Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions. ~Dalai Lama
You’re not alone in your search for it. There are hundreds, maybe thousands of websites dedicated to it. Authors have written thousands of books about it. Television has had a plethora of talk shows for it. And literally, billions of dollars are spent every year in search of it. The funny thing is that there are some simple ways to find it each day.
Happiness is an elusive thing for many people. The problem with finding happiness is that we look so hard for it sometimes we don’t it’s right under our noses.
What would happen if we began to take joy in little, meaningful activities each and every day? And what if some of those things just happened to help us feel a little healthier too?
Chocolate for Breakfast and 6 Other Simple Ways to Be Happier Each Day
Here is a list of really simple things you can enjoy in some capacity that will make your day and your life a lot happier. When we stop taking them for granted and appreciate each moment, good things begin to happen.
1. Chocolate for Breakfast
Sounds amazing, doesn’t it? I eat a few pieces of dark chocolate every single day during breakfast. Dark chocolate is high in antioxidants, which are a very good thing. They help diffuse free radicals (bad), which have been linked to cancer and other diseases. The cocoa in dark chocolate can also stimulate blood flow and ease blood pressure. All that is great, but it also stimulates my happy senses when I taste that rich, creamy flavor. It really gets my day off to a good start.
2. Coffee in the morning
What a great way to start the day.
The toasty aromas that waft through my house every morning are somehow comforting. And when I drink a good cup of joe, I savor each sip. Coffee not only helps me wake up in the morning, it helps spark my happiness. It’s just one more, good thing to appreciate to start the day.
3. Afternoon tea
Along the same lines as coffee, a great cup of tea in the afternoon is a soothing way to transition into the latter part of the day. It has less caffeine than coffee and also has some amazing health benefits. Green tea is extremely high in antioxidants and some research suggests that the elements in green tea may help knock out bacteria that can cause heart disease.
Sounds like something you can feel good about drinking.
4. Exercise
You see it on all kinds of lists. And here it is again.
Exercise makes you feel better for a number of reasons. It gets your heart pumping, endorphins get cracking, and you just feel good about yourself for doing something healthy for your body.
On top of that, try going outside. Being outside is natural for humans. The fresh air and the sunshine can do wonders for your happiness.
Why do you think people get cranky if they’re stuck inside for too long? We are just happier when we’re outside.
5. Fruit Smoothie
Satisfy your sweet tooth. Get lots of vitamins and minerals. And feel good about doing something healthy for your body.
It’s almost too good to be true. My smoothie recipe calls for a few cups of almond milk, a little vegetable protein powder (strawberry flavor), frozen strawberries, blueberries, and one fresh banana.
Makes me happy just thinking about it.
6. Stop and smell the roses
I know this can sound a little cheesy, but trust me it works.
One of the most memorable sensory perceptions we humans have is the sense of smell. Giving yourself a few moments with some sweet smelling flowers is a natural way to of relaxing the mind and making you feel happier, even if you’re just stopping by the florist in the grocery store for a few moments.
7. A hot bath
This one really speaks for itself.
I take a relaxing, hot bath almost every weekend. The hot water soothes muscles and calms the mind. Taking a hot bath is a great way to ease into your very own little happy place. It can be easy to focus on the difficulties life can throw at you. Instead, try finding little things you can enjoy each day that will boost your happiness level just a tad. Before you know it, you will be soaring.
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Ernest Dempsey
Ernest Dempsey is a fiction author and writes about personal growth on his blog. He has also been a Master’s level counselor for the last decade. Find out more about his books and check out his inspiring posts by visiting www.ernestdempsey.net or follow him on Twitter.
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