How to Be Happy: 10 Secrets for Long-Lasting Happiness

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“I just want to be happy“…How many times have you said this? And how many times, instead, did you do something about it?

What if you got the concept of happiness all wrong, though?

What if I could tell you that there are some practices you could adopt in your daily life to feel happier, starting today?

Happiness is quite simple, yet we tend to overcomplicate it.

If you’re ready to stop saying “I want to live a happier life” and actually do something, then you’re in the right place!

In this post, you’ll discover 10 simple tips to be happy in your everyday life!

Are you ready to start your path to happiness? Then, let’s get started!

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Last update: February, 26

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1. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

Your mindset is the number one thing you need to work on if you want to be happy.

That’s why the first thing you must do to live a happier life is to take responsibility for it!

If your life sucks, it’s not anybody’s fault – but yours.

It’s a harsh truth to swallow but, at the same time, isn’t that so freeing?

You got to this point in your life because of your past decisions. So, just imagine where you could get if you decided to change your life, today!

It’s so easy to play the role of victim in life: you complain about your reality, but never take action.

Here are some examples of what someone playing the role of victim might say:

• I’m stuck at a job I hate, but what else could I do?
• Why do bad things always happen to me?
• Oh, it’s so easy for her/him to [insert anything you aren’t doing]
• What’s the point of trying to develop healthy habits if I always fall back on old negative patterns?
• Nobody cares about me anyway

If any of these sound familiar to you, it means something has to change.

Once you realize living a fulfilling life is your responsibility and no one else’s, you’ll see how much potential lies in your hands.

If you want to feel happier in your daily life, but don’t like your current situation, there are two things you could do:

• You can change the situation
• You can accept your situation

It’s either you work on the external factors, or you work on your mindset and adjust your perspective.

Either way, it’s up to you.

The sooner you take responsibility for your life, the sooner you’ll start taking the right actions that will make you feel happier.

2. LIVE IN THE PRESENT MOMENT

If you spend most of your days thinking about the past or worrying about the future, no wonder you can’t be happy!

It’s time for you to let go of the past, forget about the future, and focus on what really matters: the present moment.

You have no power over your past. What’s done, it’s done! There’s no way of changing it.

You could blame your neglecting parents, your negative experience in middle school, or the douchebag of your boyfriend for how messed up you are right now.

But, is blaming them going to make you feel better? Nope!

Also, you could stress over the future and what could happen in the worst-case scenario. But, is that going to make you feel better or just more anxious? (Yeah, that’s what I thought…)

The only moment you should focus on is here and now.

Your power to make a change lies in the here and now.

And what’s one of the best ways to deeply connect with the current moment? Yes, you guessed it right: meditation!

Meditation can help you connect more deeply with the present moment.

Start simple: meditate for 2 minutes every day, then extend your daily practice to whatever length feels good.

Personally, I meditate for 5 minutes each morning – I find it such a great way to start my day on a positive note 🙂

3. LIMIT SCREEN TIME

To be happier, there is one thing that you should drastically cut off from your life as I’m sure you over-abuse it daily…(and no, I’m not talking about your lattes!) 😉

If you go check your daily usage time on your phone, what is it? (Honestly, I’m curious to know so feel free to drop a comment below)

While social media might have enabled us to connect with people who are far away from us, they also have taken a high toll on our mental well-being.

Prioritizing virtual connection, we lost sight of who is in front of us.

There is a whole world out there, yet we’re too busy staring at a screen.

It’s so easy to miss out on the beauty around you when you’re not even looking.

To be happy in your everyday life, try to limit the amount of time spent online and enjoy more the beauty of what’s around you.

4. EXPRESS GRATITUDE DAILY

Another great way to feel happier is to express gratitude daily.

“When you focus on the good, the good gets better”

Esther Hicks

Personally, I like ending my days on a positive note by mentally saying ‘thanks’ for 3 things that I’m most grateful for on that given day.

Here are some ways to express your gratitude:

• Start a gratitude journal
• Write down 3 things you’re grateful for each day, either in the morning or evening
• Mentally say ‘thanks’ to anything you’re grateful for
• Give an honest compliment to someone
• Take a moment, before you eat your food, to express gratitude
• See the good also in the bad things
• Make someone you love feel seen and appreciated

Again, it’s so easy to be happy in life! You just have to remind yourself of all the great things that are in it.

5. SET A GOAL FOR THE FUTURE

If it’s true that I mentioned in #2 that you should live in the present moment, it’s also true that there’s nothing that can excite you more than having something to look forward to.

This doesn’t mean that you should live your life on a countdown. It should just function as a reminder that great things are coming!

So, what is one thing that you can plan to have something to look forward to? Here are some ideas:

• Buy a ticket for a concert
• Organize a weekend getaway with your friends or partner
• Plan a road trip for the summer
• Call a friend to schedule a brunch date for the weekend
• Book that dreamy vacation

There is so much joy in knowing that something that makes us feel excited is about to happen.

Give that joy to yourself!

6. MOOD BOOSTERS

Looking for easier and more practical ways to be happy, starting today?

Well, then why don’t you try out one simple activity that’s proven to boost your mood?

