Happiness… we spend our lives looking for it and many times we have it right in front of our eyes, in the small things (and people) that surround us. But of course, the hustle, stress, and worries of daily life cloud our minds and don't let us appreciate them.
In divain, we want to present you a series of small actions you can incorporate into your daily routine that will make you see life differently. Apply them and you will see how it will be hard to lose your smile.
And if in addition to doing these actions, you apply one of these 10 perfumes that attract positive energy, happiness and positivity will be even more present in your life.
The 4 hormones of happiness
But before seeing what you can do to be happier in your day to day, let's see what the hormones of happiness.
Considered the natural morphine that the body secretes, endorphins are produced in response to stress or discomfort, although they are also generated when performing activities that have rewards (such as eating or exercising) or when we interact with those around us. They block bad thoughts and immerse you in a pleasurable state.
Serotonin is a hormone and neurotransmitter that helps to regulate mood, sleep, appetite, or learning ability.
Although it is popularly known as the "hormona del amor", oxytocin is much more, since promotes empathy, trust, and bonding in personal relationships. They increase with the displays of affection from the people we love.
This hormone and neurotransmitter is responsible for providing well-being to the brain, so it is known as "the well-being hormone". It is related to pleasurable sensations as well as to the learning or the feeling active.
As explains the researcher and emeritus professor of the California State University, Loretta G. Breuning, this “quartet of happiness" doesn't arise all the time. The brain cannot force the appearance of these hormones voluntarily, but they must be activated through performing a series of actions.
And now comes the big question… how to activate the happiness hormones? With these small actions that we show you below.
What to do to be happy
Laughing
Something as simple as laughter marks a before and after in our emotional state. It is the bell that announces a happy person. Laughter prevents stress and is the best way to combat negative emotions, because when we laugh, massive production of endorphins is triggered and cortisol levels (also known as the stress hormone) are reduced.
Getting up early
Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise (and the happiness hormone) helps. We know that lazing in bed on a Sunday may seem like one of the best things in life, but being actives make us feel much better.
With this we don't mean that you have to get up at ungodly hours without having rested well. According to a study by the University of Toronto, the people early risers tend to be more positive and to be more satisfied than people night owls, which show higher rates of depression and pessimism.
They claim this is related to circadian rhythms, since if you go to bed earlier and get up earlier, your body is in tuning with the revolutions of the mother Earth.
Spending time outdoors (if it's in nature, even better)
Being in contact with nature or in a quiet outdoor environment reduces stress levels. Who hasn't felt completely renewed after taking a walk through a forest or a deserted beach? Breathing some fresh air is one of the greatest pleasures life can give us.
Exercising
You don't need to become an elite athlete, but experts say that doing at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day prevents discomfort and depression and makes us feel much better about ourselves. This is because, when exercising, the dopamine and serotonin levels increase.
Disconnecting from the world
It is proven that turning off the phone a few minutes a day makes us feel much more relaxed since the cortisol levels (the stress hormone) decrease. Try turning it off and staying away from the Internet for at least 15 minutes a day. You'll see how during that time you are much happier.
Socializing and being kind
The interpersonal relationships favor interpersonal relationships activation of 3 of the 4 happiness hormones (oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin). Humans are social beings, so feeling loved and part of the world is essential for good development and to achieve happiness.
On the other hand, kindness helps improve self-esteem and mood. Don't you feel happy when you help someone and they smile and thank you?
So you know, if you want to be a little happier, incorporate these small actions into your daily life. You will see how they will make a big change in your attitude, and therefore, in your life.
10 things you must stop doing to be happy
But of course, it's not enough to do things that make us feel better, but rather you must avoid at all costs those that give us bad vibes. Here is a quick decalogue of the 10 things you MUST NOT do under any circumstances if you want to be happier and feel better:
- Having to have everything under control (if you do, stress will take over you).
- Extreme self-demand. Self-criticism is fine, but don't overdo it or beat yourself up.
- Having a closed mind. If you keep it that way, you are missing out on great things in life and the opportunity to be happier.
- Complaining excessively. If you do, you enter a loop of unhappiness you won't be able to escape, and it will also be harder for you to see feasible solutions to your problems.
- Pretending to be someone you're not to please others. That extra effort wears you down and causes unhappiness since it is the opposite of self-acceptance. Also, it can't be maintained over time (a liar is caught sooner than a lame person).
- Clinging to the past. The past is past, you have to embrace the future and never hold on to what could have been and wasn't.
- Living your life according to others' expectations.
- Criticizing everything and everyone around you.
- Taking on other people's responsibilities.
- Resisting change.
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