And going to the gym isn’t one of them!
Did you know that 40% of our happiness is determined by our daily activities? Yep, the things we do every day have a massive impact on putting a smile on our dials.
And, although there are lots of things that can make an individual person happy, science has been able to identify a bunch of things that are proven to boost everyone’s mood.
Let’s take a look!
Eat more fruits and vegies
According to the researchers at University of Warwick, more fruits and vege can significantly boost our happiness levels, and recommends trying to build vegetables into meals instead of forcing yourself to eat them.
Limit your social media time
The study tested the happiness levels of those who quit Facebook, and saw a pretty large increase in their happiness levels.
Walk to work
Surprisingly, nowhere on this list does it say that we’ve got to spend an hour a day in the gym – instead, it recommends simply walking to work. A stroll can improve overall wellbeing, increase concentration and reduce strain.
Look at pictures of cute animals
Finally, an excuse! Researchers found that looking at picture of cute animals evokes happy and excited emotions, and can also improve our levels of focus at work.
Spend an extra hour in bed
Studies found that only one extra hour of sleep can help increase house happiness levels! They recommend cutting out caffeinated drinks at least 4 hours before bed.
Plan a vacation
According to the University of Rotterdam, the act of planning a trip away boosts levels of happiness and anticipation. And, get this – those feelings can last upwards of 8 weeks!
Hug it out
Research has found that the act of hugging boosts our levels of oxytocin, the love or trust hormone making us feel happier. In fact, we should be giving and receiving around 8 hugs every day.
Spend time with happy people
With each happy person that you spend time with, your probability of feeling happy increases by 9%! So, if you’ve got three awesome and happy friends, you’ll be about 27% happier!
Listen to music
Get your jam on, because researchers have found that listening to our fave tunes releases dopamine – a happy hormone!
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Words by Kate Stevens
Images via Unsplash
