ways to get happy

Shooting the breeze may be fun and completely effortless, but small talk wont lead you to a happier life. In one study, people who engaged in the least amount of meaningless chitchat were also the happiest . And speaking of conversation skills, being a good listener may also lead to a greater sense of wellbeing, stronger relationships, and allaround better experiences.

Fact Since it prevents us from accomplishing goals, procrastination diminishes happiness. Avoid putting off tasks and continue working towards your goals in order to give yourself a mental boost. Though conquering something challenging may stress us out while were doing it, it also makes us happier in the long run hey, who doesnt love an accomplishment?. Plus, when we set goals and meet or surpass our hopes and expectations, it can help us feel more purpose and control and boosts our selfesteem.

Whining is generally considered a bad thing and yeah, it can get pretty annoying if youre on the receiving end. Done effectively, however, it can actually benefit our mental health. So what exactly makes complaining effective? When voicing a concern leads to results, which in turn lead to a better mood and selfesteem and feeling empowered, its effective. In other words, complaining done right involves identifying a problem and taking positive action to address it, not just getting stuck in a loopdeloop of complaints.

Building up a nest egg is an important part of a happy life and a financially sound future. One survey found that the more people saved, the happier they tended to be. Putting money aside is also associated with feelings of security, wellbeing, and control. Save some cash here, there, and everywhere with these 94 moneysaving tips.

While its crucial to stash some cash away for a rainy day, indulging in the occasional shopping trip can actually reduce sadness by making us feel more incontrol. While retail therapy seems to be a legit thing, science shows that spending money on others is especially beneficial to happiness. And if you really want to boost your mood, experts suggest combining an actual gift with the gift of your time so both you and your giftee enjoy both the purchase and the time spent together. To reap the moodboosting benefits, enjoy the gift with your loved one whether youre giving an experience, like cooking classes, or something more material, like new golf clubs.

Recognize that what you are feeling is depression. This is an important step in getting better. Oftentimes, depression makes you feel as though this is how you are supposed to feel, and identifying your depression helps you to treat it.
Write down how you feel, and do it regularly. This will help to mentally separate you from your depression, and allow you to analyze and track your emotions, as well as provide valuable information to any doctor you see for treatment.

Studies have shown that the very act of smiling can improve your mood and make you feel happier In addition, laughing releases endorphins, those brain chemicals that enhance your mood.
Even though you may not feel like it, even using those small muscles that facilitate laughing and smiling can make you happier. So, try faking it. It may be forced at first, but laughing or smiling could trigger a funny or happy memory and cause a real laugh or smile to occur.
If you want to try smiling or laughing without the effort, try watching a funny movie, reading a humorous book, or spending time with a friend who you know is likely to make you smile.

Even though you may not want to cry because you are trying to feel better and want to feel happy again, sometimes crying can improve your mood. If you feel the urge to cry, then dont hold back and instead let the tears out when you feel like it. The act of crying might make you feel better and more relieved, as the act of purging the tears can create the sense that you got the sadness off your chest. Studies suggest that a majority of people who cry feel better than they did before they cried. In part this is because crying is one of the bodys natural ways of ridding itself of stress hormones.
However, although it can be helpful to cry to reduce stress and improve your mood, it is important to know that not being able to control your tears may be a sign of a more serious emotional or hormonal issue.If you find that you cannot stop crying, you should seek professional help from a physician or therapist.

What else is in your life that makes it worth living? Try to think about all of the other things that you value in life, such as your friends, family, and health, and youll see that you probably have much to be happy about and thankful for, even if you dont feel very happy or thankful in the moment. Numerous studies have shown that gratitude is deeply connected with happiness.
Think about good memories. If youve lived through them once, you can have them again. Thats the beautiful thing about memories just because things may seem bad right now doesnt mean that theyll be that way tomorrow.
In the case of sadness based on a minor life event, such as getting a bad mark on an assignment, put the event into perspective and consider whether youll feel sad in 10 years and whether the event will even matter then. Consider using that old phrase, dont sweat the small stuff.

Sometimes when we are sad, its hard to think of anything else. However, dwelling on your sadness can actually do more harm than good and can increase feelings of helplessness and Powerlessness.Pleasant distraction can help you focus on something other than your sadness and also reduce your stress scientists call this flow. Youre not avoiding your problems, but instead engaging in an activity where you forget time and place.Here are some examples of ways in which you can distract your mind.
Listen to music. Resist the temptation to go for the sad music. Try listening to energetic, jumpy, soulful, or happy tunes, along with songs that inspire you or remind you of good times. Music can be and is used as a very effective therapeutic tool.
Look at some of your childhood pictures or photos from trips, graduations, and major life events. If a funny one pops up, dont push it away. Savor it. Itll help remind you that life passes by quickly and that there have been a lot of happy and funny moments in your life along with the sad ones.