5 Simple Ways to Be Happy

We all want to be happy. But what is happiness?

Here's one definition…

Happiness is simply the ability to not want more; to find gratitude and satisfaction in the moment that you have right now. In other words, your happiness hinges on living in the moment instead of yearning for some future indicator of success.

Here’s the best way I know to live in the moment…

Express gratefulness.

Appreciating what you have right now automatically brings you into the present. It allows you to get past the dissatisfaction of wanting a bigger house or a better relationship or a better job and experience what you have right now.

With that thought in mind, here are five ways to boost your gratefulness on a daily basis and find lasting happiness.

   1. Exercise: 7 Minutes Could Be Enough

Exercise has such a profound effect on our happiness and well-being that it is an effective strategy for overcoming depression. You don't have to be depressed to benefit from exercise, though. Exercise can help you relax, increase your brain power, and even improve your body image, even if you don't lose any weight

2. Sleep More: 

We know that sleep helps our body recover from the day and repair itself and that it helps us focus and be more productive. It turns out sleep is also important for happiness.

3. Spend More Time With Friends/Family: Money Can't Buy You Happiness

Staying in touch with friends and family is one of the top five regrets of the dying. If you want more evidence that time with friends is beneficial for you, research proves it can make you happier right now, too.

4. Meditate: Rewire Your Brain for Happiness

Meditation is often touted as an important habit for improving focus, clarity, and attention span, as well as helping to keep you calm. It turns out it's also useful for improving your happiness:

5. Practice Gratitude: Increase Happiness and Satisfaction

This is a seemingly simple strategy but I've personally found it to make a huge difference to my outlook. There are lots of ways to practice gratitude, from keeping a journal of things you're grateful for, sharing three good things that happen each day with a friend or your partner, and going out of your way to show gratitude when others help you.