Can you be happier? Try these tips

Counsellor’s Corner

 

As the hustle and bustle of Christmas fades and spring seems a few months away, many of my clients try to come to terms with how to live a happier life. These questions got me thinking about what actually makes us happy. As I read through a number of articles and books written by ‘happiness experts,’ I put together a brief list of what researchers say about what steers us in this direction. 

Apparently, happiness is complex. We seem to inherit about 50 per cent of our happiness quotient through our genetic makeup, i.e., if our parents were happy, then there’s a good chance that we will also be happy. That doesn’t mean we can’t work towards improving our happiness. We can actually make conscious decisions to change and practice some basic life skills which help us to improve our happiness. 

Start with the basics. Sleep is extremely important and many people go through life being sleep deprived. It’s difficult to be happy when you’re grumpy. It’s also important to eat those fruits and veggies. Exercise to boost your energy. Even a ten minute walk can make you feel better. And, if the weather isn’t a brisk minus 20 degrees below zero, then try to get outside and let the sun shine on your face. 

Exercise your brain! Learning something new stimulates your brain and creates something called ‘flow.’ This means that you are focusing and living in the moment while you learn a new task. Local agencies offer winter classes that provide great learning opportunities. Challenge yourself! How about yoga? You will be combining some gentle exercise with learning something new. 

Spend your money on others or volunteer with an organization. Helping others is often connected to a sense of purpose in life. For many, connecting with your religious or spiritual values helps improve your ability to be happy as you establish a basic philosophy of what drives you in life. 

Connecting with others is also important. Focus on your personal relationship with your partner or with close friends. Work towards cultivating some new friendships. People are interesting and you can always learn something wonderful when you meet new people. Perhaps you can give a party. Connecting with more than ten people increases our happiness! 

Stay in the moment. Through the practice of “mindfulness,” we focus on living in the moment. This helps us to create “flow.” You can listen to music, smell something wonderful, draw, journal, or enjoy lunch with a friend. This practice allows us to stop worrying about the future and enjoy the present. Focus on doing one thing at a time. Apparently, multi-tasking can increase blood pressure and heart rate. 

Fake it! Smiling and acting happy actually works to make us happier. We can trick ourselves into being happier by pretending. Other ideas? Look at the colour blue (yes, blue) and declutter your space by doing things like cleaning out closets, donating used clothing, and getting rid of what you don’t really need. 

I highly recommend Gretchen Rubin’s book, The Happiness Project to help guide you on the path to happiness. She spent an entire year focusing on practices which make people happy! It’s a great read. 

(Karin is also on the path to creating happiness in her life. A Certified Canadian Counsellor, she has her own counselling agency in Strathmore and enjoys helping people to live happier and healthier lives.)