5 Habits That Are Guaranteed to Make You Happier

Are you happy? If you live in Finland or Denmark, your answer is likely to be yes. Canadians and Americans, on the other hand, fall a little lower on the happiness scale. But what is happiness anyway, and can you achieve it?  

Happiness is subjective and depends on many different factors, some of which are out of your control. Luckily, our happiness is also largely determined by the choices we make, meaning we can take our wellbeing into our own hands. Read on to learn the 5 habits that are guaranteed to make you happier, and empower yourself to improve your mental health.

1. Make an effort to help others  

Striving to make others happy is one of the best things you can do for your own happiness. Helping others is a win-win: it creates a more positive environment for everyone else and has endless benefits for your mental health. You’ll build a sense of purpose, which is key for living a happy life. You’ll also gain more confidence and build a stronger connection with the people around you. Whether it’s comforting a friend in tough times, complimenting someone, or offering to help someone out when they’re overwhelmed, a little goes a long way. 

Of course, you want to be careful that you don’t prioritize everyone else’s wellbeing and neglect your own. Don’t give so much that you have no time or energy left to spend on yourself. Just look for more opportunities to help others throughout your day when possible to promote a happier mindset for yourself and others.

2. Acknowledge that you deserve to be happy

The main barrier to happiness for many people is that they don’t believe they deserve it. Make it a habit to remind yourself that no matter what place your life or mental health is at now, you can improve it. And you are worth the work it takes to make those improvements.

Make a commitment to invest in yourself every once in a while. When possible, splurge on a trip or new experience, or seek counselling if you need it. Try to invest in experiences that will benefit you in the long term, rather than material things that only provide temporary satisfaction (more on that in # 3). You can also invest in yourself by spending more time learning about ways to maximize your happiness and wellbeing – like you are right now by reading this article.

3. Don’t rely on external validation for inner peace

We’ve all heard tragic stories about the lives of famous, successful people and thought, how could someone who has everything be so broken? The media we’re exposed to every day trains us to associate happiness with things outside of ourselves. “After you purchase this diet plan and lose the weight, you’ll be happy.” “Get this purse, this dress, this car, and you’ll be happy.” As most of us know from experience, material things and outward success might serve as temporary mood boosters, but they won’t bring true fulfillment. Working on yourself is what brings inner peace; external validation won’t. What’s important is that you build a strong sense of self, and reach a point where you are content whether you have a lavish or simple lifestyle. 

4. Be grateful for the little things

As you go about your day, look for opportunities to have positive experiences. Take a moment to acknowledge the little things that add value to your life. It could be something that you do all the time without a second thought: having your first cup of coffee in the morning, listening to your favorite song on the way to work, spending time with people you love. Notice how you feel in these moments. Are you happy? Satisfied? Relaxed? Let this feeling soak in and take a moment to be grateful for having the chance to experience it.  

5. Monitor your diet

Sometimes, no matter how much of an effort you make to improve your mental health, you might still feel down because of the effects of your diet and exercise habits. You might notice that you have intense mood swings after eating a lot of processed food, or that you feel more energized when you eat healthier. Even if you have a balanced diet, you could have food intolerances that are negatively affecting your mood. If you find yourself feeling down for no reason, get into the habit of monitoring how you feel after each meal. You might feel happier after eliminating or reducing your intake of certain foods, and increasing others.

There’s no magic formula for happiness. The answer is different for everyone, but these five easy habits have proven to be a great place to start. Implement them into your self-care routine to become the happiest, healthiest version of you.