Like Pharrell, we all strive for happiness. Unfortunately, however, we aren’t always happy. Although we can’t always be happy, there are certain actions we can take to help boost our happiness!
UCLA neuroscience researcher, Alex Korb, provides some great insights on how to bring more happiness into your life and to help keep negativity and sadness out.
Here are some tips on how to get happy and stay happy!
Avoid Conflict & Drama
It’s likely you’ll reach a point in your life when certain people seem to only cause you conflict and drama. On top of that, they’re constantly negative.
Avoid these people at all costs! If you find yourself in the presence of these personality types, it’s important you slowly distance yourself from them. Pessimistic individuals will only hurt your moral and consequently your work ethic.
Simplify Your Lifestyle
E.F. Schumacher once said:
“Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.”
First, make an effort to remove all distractions from your life. If something’s preventing you from meeting an objective, then it’s a distraction. Next, establish a daily routine. It will add stability to your life and keep you on track. Third, prioritise your work and life. Know what must come first and then plan accordingly. Understand that there is a difference between what you want to accomplish and what’s necessary.
Smile More
According to a study conducted by Michigan State University business scholar, Brent Scott, practising your smile while also thinking positively can improve your mood substantially. In addition, according to PsyBlog, smiling can improve your attention and ability to perform cognitive tasks.
Sleep More!
Sleep can affect one’s positivity. In NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children, authors Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman explain, “Negative stimuli get processed by the amygdala; positive or neutral memories get processed by the hippocampus. Sleep deprivation hits the hippocampus harder than the amygdala. The result is that sleep-deprived people fail to recall pleasant memories yet recall gloomy memories just fine.”
Try to get 7.5–9 hours of sleep a night. When you’re well-rested, you’re not only more positive, you’re more productive.
Meditate
Meditation works, so why not try it? Whether you’re allocating an hour or five minutes, daily, uninterrupted meditation will make you happier.
According to a study conducted by Massachusetts General Hospital, meditation increases grey matter in the brain’s hippocampus, an area important for learning, memory, and emotion. It also reduces grey matter in the amygdala, an area of the brain associated with stress and anxiety.
For beginner tips on meditation, visit here.
Work For Yourself
Finding yourself miserable at your day job? Maybe consider entrepreneurship. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2015/2016 Global Report, entrepreneurs are the happiest people in the world. Plus, female entrepreneurs are even happier than their male counterparts.
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