music has been proven to positively impact our mood and has even been used as a tool to combat anxiety and depression.
If music isn’t your style, why not try a comedic podcast?
Drink up!
Remember to stay hydrated. Drinking water frequently not only aids us physically but mentally too, and if your body’s happy then it’s a simple way to improve your happiness! Even the smallest variance in your water consumption can have a big impact on your mood. Some simple ways to ensure you’re getting enough to drink are having a glass of water with each meal, and investing in a reusable water bottle so you never go without!
Affirmations are key!
Affirmations are simple and easy-to-remember phrases used to help change a person’s inner voice. By using affirmations over time we’re able to slowly change our outlook on life and they’ve even been thought to improve our confidence, happiness, positivity and mood.
Start a journal.
When I feel angry, frustrated, sad or any overwhelming feeling, I write. Whether it’s on a computer or in a book, I always feel better getting my feelings out. Even the happy ones! Writing is an amazing way to work through what you’re feeling, and can be an excellent way to uplift your mood.
Don’t try to write something structured, instead practice freewriting and allow yourself to write whatever comes into your head. Bad grammar, incorrect spelling and all! Who knows, you might even have a story on your hands.
Bonus: Be social with people who make you feel good.
By nature, humans are social people. We’re drawn to those who make us feel good, and support of when times get rough. But in the modern twenty-first-century hustle, it can be difficult to find time to spend together. Luckily, we have many means to choose from for staying in touch, even if it is just in written form.
We can text or call a friend, send them an email, video call or even play in an online world together! There is no shortage of ways to be social with our nearest and dearest, and it works wonders for our happy hormones!
How else do you improve your happiness? Have you any feel-good tips we’ve missed out on?
Do you know that today, March 20th, is International Day Of Happiness? Today we celebrate being happy and helping others feel the same. Happiness is a human right, but sadly so many rarely feel it. I once walked through life completely cut off from happiness in any form. My daily emotions went from anxious, to angry, to depressed, and back again in a constant loop. Never did I feel any resemblance to happiness.
But recovery has taught me who I really am and what makes me happy.
Oh I love love love a list. I feel like I thrive on them.
I’m sure this is the article that everyone needs. Happiness is all we need in life.
This article is a gem! It reminds us that improving happiness is within our reach. Whether it’s indulging in nature, embracing natural light, or spreading kindness, these simple tips can have a profound impact on our well-being. Let’s make happiness a priority and embrace these proven ways to brighten our lives
I absolutely loved reading your article on proven ways to improve happiness! The practical tips and advice you provided were insightful and easy to implement. Your writing style is engaging and uplifting, making it a joy to explore the topic. Keep spreading positivity and inspiring others!
These are great tips! Thank you for reminding me to take better care of myself. I’m going to start with drinking more water instead of soda and energy drinks.
Practicing gratitude and showing kindness to others does really make me feel happier, there’s also dancing or singing to lift up your mood
I never knew that water intake is related to mood. No matter who you are, a dip in mood is a natural thing. For some, it can be a frequent occurrence, while for others it’s purely hormonal or stress related. And while it might be easy to shy away when we’re at our worst, not all of us have the privilege. There are times when we have to grin and bear it, especially if we work with the public. Thanks for sharing your wisdom with us!
Yes to nature, meeting basic needs, and practicing thankfulness! These three alone can already help lift your mood.
It is good to focus on the things that make us feel good and to be happy. These are all great things to keep in mind! Natural light is always a good thing – I definitely feel a bit of seasonal depression.
It is great that there are so many different ways to improve our happiness. I find that going to large parks and doing power walks with friends can really help. It clears your mind, gives you a great workout, and makes you feel so much better.
Nature is the best. Its my healer and definitely increased my happiness.
Great post as usual! I personally like the “gratitude part” the most. But I would add humbleness to this list though. A humble person that is always grateful for anything and everything is a truly happy person.
Taking steps to improve our happiness is such a great tip. We are in charge of our own lives. I totally love the idea to let natural light in. The first thing I do every morning is open every blind in my house to let the sunlight in!
Communing with nature and getting in a lot of sunlight inside my home definitely make me happy. I don’t even have to go mountain hiking, just looking at a lot of green space can already uplift my mood.
Practicing gratitude daily has helped me feel happy in my day to day. It makes me feel like my cup is always full and it constantly reminds me of the blessings in my life. It really does make a difference when you have a grateful heart.
Maureen |
I definitely can tell if I haven’t had enough water by how I am feeling. And good music always brings me up, too. Another thing that puts me in a better mood for the day is when I get up and do some sort of exercise first thing, even a 10-minute yoga routine, to get my day started.
These are all great feel good tips and techniques for sure. Thanks for rounding them up for us!
Allie of
http://www.allienyc.com
These are all such great ways to improve happiness for sure! Thanks so much for sharing these ideas!
I love all of these suggestions as I can get started on many of them straightaway. I’m in a little bit of a rut lately (life stuff making things tougher than I have energy for) but I want to make sure I re-introduce and continue things like this to give my mindset and happiness a boost. Thanks for this!
These are some great ways to improve your overall happiness. I definitely want to work on my happiness this year and look after myself. Thank you for sharing these points!
Lauren – bournemouthgirl.com
We need to be more creative and work to improve to get a good life and happiness. Thank you for sharing these ways!
Act of Kindness and Keep on top of Basic needs are everything. Trust me; you can’t go wrong with both of them.
These suggestions are excellent. Music consistently aids in transforming my emotional state for the better. Additionally, embracing creativity is a concept that I truly appreciate.
Save for drinking alcohol, I endorse all these ways! We all deserve to be happy and not thinking of the things that have failed in our lives.
Indulge in nature, for sure. And I could probably benefit from some natural light in my office as I sit at a computer all day long!
Great tips. I’ve been thinking about starting a journal for a long time, you reminded me and I realized that now is the perfect Moment to do so, thank you
I cant wait for real warm spring. I would like to open all windows and take walk to the park with my boys. Some fun and activity under the sun make me much happier!
These are great tips that I often try daily. The self-care and nature really help keep me grounded and thus happy.
Yes, I love how uplifting and positive your post is. We can always find happiness in gratitude. I have a gratitude journal that I fill at the end of the day.
We can never go wrong with kindness. Small acts of kindness boost our mood and fill our jar of happiness.
These tips to improve your happiness are outstanding. I really love the nature suggestion. I’m so much happier outside. In winter I start climbing the walls to get outside and be in nature.
Such a great positivity pick me up as we roll into the middle of the week. The middle of the week is such a downer sometimes. It’s important to accentuate the positives. Thank you for sharing!
I needed this today! These are all such great tips. I’ve been very low for weeks now, but today I opened up the curtains (I usually have them shut so I can see the TV tbf), put music on through my headphones and cleaned the house. Feeling so much better for it now – just need to work on keeping hydrated!
Saph x
http://www.simplysaph.co.uk
Some great tips here thanks for sharing. Nature, music and sunlight are always guaranteed to pick me up and of course avoiding the hungry anger! I find exercise and dancing are great mood lifters too
It’s sort of ironical that this year the International Day of Happiness has happened on a Monday. 😐
To improve my mood and be happy, I dance or listen to my fav music. Spring is a season when colourful flowers are in full bloom, and I love walking slowly by the trees and plants to refresh my mind.
Yes to these! I always find I’m happier if I’m practicing gratitude and showing kindness to others in some way or another. Being outside also makes me happier (I’ve been really slacking with my walks lately, so I’m prioritizing that this week!) x