seeking-happiness-100-practical-ways-to-get-and-stay-happy

Seeking Happiness:
100 PRACTICAL Ways To Get and Stay Happy

Published by Jenny Durofchalk at Smashwords
Copyright 2015 Jenny Durofchalk

Smashwords Edition, License Notes
Thank you for downloading this ebook. This book remains the copyrighted
property of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercials or
non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends
to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer. Thank you for

your support.

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Dedication

This book is dedicated to all those who have helped me heal and continue to help me on a
daily basis. In particular, this book is dedicated:

For Jenna- who helped to get me the treatment I needed
For Kelley- who taught me that everything happens for a reason and to make the best of
every situation
For Kim- who has spent countless nights as my roommate comforting and supporting me
and convinced me to stop cutting
For Shannon- who has been there since I met her to comfort me and support me in any way
For Steph- who wanted to ensure I found “true happiness” and for her daily positive support

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Table of Contents

Author’s Note
1. Listen to music and make it count!
2. Practice meditation.
3. Read!
4. Keep a positive events diary.
5. Practice gratitude.
6. Write letters to friends and family.
7. Smile!
8. Fake it!
9. Go for a run, or a jog, or a walk!
10. Volunteer for a worthy cause.
11. Try the natural antidepressant- exercise!
12. Try to be outgoing, no matter how shy you may feel.
13. Go for a massage or give yourself one!
14. Clean!
15. Laugh until you cry!
16. Try progressive muscle relaxation.
17. Have a sleep routine each evening.
18. Have a morning routine to start the day off right!
19. Stretch often!
20. Drink water daily.
21. Try some fresh juicing.
22. Change the hands you brush your teeth with each day.
23. Dance!
24. Raise a plant.
25. Eat outside whenever possible.
26. Celebrate all the little reasons!
27. Try going to sleep earlier.

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28. Go on random trips.
29. Spend time with some furry companions!
30. Eat breakfast each morning.
31. Get surprise gifts for loved ones.
32. Hug!
33. Try some aromatherapy.
34. Take a relaxing bath.
35. Work on your posture.
36. Set goals for each day.
37. Dress to impress (yourself)!
38. Begin your morning by reading something positive.
39. Don’t seek praise.
40. Be around positive people to motivate you.
41. Take a “beauty walk.”
42. Drink tea.
43. Smile as soon as you lie down for bed.
44. Look at life as a child.
45. “Play” for at least an hour a day.
46. Sing out loud in the shower.
47. Wake up earlier than needed to relax.
48. Practice yoga.
49. Go outside often.
50. Unplug for a bit each day.
51. Forgive often.
52. Stop comparing yourself to others.
53. Get the proper “happiness” nutrients.
54. Get some sunlight each morning.
55. Bake or cook
56. Get artsy.
57. Keep yourself busy.
58. Plan experiences in advance- planning adds to the fun!

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59. Eat your fruit!
60. Say “I love you” often.
61. Watch the sunset and sunrise every now and then.
62. Play games- preferably with others!
63. Give a compliment at least once a day.
64. Practice patience each day.
65. Ask yourself if this will matter a year from now.
66. Have a little bit of quiet time to relax each day.
67. Take a deep breath and count to ten.
68. Change your negative thoughts.
69. Ask yourself what you can learn from any experience.
70. Practice loving.
71. Try some dark chocolate.
72. Be social often! If possible, live with or near friends.
73. Go to the ocean or listen to ocean sounds.
74. Try living in the moment!
75. Take 10 deep breaths each hour.
76. Stop complaining about yourself or to others.
77. Be joyful for others!
78. Try some new food.
79. Seek to be the most positive person you know.
80. Try to understand and not judge.
81. Remind yourself: the past is in the past.
82. Write down your negative thoughts- then tear them up!
83. Stand up as often as you can instead of sitting.
84. Drink some milk.
85. Try knitting.
86. If you have a choice to be happy or right, choose to be happy!
87. Remind yourself that everything happens for a reason.
88. Go stargazing.
89. Bake a treat and share it with others.

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90. Take baby steps to get outside your comfort zone.
91. Spend more on experiences than materials.
92. Paint your nails bright colors!
93. Try some tai chi.
94. Go swimming.
95. Call a friend.
96. Learn something new.
97. Practice walking in a happy way!
98. At the end of the day, share happy moments with friend.
99. Live as if it were your last day.
100. Life is what we make it.

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Author’s Note

As I am sitting here writing this, I find myself in awe that I am writing a book about
happiness. I would have never thought I would be an author, and I definitely never thought I
would know enough about happiness to be able to write about it! For the longest time, I never
thought I could be happy again as my life seemed to me to be about as far away from happy as it
could be.

Starting around the age of ten, I underwent various forms of abuse at the hands of my peers.
All this hatred from others led me to hate myself and my life. At the end of my junior year in
high school, I was sent to my guidance counselor by two of my classmates. Eventually, I felt safe
enough to reveal all that I was put through. During my time at therapy sessions, I have been
diagnosed with selective mutism, clinical depression, social anxiety, and PTSD. I was also
suffering from being suicidal and forms of self-injury. Somehow, I managed to make it to
college despite overwhelming fears, and there I met many caring individuals who helped to get
me back on my own feet. Still, I could not help but question everything that I have been through
in life.

