Happiness Hacks Read online

  Make Fido Some Food

  Nothing makes you feel happier than the love and appreciation of your dog. That tail wagging in joy is a great smile-inducer! So treat your best friend well by keeping him healthy. Instead of buying dog biscuits or other doggie treats, consider making some healthy homemade treats. Look for recipes on the Internet or make up your own using natural ingredients (just be sure to first look up what dogs can and cannot eat). Just like humans, dogs like foods that taste good. Remember to avoid no-no foods like chocolate, onions, and grapes, as well as artificial ingredients and additives that might cause illness (or even be deadly) for some dogs. You’ll feel better knowing that your dog is healthy and happy.

  Pat Your Own Back

  You praise your friends, your coworkers, and your spouse whenever they accomplish something praiseworthy, so why not give yourself some praise? You’re not being a braggart or egotistical when you acknowledge that you finished a task or made a breakthrough—you work very hard and accomplish many things that no one but you ever recognizes. If you finally played a complicated piano composition all the way through or found an ingenious way to increase your project’s budget, tell yourself how wonderfully brilliant and accomplished you are. Bask in the glory of the moment! You deserve it.

  Drink Wine with Friends

  If you and your friends enjoy wine, consider forming a wine club. (A club where you get to drink is one of the best kinds!) Host monthly meetings where you have blind tastings. Here’s how you do it. First, before each meeting, decide on one type of wine you will taste that session: Pinot (Noir or Gris), Cabernet Sauvignon, Burgundy, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, or whatever you like. Have each person bring a bottle of the selected type of wine and one appetizer to share with everyone. (If you’re going to be drinking all that wine, you’ll want some food in your stomach too!) Wrap each bottle in a numbered paper bag so that no one can see the label (and possibly form a bias), then give everyone pencils and notecards and have them write down their comments about each bottle they taste. Let the adventure begin! You may discover a new favorite wine. At the very least, you’ll have a great time trying something new with your friends.

  Experiment with Essential Oils

  Essential oils are distillations of plants that have beneficial properties. Some are stimulating; some are calming. You can find a large number of relaxing aromatic oils on the market, but the most popular include lavender, sage, sandalwood, frankincense, and chamomile. How you use them is up to you. Some people light scented candles as they relax after a hard day’s work; others prefer to place a few drops of scented oil in their bathwater or on their pillow to help them unwind and fall asleep faster at night. The important thing is to select a fragrance that is both appealing and relaxing. Floral scents tend to work best, because food scents can make you hungry. Avoid tart or biting fragrances, such as lemon, because they may have the opposite effect, perking you up instead of calming you down. You may have to experiment until you find the scent that is right for you, but it is definitely worth the effort.

  Learn CPR and Be a Hero

  How exactly will learning CPR bring you happiness? Imagine the happiness you would feel if you were personally able to save someone’s life. You can prepare by learning some simple first-aid techniques, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the Heimlich maneuver. Classes are offered through the American Heart Association, parks and recreation departments in many cities, and also through local hospitals and clinics as part of community outreach programs. Find and take a class near you. Then, if you witness someone having a medical emergency, you can apply what you have learned. You may even save someone’s life through your quick actions. Now that’s something to be truly happy about!

  Stretch

  You know how stiff your body feels when you finally get out of a chair after hours of crunching numbers or going through email? Fortunately, it only takes a few minutes to stretch. Some stretches can even be done while sitting in a chair or standing in front of your desk. If you happen to have a yoga mat, take it with you on your break or your lunch hour to a private, peaceful area and do some stretches. You’ll feel rejuvenated, flexible, centered, and happier.

  Look for the Good in a Bad Situation

  Every one of us has experienced losses—some more extreme than others—but there is often a seed of triumph hidden in those losses. It may be hard to see at first, but it’s there. Try asking yourself: “What is the good in this? What lesson can I take away? How can I share my knowledge with others?” Bring to mind two or three events that may have seemed totally awful up to this point and write down only the good things and/or the benefits gained from each. Looking for the brighter side is a great habit to develop—you’ll become a happier and more compassionate person.

  Bring Your Pillow

  Lack of sleep often makes people miserable, so hedge your bet when you are traveling and bring your favorite pillow with you. Pillows generally stuff easily into a carry-on bag and can serve as a terrific insurance policy against sleepless nights. Traveling can sap your energy by various means, including jet lag, but one of the best ways to regain that lost energy is to get plenty of rest. When traveling on a business trip or a family vacation, the pillows in your hotel room (or on a cruise ship or train) may not be great, but you can always pull out your favorite pillow and know that blissful sleep is only moments away.

  Admit That You Screwed Up

  It’s often difficult to admit that you made a mistake, especially to your superiors at work. However, doing so demonstrates your sense of responsibility and your willingness to shoulder blame. Taking responsibility for a screwup by you or your team shows your managers and bosses that you are a person with values and moral principles. Although a mistake has been made, you’ll be better off admitting it and moving forward than deceiving, lying, or covering up the error, all of which can have disastrous consequences for you later, when others finally find out the truth.

