There is an article from a blog floating around on the internet that I read the other day entitled, “10 Simple Things You can Do Today that Will Make You Happier, Backed By Science.” (Click HERE to check it out) I skimmed thought his article pretty quickly, but funny enough, it keeps sneaking into my psyche. I have been referring back to its list in my head as if reaffirming what I read. As a result, I thought I’d share its key points with all of you. Here are the “10 Simple Things” it says that will make your laugh happy….with my commentary tagged on the end of each one.
1. Exercise More — 7 minutes might be enough………………..Holy hell! I guess I should probably add this into my life!
2. Sleep More — You’ll be less sensitive to negative emotions…………………....I definitely do not sleep enough, and yes, it makes me crabby.
3. Move Closer to Work – a shorter commute is worth more than a big house……………………Yes! Finally I got one on the list! It takes me between 10-20 minutes to get to any of my schools with hardly no traffic!
4. Spend Time With Family and Friends – Don’t regret it on your death bed……………………I probably could do more of this, because yes, I really do cherish the time I spend with my friends and family.
5. Go Outside – Happiness is maximized at 13.9 Degrees C………………………………..That’s a hard concept to swallow when you are in the middle of summer in the desert!
6. Help Others – 100 Hours a year is a magical number………………………Yes! I agree! There is nothing like giving back to your community.
7. Practice smiling – It Can Alleviate Pain……………………….I think smiling comes from within. Does smiling when you don’t feel like smiling really work?
8. Plan a Trip – But don’t take one…………………………..I totally get this! How many times have I been on vacation when i come home more exhausted than when I left?
9. Meditate – Rewire Your Brain For Happiness…………………………I think there are different forms of meditation. Sitting and just breathing makes me a little nutty, but sitting and zoning out while I’m singing/playing guitar or crafting is almost meditative for me.
10. Practice Gratitude – Increase both happiness and life satisfaction………………………..Seriously! How could you feel bad when you are feeling blessed. The good news is that we are ALL blessed. It’s a beautiful thought!
So, there it is. The list that I have been thinking about over and over again. The truth is, I don’t practice even half of these 10 items, but I am basically an all around happy and upbeat person. Imagine how much happier I could be if I really did embrace each one of these items in my life? Check out the article to read about the scientific evidence behind each one. I can assure you…..it’s a wise article.
Of course, my song today needed to be a happy song. I’ve always loved “Feelin’ Groovy” by Simon and Garfunkel. It’s impossible not to smile when hearing it, so click HERE to to watch it and to taking one simple step towards happiness with your day. You’ll be glad you did.