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
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.
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.
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.
Have a Grateful Heart
If you can be happy with simple things, then it will be simple to be happy. Find a book or a journal, or start a website, and write down three to five things you’re grateful for from the past week. … Some people write in a notebook by their bedside. In 2003, researchers Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough asked groups of students to write down five gratitudes, hassles, or events over the past week for ten weeks. The students who wrote five gratitudes were happier and physically healthier.
The 20-Minute Replay
Writing for twenty minutes about a positive experience dramatically improves happiness. Why? Because you actually relive the experience as you’re writing it and then relive it every time you read it. Your brain sends you back. In a University of Texas study called “How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Words,” researchers Richard Slatcher and James Pennebaker had one member of a couple write about their relationship for twenty minutes three times a day. Compared to the test group, the couple was more likely to engage in intimate dialogue afterward and the relationship was more likely to last. What does the 20-Minute Replay do? It helps us remember things we like about people and experiences in our lives.
You don’t even have to be really generous. According to a 2017 study published in the journal Nature Communications, even being a tiny bit more generous than you already are can make you happier in life.
It’s nearly impossible not to be happy around your cute, slobbery pup, right? In a 2017 study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, researchers found that simply being around your dog amps up your levels of oxytocin, one of the chemicals that makes you feel happy. So take your furry best friend for a walk, cuddle up for a movie, or play fetch. It’ll lift both of your moods.
Feel Good About Yourself Today
Be sure the people around you make you feel good about you — no matter what your size or health condition. In addition, if close friends encourage you to smoke, overeat, or drink too much, find some new friends who have good health habits and also want a healthier you.
If you’re not a fan of citrus, it might be time to change that. A 2005 study in the journal Chemical Senses found the smell of clementines made participants feel ridiculously happy and stimulated, so having one for a snack will give you a cheerful buzz. Plus, eating the fruit can also give you a major dose of vitamin C. It’s a win-win.
