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  CONTENTS

  Introduction

  #1. Decide to Be Happy

  #2. Gaze at a Gorgeous You

  #3. Eat Carbs

  #4. Seduce Someone

  #5. Schedule Downtime at Work

  #6. Rescue an Animal

  #7. Party Like It’s Cinco de Mayo

  #8. Help Sick Kids

  #9. Don’t Be a Hater

  #10. Put on a Happy Face

  #11. List Your Top Ten

  #12. Say No

  #13. Appreciate Your Grandparents

  #14. Eat Chocolate

  #15. Daydream

  #16. Pack Your Pet

  #17. Tackle Your Bills

  #18. Go on a Field Trip

  #19. Scream Into a Pillow

  #20. Make the Most of Your Time in Line

  #21. Buy a Cup o’ Joe for “The Man”

  #22. Ride a Horse

  #23. Throw Your Own Birthday Bash

  #24. Donate Your Couch Coins

  #25. Tell Someone You’re Proud of Them

  #26. Fix a Fault

  #27. Have a Sushi Party

  #28. Feed Your Brain

  #29. Imagine Fame

  #30. Think of Two Ways Life Could Be Better

  #31. Pack Less

  #32. Get More Friends

  #33. Be Grateful

  #34. Have an Orgasm

  #35. Slow It Down

  #36. Sleep More

  #37. Go on Vacation

  #38. Get the Chip Off Your Shoulder

  #39. Tell a (Funny) Joke

  #40. Eat Your Favorite Food

  #41. Feel the Luck of the Bamboo

  #42. Get Thee to a Church/Synagogue/Service

  #43. Take Your Partner on Vacation

  #44. Practice Random Kindness

  #45. Donate Blood

  #46. Flirt with Someone

  #47. Tell Someone Else to Cook

  #48. Make a Birthday Card

  #49. Grow Your Own Veggies

  #50. Take a Spa Day

  #51. Relax Before Bed

  #52. Make a Budget (and Stick to It)

  #53. Carry a Bag for Someone

  #54. Bake Cookies for the Office Grouch

  #55. Tell the Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth

  #56. Write a Thank-You Note

  #57. Dance Around the Kitchen

  #58. Collect Something

  #59. Have Coffee with an Adversary

  #60. Make Fido Some Food

  #61. Pat Your Own Back

  #62. Drink Wine with Friends

  #63. Experiment with Essential Oils

  #64. Learn CPR and Be a Hero

  #65. Stretch

  #66. Look for the Good in a Bad Situation

  #67. Bring Your Pillow

  #68. Admit That You Screwed Up

  #69. Spend Money on Things

  #70. Anticipate More

  #71. Eat Some Turkey (Gobble, Gobble)

  #72. Say Hi to the Person Next to You

  #73. Get a Bestie Massage

  #74. Have Cash on You

  #75. Turn on the Juice

  #76. Help Someone Who Is Lost

  #77. Give a Great Tip

  #78. See Yourself Reaching Your Goal

  #79. Be On Time for Meetings

  #80. Do Yoga with a Friend

  #81. Trick Your Brain Into Happiness

  #82. Paint the Places You Go

  #83. Convince Yourself to Be Positive

  #84. Pet Sit

  #85. Hold an Oscars Party

  #86. Do a Mini-Meditation

  #87. Stand Up to Politics

  #88. Keep Your Promises

  #89. Inspire Someone

  #90. Make the World Better

  #91. Notice the Wonders of Life

  #92. Get Stuck

  #93. Stay in Touch with Friends You Meet on Vacation

  #94. No Smoking!

  #95. Create New Ways to Make Money

  #96. Ask for a Promotion

  #97. Say Happy Birthday

  #98. Mentor a Child

  #99. Plan Your Dream Vacation

  #100. Party for Independence

  #101. Raise Money

  #102. Don’t Burn Bridges

  #103. Play Sports

  #104. Invent Something

  #105. Go to a Farmers’ Market

  #106. Delegate!

