As humans, we strive to be happy all the time, whether that be appreciating what you have in your life today or planning happy moments for the future. The act of setting time aside to really focus on what makes you feel good is imperative to living a good life and appreciating what we do have.
Happiness happens one small moment at a time and it’s up to us to recognize and appreciate happy moments when they are upon us. Sometimes a small action boosts our happiness, which reminds us that happiness is a personal experience.
Happiness happens one small moment at a time and it’s up to us to recognize and appreciate happy moments when they are upon us. #happiness #findyourhappiness Click To TweetTo get you in the happy thinking spirit, here is a thought-provoking TED talk from Robert Waldinger; a professor at Harvard Medical School who is known for his findings from the Grant Study, a 75-year-long study on adult happiness.
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WHAT MAKES A GOOD LIFE? LESSONS FROM THE LONGEST STUDY ON HAPPINESS.
Key learnings from this Happiness study (quoted):
Good relationships keep us happier and healthier
Social connections are good for us. Those who are more socially connected are happier, physically healthier and live longer.
Quality not quantity
It’s not the number of friends you have or whether you’re in a committed relationship, but it’s the quality of your close relationships.
Living in conflict is really bad for our health and the people who were most satisfied with their relationships at age 50 were also the healthiest at age 80!
Leaning into relationships is good for you
Watch the video above for a lot more insight.
The act of setting time aside to really focus on what makes you feel good is imperative to living a good life and appreciating what you have. #happiness #findyourhappiness Click To Tweet
Now, let’s make happiness work for you…
20 WAYS TO FIND YOUR HAPPINESS, one small moment at a time.
1. Go on a date with your best friend
2. Take a long walk to a new place
3. Listen to your favourite song
4. Visit your neighbour
5. Pick flowers
6. Have a bath
7. Cook with someone you love
8. Relax and drink tea
9. Talk to someone you don’t know
10. Stretch for 5 minutes
11. Plant some flowers
12. Make a healthy smoothie
13. Read poetry
14. Help someone in need
15. Meditate or pray
16. Dance to an amazing song
17. Cuddle
18. Write a postcard and mail it
19. Sign up to a local program
20. Tell someone you love them
- What will you do to focus on your happiness this month and this year?
- What small moments in your life make you happy?
- How can you think differently about the little things to appreciate them in a new light?
Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!
Related articles on happiness and positive living:
- Free Printable Mood Trackers
- Happiness Advice from the Kids in Our Life
- Today is a Good Day! 15 Inspiring Quotes to Live in the Present
- 99 Simple Pleasures in Life To Fill You with Joy
- 13 Ways to be Grateful for What You Have
- The Ultimate Happy Playlist to Make You Smile
For more inspiration and to get the latest post from Put The Kettle On, let’s connect!
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Yolanda xo
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Thanks! I appreciate every single share 
This is great, thanks for sharing. Music always helps my mood.
Agree – me too!
I love going on date with a best friend 🙂
Love this message. So sad seeing people hold onto anger at the expense of their own peace and happiness.
I love this post and have pinned it as a reminder :). I am also excited to watch this TED talk. Thank you so much for sharing!
Thanks Paula! Enjoy the TED Talk. I can never get enough of them 🙂
These are such great ideas! I think I may print it out and hang it around the house to remind myself that happiness is a choice!
I like how you say happiness is a choice. I couldn’t agree more 🙂
I TOTALLY believe quality not quantity!!! Just ordered Kindness Boomerang, a book on doing something kind everyday of the year. That leads to happiness.
I haven’t heard of that one I’ll have to look it up 🙂
Thanks for sharing this! I’m saving the video to watch later. And I love your ideas! I’ve been enjoying curling up with a chapter of a good book and a cup of hot tea. And I really can’t wait until we have fall weather and I can get comfy with a warm blanket by the fire. That is my happy place!
Awe – I also LOVE tea and reading a great book. Just wish I had the fireplace 🙂
Love this idea and how you incorporate it in your life! I’m definitely all for positive relationships and I honestly think they’re one of the best things to help with happiness. I also love the list you’ve shared with your suggestions like taking a bath and spending time with a friend, etc! Great post!
I love the idea of focusing on quantity, not quality. I am trying to be more intentional with my time and actions, and hopefully that will help me cultivate more happiness 🙂
Love this list you provided!! Some things I plan to do today, alone, to make me happy are:
-Write a blog post
-Take two long walks with my dog
-Go to the gym
-De-clutter my upstairs
-Watch one of my shows
Focusing on things that make you happy is such a key in life that people often do not think about enough!
Kait
Great tips. Smoothies are my happy place. Pinned to pinterest.
I am listening to this TED talk and it is so good- thank you for sharing. The Harvard comment thing was really funny as well. I needed to read this post though and I shared the happy list. Thanks for sharing!
Oh, glad you’re listening 🙂 Thank you for sharing Autumn – glad you liked it!
This is a great post! I love all of these ideas – sharing on Twitter!
Thank you Anna! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you for sharing this post!! Sometimes we are so busy doing “other things” we forget to just be happy. This was a great reminder and I loved the list of things you can do to increase happiness!
Thanks for the feedback Emily! It makes me happy!!!
So interesting. Good relationships – knowing you can count on the other person is a great message. It being good for our health and well-being shouldn’t surprise us. What a long study! Thanks for putting in the great list too. I have just copied to my Bullet Journal. I’m thankful that some are those which I already do 🙂
Yes, the study was so long and so very interesting. Not surprising though 🙂 That’s amazing that you put this list in your journal. Thanks!
I love this! And I definitely agree – happiness can be in the small things. One of my favorites is dancing! Reading this just made me happy 🙂 Thank you so much!!
Thanks for the note Cassie! You sound like a woman with the same heart as me – as Dancing is always one of my go-to’s!! Nothing beats it 🙂
I love all your suggestions- baths and friends make me happy…though maybe not at the same time 😂😂😂 Great upbeat post <3 Jamie
Date with a best friend, I love it!!
I agree! It’s something we all need to schedule more 🙂
Totally agree, focus on the moments and on the quality over quantity. Although my children are young adults we enjoy lots of special time together, cooking together regularly. I’m currently working and learning about university research as part of my studies, I found the video really interesting. It is amazing to hear about such a long study.
Hi Angie – thanks for the message 🙂 That happiness study fascinates me too. That’s wonderful to hear you get to have lots of special time with your kids. These are the moments they will cherish too.
Such a great and fun list!
I like what is written regarding the value of close, quality relationships. As an introvert, I really value the time I spend alone, but I’ve started also to notice how over time good relationships with my friends and family really makes me feel better, more appreciated, like I have a definite value, purpose, and place to belong.
Thanks for adding the Tedx talk Yolanda! It was great to listen to!
Hi Sonja – Thanks so much for sharing 🙂 Yes, even as an introvert, close relationships are so meaningful for our happiness. Glad you watched the Ted Talk – the happiness study research is so interesting! Take care xo