So, make a plan now and try to always have something to look forward to, however small. We enjoy looking forward to things much more than we enjoy looking back on them afterwards (Van Boven & Ashworth, 2007). Research on the psychology of happiness shows that anticipation can be a powerful positive emotion. The pleasure in anticipation was just incredible. Remember those childhood days leading up to Christmas when you couldn’t wait to rip open your presents? We particularly like the fact that it can make our good moods even better.Įven sad music can bring pleasure as many people enjoy the contradictory mix of emotions it creates. Music can influence mood in many ways but most people rate its power to manage our positive moods as the top reason they love music. Number two on the list of the best happiness strategies is listening to music. If you’re in the office, make sure you get out for a walk at lunch-time instead of eating sandwiches in front of the computer. If you’re at home, make time for a trip that doesn’t involve the car and does involve your legs. We all know it’ll make us feel better to get out and stretch our legs, but there are always excuses to avoid it. It doesn’t have to be a marathon a simple walk around the block will do the trick. Get some exercise for more happinessĮxercise is the number one strategy that people use to feel better, increase their energy levels and reduce tension. So, buy a friend a present today or take them out to lunch. It’s also partly because spending money on others helps cement our social relationships.Īnd, people with stronger social ties are generally happier. It helps promote a view of ourselves as responsible and giving people, which in turn makes us feel happy. It’s partly because giving to others makes us feel good about ourselves. So, why does spending on others increase your happiness? One of the easiest ways is by spending it on others. Money can make you happy but only if you use it in the right way. It’s easy and quick and one study has found that practising gratitude can increase happiness 25%.Īnother found that just three letters over a three-week period was enough to reliably increase happiness and life satisfaction ( Toepfer et al., 2012). Thank them for what they have done for you, however small.
Gratitude is a powerful emotion that helps us enjoy what we have.Įvoke it right now by sending an email, text or letter to someone who has helped you in some way. So, mentally subtract something good from your life to really appreciate it. Thinking about what might not have been can be tremendously powerful for happiness if used in the right way.Ĭounter-factual thinking can create meaning in life and, and can increase satisfaction with what you have ( Koo et al., 2008). What would life be like without some of those things we take for granted? Say you’d never met your partner or friend or got that job?
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