  #107. Find a Friend at Work

  #108. Listen to Audiobooks

  #109. Hit the Sauna

  #110. Make a Family Recipe

  #111. Bus It

  #112. Attract the People You Want in Your Life

  #113. Clear Your Desk Every Day

  #114. Volunteer at an Animal Shelter

  #115. Play in the Water

  #116. Nosh with a Neighbor

  #117. Make Happiness Cards

  #118. Wear Something Sexy

  #119. Have a Weekly Card Game

  #120. Speak Kindly

  #121. Exercise in the Park

  #122. Do a Fast (No, Really—Don’t Eat)

  #123. Avoid Toxins

  #124. Join the Sierra Club

  #125. Play Tennis

  #126. Pray

  #127. Snuggle with Something

  #128. Toast the Happy Couple

  #129. Get a Study Buddy

  #130. Do Crafts with Kids

  #131. Give a Farewell Gift

  #132. Have Hope

  #133. Do Puzzles

  #134. Sniff Some Lavender

  #135. Have a Glass of Wine

  #136. Play with Clay

  #137. Get a Massage

  #138. Bake Something

  #139. Remember That Happiness Is a Journey

  #140. Hit the Casino

  #141. Plant an Herb Garden

  #142. Give Up Your Seat

  #143. Create a Vision Board

  #144. Find Pleasure on Bad Days

  #145. Be Happier at Work

  #146. Make a Scrapbook

  #147. Pass Out Fortune Cookies

  #148. Make Some “Me Time”

  #149. Build a Tree House

  #150. Text Some Happiness

  #151. Stop Negative Thoughts

  #152. Do Something Fun

  #153. Buy Flowers

  #154. Go Outside

  #155. Sniff Citrus

  #156. Put Down Your Phone

  #157. Spend Money on Others

  #158. Try New Positions

  #159. Exercise

  #160. Eat Turmeric

  #161. Host a Dinner Party

  #162. Hit the Snooze Button

  #163. Assume the Best in Others

  #164. Live Close to Work

  #165. Reminisce

  #166. Buy Small Things

  #167. Sit Up Straight

  #168. Stop Complaining

  #169. Don’t Settle

  #170. Don’t Be a Pushover

  #171. Drink Coffee

  #172. Drink Water

  #173. Write Down What You Dream of Doing

  #174. Ask “Do You Got a Problem?”

  #175. Connect with Old Friends

  #176. Clean Your Space

  #177. Wear More Color

  #178. Eat Something Spicy

  #179. Give an Extra 10 Percent

  #1
80. Don’t Take It Personally

  #181. Don’t Care What Others Think of You

  #182. Stop Thinking You Are Missing Something

  #183. Take Charge of Your Own Happiness

  #184. Accept What You Cannot Change

  #185. Go Easy on Yourself

  #186. Talk to Happy People

  #187. Take a Class

  #188. Give a Gift

  #189. Write Three Things You Love about Yourself

  #190. Start a New Tradition

  #191. Binge Watch Your Favorite Show

  #192. Treat Yourself

  #193. Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity

  #194. Forgive Someone

  #195. Give to a Stranger

  #196. Play

  #197. Break a Bad Habit

  #198. Laugh—A Lot

  #199. Ditch the Sugar

  #200. Get Some B12, Baby

  #201. Be Positive

  #202. Eat Your Greens

  #203. Listen to Music and Sing Along

  #204. Drink Green Tea

  #205. Quit Nagging

  #206. Go to Bed Angry (Occasionally)

  #207. Be Tough

  #208. Be Busy, but Not Rushed

  #209. Stop Blaming

  #210. Get Rid of Your Ego

  #211. Floss

  #212. Keep a Journal

  #213. Read a Book/Article on a Subject You Know Nothing About

  #214. Have a Plan for Each Day

  #215. Don’t Work So Much

  #216. Stop Worrying

  #217. Don’t Be Afraid to Admit You Don’t Know

  #218. Play with a Pet

  #219. Compliment Someone

  #220. Be Consistent

  #221. Be There for the Little Moments

  #222. Stop Checking Social Media So Much

  #223. Shorten the Time You Feel Pissed Off

  #224. Stop Saying “I’m Fine”

