The understanding of happiness has been ever-evolving. For a student in college, happiness is getting good marks and a university degree. For a college graduate, happiness could be getting a good-paying job that would make him satisfied and content. All of it can get some level of happiness, but it comes with an expiration date. If the end goal is to become happy, can we not take a short cut and work directly towards it. Happiness does not happen by chance, it happens by making a conscious choice. It is something that anyone can develop by adopting the right habits. If some habits create stress for you and make you anxious, ditch them. With little time and practice, one can easily figure out what works for them and what does not.
5 Daily Habits that can help you set your head in the right space and makes you happy:
Follow your hobbies
We pick a lot of hobbies as kids, but as we grow up and get busier. We tend to stop paying heed to it. This is one of the biggest reasons why people have a dearth of happiness. One should always hold on to their hobbies. Be it being passionate about art or playing some instrument. Whatever hobbies one has should be unconditionally followed.
Considering how life can be a roller coaster ride as adults, you should always try to take out time to pursue things you love and that gives you happiness.
Keep company of good people
It is no brainer that a bad company is mentally as well as emotionally draining. You should try as much as you can to avoid being in the company of toxic people (those who make you feel bad about yourself and keep taunting all the time). Instead, you should surround yourself with people who genuinely love you and care about you. Those who are willing to stand with you in your thick and thin should be in your circle.
You do not necessarily need to have a lot of friends in life or social media. Only keep the people you want to have around and who are good to you. Another piece of advice is that you should try not to add celebrities to your social media. Unless they have something for your feed. The kind of lifestyle they showcase on social media is unreal and can negatively alter your state of mind.
Introduce healthy eating habits
We all know the fact that our food influences our physical health, but the right eating habits can positively impact your state of mind.
For example:
- Carbs: Carbohydrates release serotonin, which is a “feel good” hormone. Simple carbs like, food with high sugar and starch should be kept to a minimum. Complex carbs, that we get from vegetables and grains are better for both our physical and mental health
- Meat, poultry, and dairy: These are highly proteinaceous and are responsible for the release of hormones like norepinephrine and dopamine, which boost energy and concentration
- Deep-fried/ highly processed food: It is hard to digest this type of food. It tends to leave you feeling down
Exercise regularly
It is one habit that everyone is very well versed with, but is not practiced much. Exercise helps in multiple ways. It helps you to reduce and maintain weight, which will boost your confidence and can also reduce anxiety and stress levels.
It induces our brain to secrete endorphin and dopamine, which is a feel-good hormone. Exercises do not have to be a strenuous activity, it could be a morning walk or a jog for you to reap its benefits.
Writing Journal
Journal-ing is a great activity. It helps you organize and align your thoughts and feelings. It helps you understand yourself as well as your environment more clearly. In order for you to practice this habit, you do not have to be a genius or write volumes.
It can be a simple writing process that you can take up right before going to bed. You just have to simply jot down what and how you feel and analyze your thoughts in your head better. If you are not comfortable keeping your feelings on a piece of paper, you can always shred it. It is the process that counts.
Here is a link if you want to know more about writing journal: