50 Ways To Be Happy Every Day

By Marilynn McLachlan
27th Mar 2017

We get it—you’re stressed, your 40-hour week is more like 70 hours, and you’ve got bills to pay, mouths to feed and happiness seems like an elusive dream that you haven’t felt since you were in primary school.

Here’s the good news—you don’t have to run away to the mountains and live a life of solitude to get the good vibes going. By just making a few changes every day, you can turn that frown upside down!

  1. Spend five minutes with a good friend. A good ol’ chinwag works wonders.
  2. Stretch.
  3. Hug a tree.
  4. Laugh, even when you don’t feel like it. Your emotions will catch on soon enough.
  5. Watch cat videos on YouTube.
  6. Call your mum, dad or parent substitute. Ain’t nobody going to love you like they do.
  7. Play with a dog. Don’t own one? Offer to dog-sit.
  8. Or a baby. That sweet little soul will put everything into perspective.
  9. Do a good deed
  10. Listen to music. No, not that depressing stuff that will have you in tears. Think Happy, Walking on Sunshine or Blame It On The Boogie.
  11. Dance (as if you couldn’t while listening to those songs).
  12. Download Blinkist and listen to a book that inspires you.
  13. Exercise. We know you don’t have the time or the energy, but we promise it’s worth it.
  14. Eat chocolate. Not so much you feel guilty, but enough to release those endorphins.
  15. Do something creative.
  16. Practice mindfulness.
  17. Watch a Ted Talk.
  18. Go for a drive. Turn up that music and sing as loudly and as badly as you can.
  19. Say no.
  20. Remember that favourite childhood book of yours? Find it and read it again.
  21. Clear some clutter—literally.
  22. Watch the sunrise or sunset. 
  23. Have an attitude of gratitude.
  24. And while you’re at it, keep a gratitude diary. List just three things a day and, before long, you’ll have all the happy memories to look back on.
  25. Head to your local cafe and savour a cuppa.
  26. Create a vision board.
  27. Smile.
  28. Set goals. It’s good to know where you’re heading.
  29. Start a savings account. Even if it’s $5 a week, compound interest and the regular habit will make you feel like you’re achieving something.
  30. Organise a party or a date with your besties.
  31. Find a life mantra.
  32. Write down your worry list and share it with someone who cares. They won’t be as bad as you think.
  33. Binge watch a comedy show. 
  34. Take a long, luxurious bath filled with bubbles and surrounded by candles.
  35. Buy yourself some flowers.
  36. Take a nap.
  37. Do some baking.
  38. Try meditating. The Headspace app is a good place to start.
  39. Ditch the news for a day.
  40. Go to the library.
  41. Walk around your local park.
  42. Put on that outfit that makes you feel like a million dollars.
  43. Ditch toxic people. Who needs them?
  44. Breath deeply, all the way into your stomach so it swells like a balloon.
  45. Plan a trip away.
  46. Do some yoga. Ease into it with this 30 Days of Yoga YouTube series.
  47. Step. Away. From. Your. Phone.
  48. Pamper yourself by having a facial, your eyebrows done—anything to make you feel great!
  49. Look at photos from previous holidays.
  50. Plant a garden.

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Image Credit: Legally Blonde

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