HACK YOUR Happiness

Bring the four hormones of joy into your daily life. Prachi Rijhwani tells you how

- Prachi Rijhwani

Are you feeling down in the dumps? It's time to tap into your body's built-in happiness squad: the happy hormones. These four mood-boosting chemicals dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins - are nature's way of ensuring we get a fair dose of joy, love, and pleasure. But guess what? You don't have to wait for them to kick in on their own. You can summon these chemicals with a few simple hacks whenever you need a boost. Here's to the science of happiness and finding out how to hack your happy hormones.

DOPAMINE:

THE REWARD GRANTER

Dopamine is your brain's very own "pat on the back." It's the reward and pleasure hormone that lights up when you accomplish something great or experience something delightful. It's what makes you feel that rush of satisfaction when you tick off a task from your to-do list or bite into your favourite chocolate.

→ How To Trigger Dopamine:

• Set and Achieve Goals: Break down big tasks into smaller, manageable goals. Each of these little wins will release a burst of dopamine.

• Celebrate The Small Wins: Don't only celebrate major achievements. Treat yourself when you complete even the smallest of tasks.