7 Ways to Feel Happier

Our happiness is governed by the release of feel good hormones. These hormones are released regularly throughout the day, as we go about our routine, but sometimes when we get too much into a routine, we can get into a bit of a slump. 

You may find you start feeling down, have a hard time finding the motivation to do your normal day-to-day tasks or no longer find pleasure in the things that once made you happy. 

If this sounds like you, you may need a little feel good boost happiness boost!

Here’s how to make it happen:

1. Get off social media – While it’s nice to be on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay in touch with your friends, it can be a toxic environment, filled with words, images and people that, maybe not even knowingly can really get you down.  Maybe it’s seeing pictures of people and feeling like how you look isn’t good enough, or seeing statuses of what somebody’s friend’s mother’s husband did last night and wondering why you can’t be doing that.  Why does it matter? You’re letting these things get you down and all you have to do to prevent it is log out and shut down. 
2. Make your favourite food – There’s something about good food, with good people that can always turn your mood around.  Whether it is your favourite dish, a true comfort food, or food you make for someone else because it is his or her favourite, experiment with cooking, ingredient, food and flavours the next time you are felling a little under the weather.  And if cooking just isn’t your thing at all, don’t feel guilty about indulging in that tub of ice cream, or your favourite guilty treat!
3. Go somewhere new – Our constant routine, same thing day after day, accompanied by an alarm in the morning and the same show when we go to bed can eventually start to wear you down.  If you ever feel like you’re stuck in a slump, need to spice things up a little bit and do something different, make a plan and take a trip.  It need not be a big trip that’s far away or expensive, in fact, it can even be just a day trip or an overnight trip for the weekend.  As long as it’s new, let’s you experience something different and
4. Engage in an experience – Don’t worry about stuff, or things, or buying something new.  In fact, material items often bring us no sort of satisfaction in the long run at all.  Instead, spend your time and money on an experience.  Whether it’s one that you share, one that you have always wanted to do, or one that is completely spontaneous and out of the blue, you will have memories that last far longer than any thing you may have bought, and a heap of fun at the same time! Skydiving anyone?
5. Head to the ocean – The smell, the sound, the ocean breeze, the cooler air and the feeling of sand between your toes.  There’s not much about the ocean that doesn’t make you happy.   Maybe you just go sit in the sand.  Maybe you go with your favourite person and take a long walk on the beach (cliché, but so enjoyable), or maybe you lace up your runners, leave early in the morning and run along the beach, watching the sunrise.  Whatever you need to do, include the ocean and you’re guaranteed to leave feeling happy.
6. Climb a mountain – Maybe it’s not within your means geographically to be able to hit up the mountains, but if it is, take an afternoon, choose a mountain and start climbing.  Not only with the fresh air and exercise do you well and boost your happiness, but the sense of accomplishment when you reach the peak, and the amazing view you will have to savour will be totally worth it.  In that moment, when you look out and see the amazing beauty around you, you will have an amazing sense of happiness, because you just can’t help it due to what your eyes are seeing!
7. Go outside your comfort zone – Whatever that thing is that you have been putting off, or not doing, or have been scared to take on, do it now.  There’s nothing like getting outside your comfort zone and feeling a renewed sense of capability and pride in finally doing that one thing you have been scared to do.  Talk to your friends or family members and tell them you are going to tackle it so you have support and motivation.

Here are 7 more things you can do to make you happy!

By: Laura Peill – (Check out her blog Viand Nutrition & Facebook)