Here is a list of the best mood-boosting activities you could try:

• Have a little dance party in your living room
• Paint
• Listen to your favorite songs and sing them aloud
• Bake a delicious cake or cookies
• Try gardening
• Experiment in the kitchen with a new recipe
• Go for a hot girl walk
• Grab your favorite coffee order at a cute café
• Practice yoga
• Go to a Zumba class
• Tan at the beach or in your backyard
• Go for a run
• Watch a funny movie
• Eat some chocolate
• Call a friend

If you don’t know where to start, ask yourself: “What did bring me joy when I was a kid?”. That’s a great starting point to add some happiness to your daily routine.

7. DON’T GET STUCK INSIDE

Another great tip to feel happier is to not get stuck inside.

What does this mean? Well, I mean both physically and mentally.

Researchers found that spending time in nature has many benefits for your health. For example, it can:

• Boost your mood
• Improve your concentration
• Reduce your stress level
• Ground you in the present moment
• Boost your creativity
• Improve your physical health

This is your sign to go out more often!

Really, just expose yourself to the outside world – even for 20 minutes a day.

Not only physically, but also mentally you shouldn’t get stuck inside.

Inside = Your head

Overthinking, dwelling on the past, and bottling up your emotions won’t likely make you happier…

So, stop living in your head!

You’re preventing yourself from experiencing so much joy – especially if your headspace is not a safe or positive one.

RELATED: Learn how to “Get Rid of Your Negative Throughs in 5 Steps”

Here are some ways in which you could stop being stuck inside – both in your head and at home:

• Go for a meditative walk
• Journal it out
• Practice gentle movement (such as yoga or pilates)
• Meditate
• Call your parents
• Go for a hike
• Hangout with your friends
• Enjoy a solo date at the park
• Read
• Reach out to people – be the one to make the first move!

Don’t make the mistake of letting life pass by, while you’re too focused on what’s going on in your head.

8. RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

If you think you can be happy only once you have more, you’re underestimating the potential that giving has on your happiness level.

How excited do you feel when someone you love is about to open the present you’ve carefully picked?

How good does it feel to see them smile as they open your gift?

You have the power to make someone else’s day.

All it takes is one small gesture.

One small, random act of kindness.

Allow yourself to experience the joy of giving, without expecting anything in return.

What are some random acts of kindness you could make to improve someone else’s day – and your own? Here are some ideas:

• Pay the coffee for the stranger in line after you
• Open the door to someone
• Smile when crossing someone down the street
• Say ‘Have a good day’ to workers
• Give a nice compliment to someone you know
• Prepare a nice meal for your loved one
• Volunteer for a good cause
• Say ‘Thank you’ more often

It takes only one small act of kindness to make this world a better world.

9. SELF-CARE

Self-care should be one of your top priorities if you want to be happy in life.

It is good for the body, mind, and soul.

Self-care is all about taking care of your body, nurturing your mind, and doing what makes you feel at your best.

There’s no need to overcomplicate things when it comes down to self-care – even 10 intentional minutes can do the trick.

What are some of the best ways to practice self-care in your daily life? Let’s explore them below!

BODY

• Stretch in the morning after waking up, even for only 5 minutes
• Drink at least 2L of water daily
• Eat the rainbow (aka plenty of fruits and veggies in your meals)
• Walk barefoot in the grass
• Take 3 deep breaths before every meal
• Spend plenty of time in nature, whether it is exercising or just sitting still
• Smile 🙂

MIND

• Write your thoughts on paper
• Read a good book
• Watch an inspiring moving or a documentary
• Get enough sleep
• Let your creativity flow, whether that’s through painting, writing, dancing
• Listen to a motivational TedTalk or podcast
• Have a brain dump session to free your mind

SOUL

• Meditate daily, even only for 2 minutes
• Be aware of your negative thinking patterns
• Comfort yourself as you’d do with your best friend
• Limit your screen time usage
• Sit in silence and stillness, with no distractions
• Visualize your dream life
• Spend intentional time doing a task, whether that’s washing the dishes or making your bed

These activities require no more than a couple of minutes of your day.

Make some time for yourself. Your well-being is important.

10. ROMANTICIZE YOUR LIFE

Last but not least, one of the best ways to feel happier is to romanticize your life.

This is a trend that has become popular recently and – if you’re on TikTok – you definitely know what I’m talking about!

Romanticizing your life means finding the beauty in the small, mundane things.

It’s all about making the ordinary feel extraordinary!

So, to give you some inspiration, here are some of the best ways you could romanticize your life:

• Wear a cute little matching fit on your next hot girl walk
• Go buy that overpriced latte if it brings you joy – why not?!
• Turn watching a movie into a ‘movie night full experience’: grab some popcorn and your drink of choice
• Have a self-care Sunday: bubble bath, face mask, light a candle, paint your nails
• Sip your morning coffee outside, fully in the present moment
• Dress up and do your make-up even if you have nowhere to go
• Buy yourself flowers
• Have a picnic at the beach or the park
• Get yourself that little treat you really wanted 🙂

Find a way to elevate the mundane, and you’ll start loving your life more!

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Hopefully, with these 10 tips, you’ll be happy in your everyday life 🙂

Remember that happiness is something you can feel, right here and right now. So stop looking around for it – because it’s already within you!

Q: “What is #1 thing that makes you happy?” – Share it in a comment, I’d love to hear from you! 🙂

Until next time,

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