4 Ways on How to be Truly Happy

Written by Sarah Cummings

Listen up friends, I’m about to reveal the secret to a healthy and happy life to you. Drumroll, please…there is no secret!

Sorry, that was a cheap trick I know. But it’s 100% true. There’s no secret elixir. No magic pills. You certainly can’t buy your way there. Plastic surgery isn’t going to help, and neither is driving a fancier car.

Happiness comes from within, from respecting our body and fuelling it with goodness. Read on below, and I’m going to give four simple and completely free minor life hacks that will help you have a healthier, happier life.

Respect your sleep

Diet and exercise may be well known as the two pillars of good health, what’s less known is that quality slumber is the foundation on which they stand. Without at least seven hours of sleep a night no amount of wheatgrass smoothies and frantic star jumps will keep you fit and healthy.

On top of that, sleep is also the single greatest natural performance enhancer and mood enhancer known to humankind. Study after study has shown that well-rested we’re smarter, kinder, more creative and make better decisions We are even better looking and better at sex.

Better sleep brings us better control over our emotional stability, fends off feelings of anxiety, stress and depression. Researchers have even discovered that individuals who sleep well have a more positive outlook on life. Simply put you can actually sleep your way happy!

If you take one thing away from this list let it be this…better sleep equals a better life.

Eat like the Japanese

No one enjoys being on a diet. Actually being on a diet is one sure fire way to ensure you will be unhappy. Practising portion control, however, is a far more sensible option, eat what you like but simply eat in moderation. In other words, eat like the Japanese.

Now, I don’t mean you have to have raw fish for every meal or even enjoy the fiery taste of wasabi. No, what I mean by eating like the Japanese are practice a concept known as Hara Hachi Bu. Which roughly translates as eat until you are 8/10ths full.

Considering how long the Japanese live and how healthy they remain into old age our friends in the and of the rising sun might be onto something.

Get sweaty every day

When you exercise, your body releases two very useful chemicals dopamine and serotonin, which is good news for you happiness levels.

Dopamine is known colloquially to medical science as the ‘body’s natural Prozac’. Serotonin is often referred to simply as the ‘happy hormone’. Both of them improve your mood and protect you against mental health disorders. Yay!

All you have to do to get a nice free and life-enhancing dose of these two lovely neurotransmitters is get sweaty at least once a day. That’s it! Simple right?

It doesn’t really matter how you do it. You could run up and down a hill for half an hour. Swing from the branches of a tree like a monkey. Go to the gym. Dance around your bedroom to Boney M classics or simply spin in circles like a madman.

The important thing is you spend half an hour a day exercising. This alone will make you a happier healthier bunny. Plus the more you exercise the better you will sleep, and we’ve already seen what impact that will have on you. Win-win!

Keep a gratitude journal

This last hack is the simplest of all. Taking a few minutes at the end of each day to simply sit and focus on the things that are positive in your life has been proven to have a profound impact on your positivity.

You can simply do this as a form of meditation or better yet as a written exercise. This latter approach is known as keeping a gratitude journal. By listing 3, 4 or 5 things at the end of each day you are grateful for, you will gradually train your mind to look out for the positives in each situation rather than the downsides.

Instead of fixating on how rude one person was to at work, you will begin to notice how friendly all your other colleagues are. You will soon find that the bum notes of negativity in your day will be drowned out by a cacophony of positivity.

Well, there you go joy seekers – four simple and completely free ways you too can reach your very own happy place. And, what do you know! Look at that! Not a single antidepressant pill in sight!

Bio: Sarah Cummings 

Hi there, I’m Sarah. When I’m not hiking in the hills or perfecting my downward facing dog, you’ll most likely find me tucked up in bed. I’m a self-confessed sleep addict. Which is perfect because along with my colleagues at the Sleep Advisor I spent a lot of time researching and writing about sleep.

Happiness for me is all about simplification. Decluttering your life, both literally and metaphorically. The less you have to worry about, the less you will worry. Strip everything back to the basics. Sleep well, eat well, exercise more and spend as much time as you can with your family and friends. And soon happiness will follow. Simple really.

Further Reading and Resources 

TED Talks: Ideas worth spreading

Psychology Today: Psychology Today is devoted exclusively to everybody’s favourite subject – Ourselves

Life Hack: Tips for Life

Elite Daily: The Voice of Generation Y

Four Hour Work Week: How to escape the 9-5, live anywhere and join the new rich.

The Minimalists: How to pursue a minimalist lifestyle and be happier.

Mind Hacks: Tips and Tricks for Using Your Brain

Rich Roll: Plantpowered Wellness Advocate

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The Art of Charm: Build confidence, feel comfortable and networking differently.

American Psychological Association: The largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United State

The Art of Manliness: Encouraging men to be better husbands, fathers, brothers, citizens.

Tiny Buddha: Simple wisdom for complex lives.

Brain Pickings: An inventory of cross-disciplinary interestingness, spanning art, science, design, history, philosophy, and more.

Mind Body Green: Lifestyle media brand dedicated to inspiring you to live your best life.

Zen Habits: Find simplicity and mindfulness in life.

Creative NonFiction: “true stories well told.” 

Addicted 2 Success: Motivation & Inspiration Website full of quotes and inspiring articles for entrepreneurs.

Barking Up the Wrong Tree: science-based answers and expert insight on how to be awesome at life.

The Positivity Blog: Practical articles on happiness, self-esteem, productivity and social skills.