  Spend Money on Things

  That’s right, spending money can make you happy—as long as you spend money on doing things and not on stuff. Spend your hard-earned cash on pleasurable or enlightening experiences like concerts, vacations, trips to art museums, cooking classes, yoga workshops, or a night out with friends. Participating in experiences has been shown to provide more long-lasting happiness than buying things. Spending money on other people (such as family and friends) is a great way to boost your happiness levels . . . and get out there and have fun with the ones you love. Truly enjoying pleasant life experiences allows you to “smell the roses” and train your brain to more fully experience higher levels of zest and happiness.

  Anticipate More

  Anticipation is often sweeter than the actual experience, particularly when the upcoming event is guaranteed to be pleasurable, such as going out on a romantic date or taking a beach vacation. Anticipating future rewards lights up the pleasure centers in your brain in the same way that experiencing the event does. Think about it: you feel butterflies and grin endlessly an hour before that special date. That’s because your brain recognizes all of the pleasant situations leading up to the ultimate reward. So dream up something that will lead to joyful anticipation! Even if making it happen seems an impossibility, envision what you’d like to happen in minute detail and savor each mental picture. Remember, intensely visualizing something can trick your brain into thinking it’s an actual experience. It really is almost like being there.

  Eat Some Turkey (Gobble, Gobble)

  We all love Thanksgiving for the release of serotonin that comes from eating turkey, which is loaded with tryptophan. Extra tryptophan in your diet leads to extra serotonin in your brain, which is why tryptophan supplements are touted as a sleep aid and mood lifter (among other things). Foods that provide tryptophan include roasted white turkey, ground beef, cottage cheese, chicken thighs, eggnog, milk, and almonds.

  Say Hi to the Person Next to You

  Pay attention to the people around you. Instead of si
lently standing next to a stranger for an elevator ride up several floors, look her in the eyes and offer a greeting. “Hello!” is easy to say. It’s only one word. It might lead into a conversation about the weather, the latest news about your city or town, or something about the surroundings (the noise next door due to construction, for example). You’ll never know where elevator chitchat might lead if you don’t open your mouth in the first place. That stranger could become a new friend or romantic interest!

  Get a Bestie Massage

  Let your best friend know how much you value her friendship by inviting her along for a relaxing afternoon at the spa. Treat her to her favorite relaxation treatment or a hot stone massage. Imagine how great she’ll feel when the massage therapist places warm stones of smooth volcanic rock on her tired back, shoulders, and neck muscles. If there’s been any friction between you, a spa day can ease that as well. Go ahead and book that appointment! Invest some time and cost in your friendship—a happy relationship with your best friend is worth every penny.

  Have Cash on You

  Always keep some cash on hand, even if it’s only a small amount. Not only can cash help in an emergency situation, there’s something reassuring about having money in your purse or pocket. You’re never broke or helpless as long as you have cash. Not only can that money help you feel secure, but it also can work as a mental boost. Imagine that money attracting more money into your life. Positive and hopeful thinking and dreaming can get you started, goals will pull you a little further along, and creative ingenuity and concrete effort will remove obstacles and shift a flow of money into your life.

  Turn on the Juice

  During a crisis, your body releases turbocharged stress hormones that flood into your cardiovascular system to prepare you to deal with the emergency at hand. Unfortunately, stress hormones flooding the system can also cause damage. Antioxidants—which are beneficial natural chemicals found in high levels in certain foods—act as scavengers of free radicals, the by-products that are created when cells use oxygen. Antioxidants can both prevent and repair damage caused by free radicals. Squeeze or use a juicer to extract the juice from organic fruits and vegetables such as oranges, limes, strawberries, apricots, peaches, cantaloupes, carrots, and green leafy vegetables. Pomegranate, purple grapes, and cranberries are high in phytochemicals and antioxidants as well. Drinking fresh, organic juice is especially beneficial when you are under duress.

  Help Someone Who Is Lost

  Nothing is more frustrating (and in some cases more frightening) than being lost in a new city or unfamiliar place. Be the person you would like to meet if you were lost! If you notice a distressed visitor trying to figure out a map in an area you know well, offer to help him. Point him in the right direction. When you give directions, write them down and carefully explain the distances, turns, and notable landmarks. Communicate as clearly as possible. Who knows? Your kindness may one day inspire that same distressed traveler to help another person in the same way.

  Give a Great Tip

  No one enjoys picking up dirty, wet towels or cleaning sinks and showers of soap scum, whiskers, and hair. Housekeepers and motel workers make very little money, yet their work—in addition to being tedious and dirty—is often thankless. Your generous tip will help them better provide for their families and tell them that you appreciated their work. And you can feel happier knowing that you brightened someone’s day.

