Throughout the day, you’re probably on your computer, phone, and Apple Watch—maybe even all at once. A 2012 study published in the journal Developmental Psychologyfound those who spend a lot of time using multiple different types of technology are less happy than those who don’t spend as much time in front of the screen, so don’t be afraid to shut off.
Happiness
🤗 Feel Good Hack ~ Toss It Out
Simplicity can definitely be a good thing—especially when it comes to happiness. If your apartment has turned into a mess, take some time to get rid of what you don’t need and organize the rest. Having a freshly cleaned space will get your head in a much better space—and you’ll feel so good after seeing the finished product.
🤗 Feel Good Hack ~ Look Your Best: You Know You’re Beautiful/Handsome
Those days when you take your time getting ready in the morning and slip on an outfit you feel your absolute best in are the days you feel the happiest, right? Ditch the clothes that don’t make you feel confident from your wardrobe and leave the ones that do: When you feel like you look good, your happiness levels shoot through the roof, too.
🍎 Health Hack ~ Start Seeing Rainbows 🌈
“Your outlook—having a sense of optimism and purpose—seems to be predictive of health outcomes,” says Dr. Laura Kubzansky, professor of social and behavioral sciences at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Kubzansky has studied the health effects of several forms of psychological well-being. She has found that emotional vitality—characterized by enthusiasm, hopefulness, engagement in life, and the ability to face life’s stresses with emotional balance—is associated with a substantially reduced risk of heart attack and stroke.
🤗 Feel Good Hack ~ Get in the Flow
Hit Flow
Get into a groove. Be in the zone. Find your flow. However you characterize it, when you’re completely absorbed with what you’re doing, it means you’re being challenged and demonstrating skill at the same time. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi describes this moment as “being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved, and you’re using your skills to the utmost.”
Source
🍎 Health Hack ~ Eating & Exercise – Keys to Feeling Great
Eating healthy is important to not only your physical health, but your mental well-being too. Incorporating a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy foods, and lean meats, poultry, and fish into your diet can help you stay healthy and energized. Along with exercising regularly and getting enough sleep, eating a well-balanced diet can do wonders for your mental well-being.
🤗 Feel Good Hack ~ Knowing What’s Important
As the people got older, they tended to focus more on what’s important to them, and didn’t sweat the small stuff to the degree they did when they were younger, according to the project’s director, Dr. Robert Waldinger. Other research supports this mindset, and has found that older adults are better about letting go of past failures. “They tend to realize how life is short and they are more likely to pay more attention on what makes them happy now,” says Dr. Waldinger.
Source: Harvard Health
🤗 Feel Good Hack ~ Coffee Can Chase the Blues
Coffee isn’t just a great way to start your day with a little energy—it’s also a mild antidepressant. According to a 2011 study published in JAMA, the caffeine releases dopamine and serotonin that gives you that amazing high-on-life feeling, making you feel happier overall.
🤗 Feel Good Hack ~ Take a Generosity Vitamin
Generosity Matters
In fact, even being a little giving is enough to make you feel joy. A 2017 study from the University of Zurich found those who were more generous were much happier than those who were more selfish, even if they just verbally committed to being more generous. Doing something for someone other than yourself lights up an area of your brain that’s associated with happiness, so take advantage—it’s good for all parties involved.
🤗 Feel Good Hack ~ Who Are Your Friends?
Do you ever notice how much happier you feel after hanging out with your happy-go-lucky friends over your Debbie Downer pals? There’s a scientific reason for that. A 2008 study published in the British Medical Journal found happiness is actually contagious. The authors said your happiness greatly depends on those around you, so spend time with the people who make you feel good.
