You might feel funny talking about it, but you won’t care when you see how happy these funny habits could make you feel. These are some of the habits of happy people.
Even if you don’t have a dog, borrow a friend’s and take it to the park. Your friend will appreciate it, the dog will appreciate it and guess what? So will you. Petting a dog for just 60 seconds can instantly lower blood pressure and send happy chemicals through your system. But not only that: just looking at the pure joy dogs have being in nature, being alive, and being among their canine peers instills a desire in humans to be satisfied by the simple things. And you carry that with you the rest of the day.
If you’re like most of the country, a lot of your anxiety and sadness comes from issues around your body image. And that’s a real shame because, more than a sexual or appealing object, your body is your vehicle through which you enjoy this life! You should love it just as it is, for that reason alone. Looking at photos of plus-size models, and seeing that they look happy in their own skin and still look great, will remind you that you can look great at any size, and feel happy. If they can do it, why can’t you?
Getting a drink just once a week with a close friend could add years to your life according to the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. Friends can influence you to make healthy choices, either through direct suggestions or just by talking about their own healthy lifestyle, and making healthy choices will make you happier. They can also help fend off depression.
According to the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, suppressing anger can affect the quality of your sleep, and not sleeping enough raises your risk for depression. Not to mention, it makes you cranky, it makes you say things you don’t mean to people you like, it makes those people angry with you, and then it makes you feel awful! So just buy a punching bag already.
Many college gyms allow individuals unaffiliated with the educational institution to buy memberships; the memberships are often cheaper than private gyms, and the facilities are typically gorgeous! But on top of that, it’s so refreshing to walk through a college campus and feel the energy of hopeful, positive students. You remember that energy: the feeling that anything could happen. Anything still can! Surrounding yourself with people full of that energy may be a little infectious, and that’s great.
First off, waiting until the last minute can lead to doing nothing for the night, which is depressing. But also, a lot of our happiness comes from having something to look forward to. So plan your social activities in advance. Also, if you plan something several days in advance, you get to think about it and talk about it for days, and when your thoughts and conversations revolve more and more around fun, it begins to feel like your life is predominantly about fun, rather than work or obligations.
You know who your funny friends are: start an email thread with them, sending a funny video, meme or article. Or even just a thought! Get them going, and keep the thread going every day. It just makes you giddy to take a few moments during your day to “sneak off” and put in your two cents on the funny conversation. You feel like a kid passing notes in class again, and it keeps you just a little more connected with those friends.
Use your best judgment of course: you don’t want to get punched in the face. But, when somebody is being rude or you feel you’ve witnessed an injustice, let the person know! It’s exhilarating to know that you do your part to right wrongs when you see them. And it makes you feel better to know you’re confident enough in your own opinions to express them.
Pay attention to silly habits of your own, or mistakes you make, and make a point of telling these to others. Consider yourself a funny TV character. If you can make fun of yourself, you encourage the idea that you don’t need to take yourself too seriously, and then you aren’t as hard on yourself when you make bigger mistakes. Practice finding the humor in yourself every day, and you’ll never be without a laugh.
You could also look at pictures of art, or hand-knitted sweaters, or interior-decorating tips. The point is to look at finished works of art that someone lovingly put time and energy into. Their good vibes transfer over to you. That love could take the form of a scrumptious cupcake or a beautifully decorated living room.