  #225. Don’t Interrupt

  #226. Get Rid of Some of Your Stuff

  #227. Don’t Plot Revenge

  #228. Talk to a Kid

  #229. Talk to a Senior

  #230. Don’t Dwell

  #231. Start with the Basics

  #232. Be Okay with People Not Liking You

  #233. Research Stuff

  #234. Don’t Preach

  #235. Have a Sense of Meaning

  #236. Love Someone

  #237. Spend Less Than You Earn

  #238. Stargaze

  #239. Don’t Be Unhappy about Being Unhappy

  #240. Break It Down

  #241. Find a Silver Lining

  #242. Try to See Both Sides

  #243. Write Down the Steps to Your Goal

  #244. Record Your Relatives

  #245. Get a Mentor

  #246. Join a Dating Site

  #247. Try New Food or Drink

  #248. Build a Nest Egg

  #249. Take Five Deep Breaths

  #250. Use Your Delay for Good

  #251. Quiet Your Mind

  #252. Ask about Someone’s Purpose in Life

  #253. Promote Yourself

  #254. Be an Organ Donor

  #255. Read a Funny Book to a Kid

  #256. Get to Know Your Neighbors

  #257. Follow the 60 Percent Rule

  #258. Find Your Tribe

  #259. Keep Your Sense of Humor

  #260. Feel Good about You

  #261. Ask for Help

  #262. Realize That Happiness Comes from Within

  #263. Smell Something That Makes You Happy

  #264. Challenge Yourself

  #265. Get Lost in a Book

  #266. Do Something Unexpected

  #267. Get Up for the Sunrise

  #268. Avoid Drama Queens

  #269. Spend a Day Alone

  #270. Do Something You Loved As a Kid

  #271. Tackle Change

  #272. React with Sincere Enthusiasm

  #273. Put Yourself First

  #274. Call Your Mom

  #275. Nap

  #276. Don’t Compare

  #277. Trust Strangers

  #278. It’s Not You (No, Really)

  #279. Pay Attention

  #280. Take Care of Your Body

  #281. Stop Being Distracted

  #282. Let Go of Negative Body Images

  #283. Stop Thinking Good Things Will Just Fall Into Your Lap

  #284. Be Optimistic about the Future

  #285. Seek Out a Life Coach

  #286. Forgive Your Stumbles

  #287. Think about the Worst

  #288. Try After-Dinner Gratitude

  #289. Don’t Censor Yourself

  #290. Be Curious

  #291. Get Rid of Things That Drag You Down

  #292. Do the Hard Stuff First

  #293. Learn to Fight Smarter

  #294. Decide Not to Be Frustrated

  #295. Don’t Judge

  #296. Smile at Yourself

  #297. Be Grateful for Your Problems

  #298. Give Yourself More Time

  #299. Keep Your Mouth Shut

  #300. Be Kind to Unkind People

  #301. Take the Higher Road

  INTRODUCTION

  Are you looking to get happy? You’ve come to the right place.

  Happiness. Everyone seems to want it and people spend their lives searching for it . . . yet it often seems hard to find. (Have you seen how unhappy most people are?) For many people in today’s world, happiness is an elusive goal. But it isn’t for you! That’s because you’ve picked up a book packed with over 300 proven ways to put a smile on your face and help you find your happy.

  A lot of people have tips and advice on how to improve your life and find happiness, but only Happiness Hacks brings them to you all in one place and in a quick and easy-to-navigate format.

  Inside, you’ll find a wide variety of happy-inducing ideas, including:

  • Put on a Happy Face

  • Eat Chocolate

  • Say No

  • Spend Money on Things

  • Flirt with Someone

  • Rescue an Animal

  • Scream Into a Pillow

  • Get the Chip off Your Shoulder

  These happiness hacks range from the simple to the grand, but they are all proven to increase your appreciation of life and make you happier.

