If you find yourself feeling blue, you may want to increase your happiness and, in this post, I am sharing six proven quick-fix ways to get happy during the day. After a long day at the office, do you find yourself at night sitting on your couch watching TV or maybe watching Netflix on your computer, basically just waiting to get tired enough so you can do it all over again tomorrow?
It sounds depressing, but many of us fall into these ruts from time to time. It’s not that anything is necessarily going bad at work or in your personal life, but it just feels like you’re floating through space, waiting for the next major thing – good or bad – to happen.
So how do you break this monotony and inject a little light into your life right now?
Get happy.
Seriously. Get happy. Get happy this instant! Science has proven that people who are happy are physically, emotionally and mentally healthier…not to mention more productive. Here are some ways – and why they are scientifically proven – to get happy.
Exercise — Perhaps the idea of putting in enough effort to work up a sweat doesn’t make you happy, but the endorphins that are released during exercise certainly will. If you feel a bad mood coming on, take a brisk 15-minute walk. You’ll get some of the blood flowing and some time to think, which has been proven to increase your happiness.
Walk into the Light — Light therapy will do wonders for your mood. Obviously, the natural stuff is the best, so if you’re in a space with the curtains drawn, open them up. Heck, take a few minutes and go outside! If you can’t get to the real thing, consider purchasing yourself a light box, especially during the times of year there isn’t as much daylight.
Stop to Smell the Oranges — When you’re looking to kick-start the chemicals in your brain, forget the roses. It’s been proven that citrus scents like lemon, oranges, lime, and grapefruit create a chemical reaction to not only promote, but increase your happiness. If you don’t want to be the weird guy with the bowl of fruit on your desk, a dab of essential oil can do the trick.
Ignore Dr. Atkins in the Afternoon — If you’re like most people, you hit that wall late in the afternoon when you feel like you’re trying to walk uphill on ice. While cutting carbs has gone from fad to way-of-life for many dieters over the last couple of decades, it’s been proven whole grains give you that boost of revitalization and energy to make the last couple of hours of your day productive. There’s scientific proof that a very low-carb diet deprives the brain of certain chemicals that combat sadness and stress. If you want to increase your happiness, add some carbs to your end of day snacks.
Put in the Earbuds — Anything that releases small amounts of dopamine will help turn that frown upside down and few things have been proven to release dopamine better than music. Think about it. You may detest specific genres, but have you ever met anybody that just flat-out didn’t like music? Music also has a memory-triggering effect, bringing you back via nostalgia to happier times in your life. Good memories will get you happy.
Make a Connection — If you’re going home to a lonely house at night, why not get a furry companion? Pets have long been proven to make people happy by releasing a host of chemicals like oxytocin and serotonin. If you can’t have a furry friend, dial up the humankind. While you should avoid those folks who get under your skin, spending time with people you admire or love helps reduce stress in most cases.
If you need some help breaking out of a funk and increasing your happiness while improving your life on all levels, consider investing in a coach or find a mentor who can give you a new perspective. Let’s have a conversation. Contact me to schedule a complimentary consultation at http://maricarmenpizarro.com/contact-mari-carmen/