  See Yourself Reaching Your Goal

  What’s your primary personal goal? Is it to lose weight, spend less, or earn more money? Whatever it is, write out an affirmation for achieving it. For example: “From now on at mealtimes, I will eat one-third less” or “I will walk for a half hour each day.” Try to keep your affirmation succinct and to the point. That way, it will be easy to recall and repeat at least three times during the day. The more specific your affirmation, the more effective it will be in helping you attain your goal.

  Be On Time for Meetings

  Although many company meetings may seem dull and mundane, it says a lot about you and your work ethic if you show up on time and prepared for them. This in turn will make your coworkers look at you favorably, which of course will lead to increased work happiness. Whether you are leading a meeting or simply attending a meeting, if you are expected to provide input, ideas, or data, take time to prepare yourself. Being prepared and on time demonstrates a high level of integrity and commitment. Be proud of yourself for making the effort.

  Do Yoga with a Friend

  Exercise can make you happier, but sometimes it can be a drag. One way to motivate yourself to exercise is to do it with a friend, so invite a friend to be your exercise buddy! Walk together during your lunch hour. Ride bikes or rollerblade around a local park. Take an aerobics swimming class. Do yoga together. The point is to make exercise fun—make it a social event as much as it is a workout. When you’re laughing and conversing, the time goes by much more quickly. Socializing stimulates the mind just as exercise increases blood flow. Both nourish you and should be part of a healthy lifestyle.

  Trick Your Brain Into Happiness

  There’s a way you can “trick” your mind into reliving a happy event as if it is actually happening again. Simply draw a picture in your mind of a past happy event. Use sensory details to make it come alive in your mind, creating a tangible feeling of happy anticipation. Now slowly bring yourself back to the present by becoming re-centered in your body, from the soles of your feet to the crown of your head. Take a deep breath and slowly open your eyes. You will likely feel rejuvenated and happy, ready to focus on thinking happy thoughts. This process can spark existing neurons and strengthen neural connections associated with the original memory, essentially doubling your levels of pleasure and happiness. The more you remember happy times, the happier your outlook on life will become.

  Paint the Places You Go

  If you like to dabble with art (even if you aren’t very good at it), take some paint with you on your next vacation, then paint a scene somewhere during your trip. It doesn’t have to be ornate or perfect—just the quiet, still activity of painting will help you feel relaxed and centered. And there’s a bonus: when you get home from your sojourns into the world, you’ll feel happy looking at your paintings and remembering the good times you had on your trip and the places you visited.

  Convince Yourself to Be Positive

  Perhaps you are nervous about an upcoming situation, and your mind keeps going over all the things that could go wrong. Instead of letting a barrage of negative thoughts take over your life, create a list of positive affirmations to counter them. Suppose you are nervous about going to a party where you will know no one except the hostess, who will obviously be very busy. Repeating a positive phrase like “I will be relaxed, sociable, and have a really fun time” fifty times a day every day before the party (in five sets of ten) will create an expectation in your mind that your brain will be happy to fulfill.

  Pet Sit

  Cleaning up poop may not immediately seem like the path to happiness, but helping a friend and their furry (or scaly or feathered) friend is. Pet sitting is also a great way to decide on whether or not you would want a pet. It’s a good idea to care for the animal in its own environment rather than in your home—a puppy that likes to chew on things, for example, may ruin your favorite book or your shoes. You can learn a lot from pet sitting. You might discover that a guinea pig is not the right pet for you because of its nocturnal nature, for instance. An iguana might not be active enough, and a parrot might be too possessive or too talkative. But if you connect with your friend’s pet, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy your pet sitting experience. Discover what many pet owners have learned: pets bring much fun and happiness!

  Hold an Oscars Party

  Looking for an excuse to break the monotony of your winter doldrums? Get into the party spirit and host an Oscars bash! Since film buffs say that Hollywood films were in their heyday in the 1930s and 1940s, ask everyone to dress in attire that ref
lects those golden decades of filmmaking. Offer appetizers and drinks and pass around cards asking your guests to pick the nominees for Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Screenplay, and Best Picture . . . and then enjoy the Oscars and cheer on your picks.

  Do a Mini- Meditation

  Feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and decidedly unhappy? Try cooling down with a mini-meditation: stop whatever you are doing right now, close your eyes, and focus on your breath until your mind quiets. As thoughts come up, allow them to float away by, gently redirecting your mind back to your inhalations and exhalations, blotting out whatever is going on around you. Stay in your mini-meditation for fifteen minutes (or start with five minutes and work your way up to fifteen minutes). With practice, you can easily learn to quiet any mind chatter that may be distracting you. Doing a mini-meditation is a great way to refocus yourself and find some calm.

  Stand Up to Politics

  Are you dissatisfied with politicians? Do you hope for change? Do you hold a brighter vision for America and the world? Mahatma Gandhi once advised people to be the change they want to see in the world. That means get off the couch, get away from television, and go out into the world and do something to bring about that change. Join with others who share your passion about creating a more meaningful life and a better future through political action. Living and working toward a more meaningful and purpose-driven life is an important part of achieving happiness.