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No matter what your goals are in life, it’s safe to say that we’re all hoping to achieve the same thing: happiness.
Everybody wants to be happy, but nearly all of us will go through periods—hours, days, months, even years—where happiness feels like it might be a million miles away.
It would be easy to say that money, beauty, family, or even love holds the key to real happiness. But the truth is—there is no hidden secret. Every person is unique, so everybody feels joy from something different.
While there isn’t some kind of miracle ingredient to true happiness, there are actually a number of scientifically proven ways you can be a happier person right now:
- Clear your desk: Research shows that clutter actually increases our stress levels in general. So, organizing your stuff can literally make you feel less stressed and more relaxed instantly.
- Eat a clementine: According to a recent to a study conducted in the journal Chemical Senses, the combination of tanginess and sweetness in this delicious fruit is one of the most positive and arousing scents you can smell.
- Light a vanilla-scented candle: In the very same Chemical Senses study, participants agreed that the smell of vanilla was just as uplifting as the tasty scent of a clementine. They also ranked vanilla as one of the most relaxing scents in the world.
- Call your mom: This one is sure to make any mom a little extra happy today! Researchers recently did an experiment, in which they stressed a group of girls out and let them call or see their mothers afterward. In the end, the girls who called their moms actually felt just as relieved as the ones who got the chance to see them in person. The researchers believe that the sound of your mother’s voice can help get rid of stress and encourage the release of the feel-good hormone oxytocin!
- Make your desktop/cell phone background green: Chances are, you check your phone a lot—whether you’re happy, sad, angry, etc. So, doesn’t it make sense that you’d be a happier person if your phone actually made you feel better every time you checked it? The calming color green is associated with peace, comfort, happiness, excitement, and hope. Constantly surrounding yourself with this uplifting color can easily make you feel happier every time you’re stressed.
- Listen to upbeat music: If you’re actively trying to become a happier person, then it’s definitely time to create your very own “happy” playlist. According to research conducted at the University of Missouri, people who listen to upbeat music are naturally happier and more successful than people who just listen to whatever they hear on the radio.
- Say thank you: Materialism is known to make people feel miserable, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop treating yourself. Recent research shows that gratitude can help make you feel better about spending money on yourself. So, the next time you’re feeling guilty about buying that new pair of jeans, write a little thank you note to yourself!
- Give up your favorite food for a week: Are you starting to feel like you might be addicted to chocolate? Well, if you eat a piece every single day, it probably doesn’t even seem like a sweet treat anymore. One study found that people who ate chocolate after giving it up for a week felt significantly happier than those who ate it without any previous food restrictions. Treat yourself to your favorite food after a week without it and see how much better you feel!
- Buy experiences over things: Even if you absolutely adore your new bag, it’s hard to muster up that same joy a few days after buying it. In fact, you might even feel a little buyer’s remorse for spending so much money on one item. On the other hand, buying concert tickets or a trip to Europe is something you can hold onto. From the moment you book the trip until you leave, you’ll start feeling excitement from the anticipation alone. Then, you still have the whole vacation to look forward to!
Do you have any happy tips to add to the list? If so, tell us in the comments!
Photo Copyright © 2009 Tetsumo/Flickr