  Flip to any page, and you’ll find an idea that will improve your mood and your life!

  Decide to Be Happy

  This may sound simplistic, but if you want to be happy, then decide to be happy. One way to help with this is to think happy thoughts. (That’s right, just like Peter Pan told Wendy!) When you choose positive thoughts over negative ones, you are more likely to develop an optimistic outlook on life. Positive people generally have higher levels of optimism and life satisfaction, plus they live longer. And here’s some good news—even if you aren’t normally a happy person, thinking happy thoughts is a skill you can learn. Work on being an optimist: choose to think positive thoughts and see the proverbial glass as half full rather than half empty. The next time you’re driving and someone cuts you off, for example, resist the urge to respond with anger, which can clamp down your blood vessels and increase your blood pressure. Instead, stay positive and let your anger go. Keep that positive vibe going no matter what you’re doing. The more frequently you choose to be happy, the happier you will be.

  Gaze at a Gorgeous You

  Put a picture of yourself from a happy time in your life on your desk. Gaze at an image of yourself looking fabulous. Find a photo of yourself taken when you felt most alive, then frame it and put it where you can easily see it. Looking at positive images of yourself can push aside a mountain of negative thoughts, boost your self-esteem, and make you feel good. What if none of your photos are that great? No problem. Use digital image tools to rework a scanned photo or digital image: erase some of those wrinkles, add some hair, shift some curves, and turn back the clock. Have fun creating a fabulous-looking new you! Then look at the phot
o whenever you need a little dose of happiness and let it spark some good vibes.

  Eat Carbs

  This one may seem like a holy grail for carb lovers, but it’s true: carbohydrates actually stimulate mood-boosting chemicals in the brain. Carbs promote the production of serotonin, the feel-good brain chemical. Low-carb diets, on the other hand, have been known to cause high levels of anger, tension, and distress. A study that followed people on a low-carbohydrate diet for one year found that those people experienced more depression and anxiety than those on higher-carbohydrate diets. In addition, most whole grains contain fiber, which is good for the heart and the digestive system. So, when that afternoon slump hits, try some healthy, whole-grain/wholefood carbs to get yourself feeling better.

  Seduce Someone

  Feeling playful and sexy? Slip a little note under your partner’s glass and invite him to join you for some fun. Tease, tantalize, and titillate. Let that strap of your little black dress slide off your shoulder. Lean forward and engage your partner’s attention. Be seductive. Help your partner believe that in that moment, he is the only person in the world for you. Hold his hand. Let your mutual arousal build and set the pace for everything else. You’ll be surprised how happy being sexy makes you feel about yourself and how good it can make your partner feel.

  Schedule Downtime at Work

  How do you feel at the end of a typical workday? Are you drained, totally stressed out, or in a bad mood? If so, then you need to get some work happy going on! The best way to do that is to schedule some relaxation time during your workday. We’re not talking about taking a two-hour lunch to run to the spa—instead, just find a few moments throughout your day to de-stress and relax. Take a quick cat nap or a half-hour power nap over lunch, step outside for some fresh air and sunlight, go for a brisk walk, do some deep breathing at your desk . . . all of these are beneficial for banishing stress and helping you refocus. Even if all you can do is sit somewhere for five minutes and close your eyes, you’ll be amazed at how much more relaxed and happy you’ll feel about your day.

  Rescue an Animal

  Sadly, not all dogs and cats brought into this world are guaranteed a happy or a long life—just because someone owns an animal does not mean they will properly care for it. Animal shelters all over America often have more animals than they can properly care for, meaning that some animals’ lives will end in those shelters. You can make a difference by choosing to adopt a pet from a shelter. Pets bring fun and happiness into your life and have been shown to reduce stress in their owners’ lives. So go rescue a friend and make both of your lives better!