We spoke to happiness experts for their guaranteed-to-work tips on how to be happy.
How to be happy is one of those notoriously difficult-to-answer questions - and it's seemingly on everyone's mind right now, with global searches of 'how to be happier' reaching an all-time high in March 2023. Happiness means different things to everyone though, so it's tricky to create a one-size-fits-all happiness prescription.
"Low serotonin levels are linked to depression, but increased serotonin doesn't necessarily result in happiness. While optimal serotonin function contributes to emotional well-being, it's one piece in the intricate puzzle of human happiness," he concludes.Vitamin D is involved in mood regulation, according to Dr. Brewer.
Along the same lines, fake laughter can create feelings of happiness. Back in the 90s, Indian doctor Madan Kataria discovered that fake laughter could have the same physiological benefits as genuine giggles - including eased stress and boosted mood.Think about the last time you guffawed with your friends; we bet you felt so much lighter afterwards.
We can all agree that listening to our favourite song has the power to be incredibly uplifting, but according to exercise psychologist Dr. Josephine Perry, who works with“Music is powerful because it releases happy hormone dopamine, but for an even bigger hit of happiness, put your playlist on shuffle,” Dr. Josephine advises. “If you know which song is coming up, you get nowhere near as big a buzz as if you don't know what's next.
"If you're suffering from depression or anxiety, it is important to break your fast within 45 minutes to an hour of waking up to turn off the cortisol response from overnight fasting," confirms Charlotte. "This lowers adrenal activity that the brain may perceive as a stressor." But we have good news. An international study conducted by Professor Dacher Keltner at the University of California, Berkeley, revealed that evenCollaborating with BBC Worldwide, the study asked over 7,500 participants from the US, UK, Singapore, India, South Africa and Australia to complete a short survey to establish their mood state before being shown clips from the BBC’s Planet Earth II series.
Texting or emailing someone might not feel like much - most of us do it each day anyway, but it can make all the difference. “Message someone you love simply to tell them you love them,” says Jo Howarth.“I made a habit of doing this simple act in my life and it boosts me every time. I love telling the people close to me that I love them, it makes me feel amazing to do it because I know it makes them feel amazing to hear it.
To become your happiest self, diarise rest time. "Planning downtime means it is more likely to happen,” says Dr. Emma Hepburn, author of. This can be in the long term, such as making sure you use all your allocated annual leave from work to ensure you have planned rest periods throughout the year, to daily breaks.
“When I treat myself to a bath with essential oils, I know I’m doing something for myself to reduce my stress levels, which will make me feel happier on a whole different level than something that I buy myself,” says Dr. Tara.Being grateful for little blessings in our lives also stops us from focusing on what we’re missing in life, as Aysha Bell explains: “When we're in a state of gratitude we're less likely to be thinking about what we don't have.
She explains that diets low in protein amino acid tryptophan are associated with low mood disorders and poor sleep. Animal products such as dairy, chicken, turkey and tuna are high in tryptophan, but can also be found in lower amounts in oats, bananas, nuts and seeds.Go ahead and pile your plate high with these, but Charlotte does note that while these foods may give you a little mood boost, they need to be consistently present in your diet for lasting effect.
Giving yourself a little pat on the back when you do something well is an easy way to feel happier. It needn't be something monumental - something as simple as cooking a new dinner or completing a tricky piece of work deserve acknowledgment. By slowing down, we tell our nervous system that we're safe, which can put us in an altogether happier place.Anna Mathur explains that she often checks in with how much time her clients are spending on themselves and is horrified to find that they often say they're practicing self-care by aiming to drink more water, sleep better and make time to have dinner more often – all things Anna says should be a given, not considered as self-care.
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