Stop doing these ten things and you’ll be well on your way to a happier you.
1. Dwelling on the past
Focusing
too much on past events doesn’t allow you to live in the present or
strive for the future. You can’t change the past and focusing on
something without a solution is sure to put you in a melancholy mood.
It’s better to live in the present, and to channel your energies to what
you can do as opposed to what you can’t.
2. Being complacent
It's important to focus
on what you have right now, but you can attain sustainable happiness by
thinking about what you want in the future and setting the groundwork
to get there. Whether it's for something major like working toward a new
job or as minor as starting a new hobby, expanding your skills could
lead to new and exciting opportunities.
3. Spending hours on social media
Recent
research at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine concluded
that social media usage and depression have a symbiotic relationship.
Researchers cited what we all know about social media, but sometimes
forget to acknowledge -- people post the best versions of themselves
online. This leads to envy, and envy leads to despair. Remember that
everyone does things at his or her own pace. Turn off your screen and
start living your own life, not vicariously through others.
4. Forgetting about JOMO
Social
media causes FOMO -- the fear of missing out. Instead, think about JOMO
-- the joy of missing out. Practice mindfulness, which is the mental
state of being completely aware and engaged in the present. Being
mindful opens you up to experiencing new things that you have otherwise
overlooked -- and, just as importantly, often blocks out unneeded
distractions.
5. Overlooking small joys
Nice
weather. A cute puppy running toward you. A really great run. There are
24 hours in a day, and during that time, something pleasant is bound to
happen, if only for a minute. Show appreciation for the little things
in life.
6. Staying on the couch
Exercise
has long been linked with happiness. When you exercise, your brain
releases endorphins and monoamines. These brain chemicals help the body
deal with pain, stress and certain mental disorders like anxiety.
There’s a reason why “runner’s high” has become a household
term: Exercising makes you feel better.
7. Letting unpleasant events affect your whole day
All
too often, people subconsciously choose to be angry. Little things
bother us, and we let that negative energy seep into our entire day.
Unpleasant events happen to everyone. Choose which things truly matter
to you, and let go of the things that don’t. If you spend less time
dwelling on negative thoughts, you open yourself up to receiving happier
ones.
8. Holding grudges
Grudges are associated with anger, hurt and negative feelings toward someone. While you can acknowledge you’ve been slighted,
holding onto such overwhelming emotions does not promote happiness.
Instead, try to forgive. Think about why you were hurt. Be empathetic
toward the other person, and, if necessary, express your feelings. If
all goes well, you’ll both have a deeper relationship and understanding
of each other. If not, forgive anyway.
9. Ignoring relationships
In
today’s digitally driven world, making time for face-to-face
connections is increasingly difficult. But for that reason, it’s
increasingly necessary. Numerous research has proven that people with
friends don't just live more fulfilled lives -- they also recover from
illness more quickly, they have a lower risk of various diseases and
they tend to think more positively because they know that they have
people to support them.
10. Forgetting to make time for the things you love
What
is your passion? Regardless of how silly, small or difficult, be sure
to carve out time to pursue activities that bring you joy. Time is
always of the essence in today’s world, but you’ll feel like a hamster
running on a wheel if you don’t stop for a moment to foster the things
that you truly love.
More often than not, happiness is a choice.
Hopefully, it’s not a hard one to make. It’s about taking the time to
think about what truly matters and making sure you follow through on
whatever that may be.
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