5 Ways to Get the Happiness Habit

5 Ways to Get the Happiness Habit

Building the habit of happiness.

You may have read that it takes, on average, 30 days to develop a new habit. When you develop a new habit, you retrain your body and mind to create new behaviors that will benefit you longterm into the future.

Many people think of new habits as things you physically do, such as being more active, giving up smoking, or consuming less sugar. 

However, people focus much less on how to develop mental habits.

We often see quotes and images that say “think positive” or “you are awesome.”  

While these personal mantras are helpful in some ways, switching your mind to positive thinking takes more than just buying into good-sounding phrases.

If your aim is to retrain your brain to focus on being happy, the best way to do it is to learn to develop new healthy habits that will cause you to be happy more often. 

Get the happiness habit by following these tips and implementing them into your daily routine to notice a gradual change.

1 Make a point to notice everyday things that make you happy

It’s easy to go about your daily activities without paying much attention to the things around you. It’s possible to get so involved in your life that the details just fly by. 

If you really want to make happiness a habit, stop for a moment each day and think about the things around you that make you happy.

Be grateful for the little things, whether a friendly colleague comments on your work or an easy, quiet morning commute.  

Spend time thinking about what parts of your life that make you happy.

Are there any parts of your character you like that make you happy?  

When you notice something, write it down so you will remember it. Look at the list of things that make you happy every day to keep them at the forefront of your mind.

2 Do something positive for others

Giving definitely makes us happier than receiving.  

It’s a mantra we’ve been taught since childhood, and even though it is a cliché, it is pretty accurate. If you want to make a habit of being happy, you need to consider the thoughts, feelings, and needs of others. 

One way you can make this happen in your life is to volunteer at a charity or nonprofit organization that you care about.  

Give up your time to help some people less fortunate than yourself. When you see how your actions affect others, you will be more willing to give.

3 Make more time for your friends and family

This point is key to developing a lasting habit of being happy.  

It’s easy to retreat into your private little shell, especially during tough times. Who amongst us hasn’t hidden away during the awful months of covid?

However, following this habit on a habitual basis only leads to more negativity and depressive thoughts.

Make it a goal to see your friends or family at least once a month. Attend family gatherings more than you would have before you decided to make it a habit.

This action will help you become a well-rounded person and develop socially. 

You will discover that you feel happier and healthier when you increase your social engagement.

4 Make exercise and healthy eating a priority

Yes, I’m sorry we have to tackle exercise and healthy eating considerations. I know I am talking about mental habits that make you happy but exercise and healthy eating is an absolute must if you want to get the happiness habit.

To be happy in the long run, you need to take care of your mind, body, and spirit. That means you should engage in activities beneficial to both your physical and mental health. 

Exercise, paired with healthy eating, is an excellent way to kick-start your happiness routine.

Make it a habit to exercise at least three times a week. This commitment will help you feel more comfortable with your body. You’ll also benefit from all the positive hormones released when you exercise. 

5 Develop a spiritual routine

It can be helpful to your overall happiness if you can identify with a worldview or belief system. 

By this, I do not mean organized religion but that you should enrich your spiritual side by seeking out activities that speak to your soul. 

Reflecting on your spiritual self can also help you develop a higher sense of self-worth. However, what makes up your spiritual self is unique to you, depending on a combination of personality, upbringing, and sense of self.

There are many ways you can practice self-care to enrich your spiritual side, depending on what you like.  

Perhaps a trip to the beach, a hike in nature, or a study of the religion of your choice will give you the spirituality you need to get the happiness habit.

By discovering your own individual spirituality, you will develop a sense of humility that rejects pride. You will soon find that becoming a spiritual being makes you feel healthier and happier over time.

Final thoughts on getting the happiness habit

Only you can control your thoughts, so you can choose to think thoughts that make you happy or thoughts that make you miserable.

Happiness is a choice, but it is one that you have to make positively. Leaving it to chance may mean you drift into thought patterns unhelpful to your happiness mission.

Over the next 30 days, do what you can to incorporate these 5 tips into your daily life. Make notes every day or keep a journal recording what you observe and how you feel. You’ll soon see how easy it is to choose joy, get the happiness habit and make happiness a regular part of your life. 

I hope you enjoyed my thoughts on how to get the happiness habit. If you did, please leave a comment. I’d love to hear what you thought and how, if at all, it has affected your life.

See all my articles about being Happy here!