THERE ARE PLENTY of reasons to seek happiness. Research has shown that arthritis patients who have a “positive affect” are able to take more daily steps than their unhappy counterparts. Merry people tend to avoid getting sick during flu season, and they even live longer. Plus, experiencing joy just feels good.
So, here are 47 small, surprising ways to feel happier.
Do things that give your life meaning
1. Keep a diary—and re-read it from time to time. According to a 2014 study in Psychological Science, writing in a journal can make people happy, even if the entries are mundane. We tend to forget the little things in life that bring pleasure, but documenting those ordinary moments allows us to rediscover them.
2. Figure out your purpose. “This is about having some kind of goal or principle that orients your life and moves you into the future,” says journalist and author Emily Esfahani Smith. It could be a big goal, like getting involved in politics, or a more personal option, like being a good parent. Either way, it should be one that motivates you and organizes the activities of your day around something greater than yourself.
3. Forgive (even if you can’t forget). Holding a grudge is stressful and can make you feel angry, sad, anxious and out of control. But forgiving someone who has hurt you doesn’t cause negative emotions at all.
4. According to Neil Pasricha, the author of seven books on happiness (including the upcoming You Are Awesome), reading 20 pages of a novel every day will make you happier. “Literary fiction is shown to increase brain activity and improve our capacity for empathy, compassion, and understanding,” he says. He recommends paper books to reduce screen time.
This story is from the November 2019 edition of Reader's Digest Canada.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 2019 edition of Reader's Digest Canada.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MEMENTO Mori
JEWELRY can be deeply PERSONAL. LEAH CHERNIKOFF reflects on a NECKLACE that represents LIFE and LOSS.
The AUDACITY of LORRAINE O'GRADY
At 89, the eternally PUNK-ROCK PERFORMANCE and CONCEPTUAL ARTIST still gets a kick out of CRASHING art-world parties. Only now she's the GUEST of HONOR.
REGINA'S Resolve
REGINA KING on LEARNING to LIVE with LOSS, the LEGACY of SHIRLEY CHISHOLM, and finding a WAY FORWARD
Keep It MOVING
COMMUTER-CORE has become more than a VIRAL TREND, as designers meet the NEEDS of our BACK-to-OFFICE lifestyles
ALL Aboard
LUXURY TRAINS offer a uniquely NOSTALGIC way to SLOW DOWN and ENJOY the RIDE
IN CONVERSATION - JESSICA LANGE and PAULA VOGEL
Actor JESSICA LANGE and playwright PAULA VOGEL on their new BROADWAY PRODUCTION, MOTHER PLAY, creating and portraying COMPLICATED WOMEN, and the FUTURE of THEATER
What PADMA Wants
After almost two decades of TOP CHEF, the beloved HOST and cookbook AUTHOR is figuring out WHAT COMES NEXT
Doing Things the Right Way
Retired Super Bowl Winning Head Coach Mike Shanahan Stays Connected to the Game
Embracing Energy Management
How San Diego-based Lightworks is Supporting Savant's Vision for Smart Home Power
A Real Sliding Doors Moment
My Experience Installing the SmartSlydr Motorized Sliding Glass Door Opener
Expanding a Lighting Lineup
DMF Launches Enhanced iX Series and DALI Controlled Light Modules
Creating Better Proposals
How Specifi IO’s New Proposal Tool was Built for the CI Channel
A Smart Home Dashboard
Savant Introduces Home Manager Dashboard with System Visibility for Homeowners
Pop-up Laser TV
Screen Innovations Adds Motorized Ultra Short Throw Projector Lift
Elevating Service and Support in NYC
Lean Business Practices Pay Off in a Tough New York Market for Elevated Integration
On to the Next Episode
Snap One Refreshes Episode Home Theater Speaker Line with New Materials and Capabilities
Mike Shanahan's Super Bowl Caliber Integrated Home
Tyson Rabani, owner of Denverbased custom integrator QAV, was introduced to Mike Shanahan and his wife Peggy as a referral from their home’s builder.
The Strength of Consumer Tech Spending
Enthusiasm for Connected Devices Rises in the Face of Economic Difficulty
Designing Immersive Luxury Environments
The Lutron Luxury Experience App Enables Users to Take an Immersive, Virtual Journey Through Lutron Lighting, Shades, and Controls.
Choosing the Best Streaming Service
Balancing the Correct Combination of Devices and Content Sources Based on Your Viewing Preferences
Automating Gas Fireplace Control
How Bond Bridge, Shelly, or Aqara FP2 Can Help Fulfill a Common Integration Request
A Quantum Leap for Video Walls
Quantum Media Systems Achieves DCI Compliance of Its XDR3 LED Video Wall
Creating a Stress-Free Network
NETGEAR Launches PR460X with Insight Remote Cloud Management
Don't Come To My Meeting
As CEO, I've created an unusual meeting policy at my company. It helps build a culture of respect, agency - and substantial productivity, too.
What's Your Ghost Job?
It's one of your five jobs. And if you want to find meaning at work, you must identify all of them.
When Life Is Preparation
Vanesa Ellis was no expert on mosquitoes or lawn care. But as it turns out, something else made her the perfect fit for two home-care franchise brands.
Serving the Underserved
When Dennis Johnson opened a Pizza Ranch in Minnesota, he hoped to serve the nearby Native American communities in more ways than one.
green goddess
Legendary supermodel Amber Valletta turns to designer Ross Cassidy to help craft a truly sustainable new home in LA
CITY OF TOMORROW
As Copenhagen builds on its sustainable success, architect Dan Stubbergaard is championing innovative public spaces and neighborhoods for generations to come
CALI HIGH
Architect Cayley Lambur transforms an iconic Big Sur property into a multigenerational haven that nurtures work and life