7 Ways to Live a Happier Life

Happiness comes in all shapes and sizes. Some say happiness is sitting outside with friends on a sunny day, some say it’s listening to classical music, and some say it’s dancing like nobody's watching.

Regardless of its form, happiness is something you can place within your reach. You don’t have to travel to some exotic resort or earn a lot of money to be happy. The following ways are just some of the small but impactful actions you can take to ensure a happier lifestyle.

1. DITCH THE SCREEN:

Although technology provides certain benefits to society, taking a few hours or even a full day to pull away from the phone will make you feel more connected to your life. You’ll have quality in-person interactions, no social media to compare yourself to others, and more time to find other activities to engage in.

2. MAKE YOUR BED:

Crazy enough, something as small as making your bed in the morning can improve your happiness. According to Psychology Today, 59% of people don’t make their beds, while 27% do, and 12% pay a housekeeper to make it for them. Of those same people surveyed, nearly 71% of bed makers considered themselves happy, and 62% of non-bed-makers considered themselves unhappy.

3. DECLUTTER:

Setting aside time to clean and organize can have dramatic effects on your attitude. Not only is decluttering a physical form of release, but an organized environment can increase your focus, and removing all the dust and germs can improve your overall health.

4. NAME WHAT YOU’RE GRATEFUL FOR:

We may only be doing this at Thanksgiving dinner, but in truth, this is something that we all should be doing every day. Just before you go to bed, think about all the things that you were grateful for that day. Maybe it’s a friend that helped you out, or something as simple as the nice weather. Whatever it may be, being grateful for what you have will increase overall happiness.

5. TAKE LUNCH BREAKS:

In fact, take breaks for every meal. Studies show that eating on the go can disrupt the impact eating has on our hunger. Consequently, people who work, watch tv, drive, or walk around while eating will tend to overeat, AND eat more unhealthy meals – both of which can negatively impact your state of mind.  (Bonus tip: eating with others can also help to boost your mood.)

6. MEDITATE:

The benefits of meditation are innumerable. Meditation reduces blood pressure and heart rate and boosts your immune system. A simple 5 minutes of clearing your head can reduce stress, control anxiety, and boost your overall emotional health.

7. SIGN UP FOR ONLINE THERAPY:

Talking to a therapist or counselor can be a great form of emotional release. Having a therapist can alleviate the burdens of stress, anger, and disappointment. However, attending weekly therapy sessions can require major changes in your schedule and time that you just don’t have. This is why AYANA exists! We will make access to therapy convenient and effective by creating an online communication platform through which you’ll be able to talk to a therapist of your choice. Our app will be launching this summer so visit www.ayanatherapy.com to get on our pre-launch list!

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