Did you know that your happiness does not have to be contingent upon the circumstances in your life? Rather, it’s your habits and behaviors that can make the biggest impact on your happiness! One secret to true happiness lies within yourself and your ability to intentionally build healthy behaviors and habits into your daily life. People who prioritize behaviors like making healthy social connections, volunteering, eating healthy, prayer, exercising and getting good sleep tend to be happier than the average person.
Which habits can you start to incorporate immediately when looking to boost happiness?
Gratitude is a great place to start! It’s as easy as writing down at least 3 things in a journal that you are grateful for every day. Once you begin to hone your focus on all that is right in your life, your mind will automatically begin to be drawn to all that you have to be thankful for, and this is truly like medicine for your soul. Pair off gratitude with prayer, and these two are a great power combination to start off your day with. These next disciplines go hand-in-hand and are a great place to start when striving for happiness: eating healthy balanced meals, staying hydrated, exercising daily, and shutting down all electronics and getting a good night’s sleep. This power combination of all of the aforementioned disciplines will affect how you think, how you act, and how you feel — all of which are directly connected to happiness. Another great habit to consider is adding structure to your day. Start by making a mini “to-do” list at night for the following day and assign a timeframe to each task. Then be diligent and work through it once you wake up to see what all you can get accomplished.
Intentionally removing bad habits from your life is a must!
On this journey to cultivate more happiness by incorporating healthy daily habits, it’s equally as important to remove the daily habits that could be causing unhappiness! Start by studying your daily behaviors and notice how those things make you feel throughout your day. For instance, did you eat or drink the wrong things the day before which then caused you to toss and turn all night so you then woke up with no energy or drive to eat right, exercise or be social? How did that work for you, and how did it affect your whole day? Or maybe you had a disagreement with a friend or family member or got offended by what someone said — instead of choosing forgiveness or having a conversation with some healthy conflict resolution, you chose to keep it stuffed inside which left you feeling angry and resentful. Now you have no desire to jot down what you’re grateful for, let alone pray or move forward in accomplishing your daily goals. You get the picture! Take the time to pay attention to yourself and your daily behaviors, and then release the toxins from your life.
Beware of obstacles that could block your progress as you introduce new habits.
Expect it to not be easy initially. Any time you are working on yourself from the inside out, it’s going to feel uncomfortable, and it’s not going to be a whole lot of fun. Some obstacles to be on the lookout for would be your energy level and your attitude. When you are tired or in a bad mood, it’s easier to throw in the towel and quit. Set yourself up for success by being prepared physically, mentally, and emotionally. When you have a bad day, give yourself grace, hit the reset button, and begin again. Remember, failing at something new is pretty much inevitable, so chalk it up as part of the process and don’t stay stuck in it! Make a game plan for removing the bad habits first and give yourself time to adjust, and then begin incorporating the new habits one or two at a time — but take it slow at first. Remember to be consistent and persistent until the new behaviors automatically become a part of your daily routine.
How can these new habits actually make you happy?
Waking up and having a purpose within each day can help to keep those “rogue” thoughts reined in the right direction. Choosing gratitude instead of a bad attitude sets the tone for a happy heart. Once you begin to recognize that these healthy habits are leading you to a healthier, more fulfilled lifestyle, you will start to feel a sense of accomplishment about yourself. Just start off with baby steps like making your bed, eating breakfast, taking your vitamins, and then brushing your teeth every morning. Once you’ve mastered those, move on to some more challenging changes you want to introduce. Strive for progress, not for perfection. Setting the tone for each day with intentionality will not only give you traction and momentum, but it can leave you feeling happy from the inside out!