Instant Happiness

25 ways to improve your mood, enliven your spirits and increase your happiness

1. Exercise. It doesn’t matter how, just move your body. Get your heart pumping. 

2. Laugh.  Watch a funny movie.  Go to a local comedy show. Tell a joke. Or just laugh at life’s little surprises.

3. Talk. Open the floodgates and let it all out.

4. Play. Let out your inner child. Don’t worry about looking foolish. Swing on the swings. Splash in rain puddles. Lie in the grass and watch the clouds roll by. Allow yourself to have fun. You deserve it.

5. Color. Embrace color.  Colors are widely known to influence your mood. Surround yourself with happy bright colors.

6. Music.  Listen to upbeat happy music with positive messages.

7. Get outside. Natural settings enhance your mood. Spend time appreciating nature, even if it’s just a walk in the park.  

8. Novelty.  Do something different.  Anything positive as long as it is out of your normal routine.

9. Aromatherapy. Take advantage of uplifting scents such as basil, bergamot, lemon, Clary sage, rose, rosemary and sandalwood.

10. Smile.

11. Appreciate.  Count your blessings, literally.  Make a list of all the good aspects in your life. You may be surprised.

12. Do a kindness for someone. It feels great. a win win situation for everyone.

13. Sing. Sing along to your favorite song. Any song will do. Be loud and proud.

14. Challenge yourself.  Go out of your comfort zone.  Whether it is climbing a mountain, learning a language or just saying “Hello” to the mail carrier.

15. Friends. Look up an old friend. Make a new one. Friends are like gold.

16. Vacation.  Play tourist in your own town.  Visit the local attractions, take pictures.

17. Dance. Wherever, whenever you can.  

18. Garden. Dig in the dirt. Plant a tree. Pot up a tomato plant. No space is too small. Even a few herbs on the windowsill can lift one’s mood.

19. Animals.  Pet your pet and if you don’t have one consider getting one.  Maybe befriend a neighborhood cat or visit the animals in the zoo.

20. Touch.  Reach out and touch someone. Give a hug.  Get a hug. Human contact is essential to happiness.

21. Create.  Make something, anything counts. You are only limited by your own imagination.

22. Listen. Stop. Be still and just listen for 5 minutes. Notice all the sounds you hear and try to identify each one.

23. Eat. Healthy food is happy food.

    

    Image via Wikipedia

24. Sleep. Take a nap.  Linger in bed on the weekends a little longer. Sleep can do wonders.

25. Nothing. Learn the art of nothingness. Allow yourself this luxury once in a while. 

There are really a million actions one can take for an excellent dose of instant happiness.  These scant 25 are only a beginning….what I think is of real importance here is a person’s attitude.  Happiness is a state of mind, after all.

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.”

**Helen Keller**

What do you do for a dose of Instant happiness.  Let me know and we can add it to the list.

Have a happy day!

Image via Wikipedia

Strawberryindigo.