5 Things to do Every Day to Make You Happier

Nic Marks is a happiness expert and researcher. He spoke at today’s TEDGlobal program, discussing the Happy Planet Index and offered 5 things to do each day to make yourself happier:

• Connect with those important to you. Social relationships are cornerstone of happiness.
• Be Active. Fastest way out of bad mood: Walk, go outside, turn on radio & dance.
• Notice seasons, changes, and also what’s happening with YOU.
• Keep learning. The word “keep” is important. it’s a life-long endeavor and it keeps us happy.
• Give: People who spend on others are happier than those who spend on themselves.

I have a thing or two to say about happiness, but I’ll keep it brief. There was a time in my life when I was sad. Really sad. Depressed even. Yeah, you can say that I was depressed. I took the meds + therapy route, which helped a lot, but I got to the point where I wanted to be happy naturally. With my doctor’s guidance, I weaned off the pills, started exercising more, started eating healthier, cooking my own food and began hanging out with family and friends more. I weaned off the toxic people (you are the company that you keep), meaning the disrespectful, obnoxious and rude as well as the two-faced people (I’m positive that everyone has encountered or is friends with someone with this characteristic).

These days, I surround myself with people who inspire me, make me laugh, and drive me to do good awesome things in the world. I love hanging out with friends who can teach me something. Anything. I thrive on learning. I also love eating. I love my job. And I love running. The running helps me wind down and reconnect with myself and my goals at the end of the day.

I also regularly do volunteer work. I’m fortunate to work for a company that offers so many volunteer opportunities to its employees.

I can vouch for Nic Marks’ list—I’m living proof! I’m at a very happy point in my life. These 5 points probably generate the same amount of—if not more—serotonin in a person’s body that can be found in one happy pill.

If I could add one thing to Nic’s list, it would be: Let go. Worries, stress, frustrations, pain—at the end of the day, just let go. It’s not worth it to stress over something, especially if you don’t have control over it.

This picture was taken at 13,000 feet during one of the darker points in my life. But, letting go left me feeling pumped with adrenaline, high on life and feeling really good. My mind was blank and I squealed in delight as my tandem partner counted, “1…2…3!” then jumped out of the plane. Yes, I squealed, you can hear it in the video.

I think I’m still squealing in delight.

List taken from June Cohen’s Twitterfeed.

Advertisement