I was told by an individual that everything happens for a reason, and I could not stop
thinking about this statement. After seeing a classmate’s depressing posts on Facebook, I chose
to confront her and began to realize that others are more likely to open up if it is with someone
who they can relate to. This led to me sharing my story on YouTube; creating a help email
account, Instagram account, and a blog; and even becoming a speaker. I choose to use my story
to reach out and help anyone who may be struggling, as well as sharing all my trauma to raise
awareness about bullying/abuse and mental health illnesses. I am still on my own journey
towards recovery and am working on once again learning to be happy. These tips have helped
me throughout my own journey, and I hope they can be of help to you whether you are
struggling daily or are just having an off day! Try to take it one or a few tips at a time until you
find tips that work for you and become a part of your daily routine. Everyone deserves
happiness.

Enjoy!
Jenny Durofchalk

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1. Listen to music, and make it count!

How many times do you listen to music a day? I tend to live with music, but I also make a
mistake with music that I have found a lot of people make. Whenever I am feeling down, I
choose to listen to depressing songs. As common sense should tell us, listening to depressing
music only makes us feel MORE depressed! If we’re already feeling down, we need to change
the type of music we listen to. In fact, the type of music we listen to can affect our entire day- no
matter how we are feeling before listening!

One of the best types of music we can all listen to is motivational songs! There is a huge list
of motivational songs out there. In fact, if you simply do a Google search for “motivational
songs” or “inspirational songs”, you will find many options out there. These songs can inspire
you to be a better you, and this motivation can be helpful every day! Work on making your own
motivational playlist. Chances are there are many songs out there that you have heard before that
inspire you in some way. I personally have my own motivational playlist, and I will try to listen
to some of these songs every day! These songs inspire me to continue to push on no matter how
hard life can get, and that always makes me feel better- whether I am in a good or a bad mood.
There are so many songs that I have learned help motivate me, and I could never pick any
favorites! Here are 10 (not ranked in any order) songs from my playlist if you want to check
them out to help with building your own motivational list!

1. Man in the Mirror- Michael Jackson
2. Masterpiece- Jessie J
3. Roar- Katy Perry
4. The Middle- Jimmy Eat World
5. Get Up- Superchick
6. Try- Colbie Calliat
7. On Top of the World- Imagine Dragons
8. Fighter- Christina Aguilera
9. Fight Song- Rachel Platten
10. Survivor- Destiny’s Child

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These are just a few songs from my playlist. There are so many songs out there that have an
inspirational message to be happy or to continue to push on through life no matter what! These
songs can be a great way to start any day off on a positive note! Next time you go to listen to
music, think about how you can choose music to better yourself.

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2. Practice meditation

Meditation can be an amazing way to get many benefits! You may be saying to yourself:
“There is no way I’m ever going to do mediation.” I used to feel the exact same way. In fact,
when my therapist suggested meditation to me as a way to help me calm down, I could not help
but laugh trying to picture myself meditating. I was visualizing myself sitting cross-legged in the
middle of my room repeatedly saying “om.” I was thinking my roommate was going to think I’m
insane, my whole house would think I was crazy, and there was no way I was going to go
through with this. Still, I figured I would give myself a laugh and decided to look up meditation
on YouTube that night. I learned that there are so many more ways to meditate than the way I
thought (thank goodness!), and you may be surprised with it as well! I suggest giving it a try to
learn about how much mediation can help you!

When you meditate, your mind goes into a peaceful and relaxing state that can help to
increase your daily happiness. In fact, mediation has so many benefits (both physical and
emotional) associated with it including the following:

1. Reduces stress
2. Increases your ability to appreciate life more
3. Helps you sleep better
4. Increases your attention
5. Lowers your blood pressure
6. Increases creativity
There are so many more benefits of mediation out there, and if you are curious for yourself,
simply do a search online and see what you find!
With all these benefits, I highly suggest at least trying meditation! Please note that when you
first try to meditate, you will likely struggle. I know I struggled with trying to get my mind to
relax and stay in the moment! My mind tends to wander nonstop- no matter what I am doing at
the moment, my mind likes to think about twenty other things that I could be doing or should be
doing! The first time I tried to meditate I got extremely frustrated with myself as I realized I
could not get myself to simply concentrate on one thing for longer than a few seconds at a time.
Eventually, I managed to train my mind to concentrate and relax for longer periods of time, and

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I’m still working on increasing the length of time my mind can focus! Because of this, I suggest
you try meditation for a few minutes a day for at least a few days before you decide if it
personally helps you or not. Meditating takes time to get used to, but it can easily become a daily
part of your day. Meditation can help at any time of the day, but I suggest trying to include
meditation in your morning routine (discussed more in tip #18) and possibly in your evening
routine as well if you struggle with sleeping at night!

Now that you know all about the benefits, you may be asking yourself: “How do I
meditate?” There is no specific way to meditate! As I have said earlier, I have found a wide
variety of techniques used to meditate, and I tend to switch up the ways I meditate each day. A
simple form of meditation could consist of you taking time out to sit in one spot and just
concentrating on your breath. If your mind begins to wander away from your breath, bring it
right back to focusing as you inhale and exhale. However, this is only one form of mediation. To
learn more about meditation or some other meditation techniques, I suggest searching “how to
meditate” on a search engine or YouTube.

Again, please remember that it takes a while for you to get used to mediation. Therefore, try
it for a few days before you decide how you feel about it!

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3. Read!

Congratulations! You have already accomplished one of the items on this list; you are
reading! See, this isn’t so hard now is it? Seriously though, reading can be an amazing way to
increase your happiness.

When you read, you take your mind on a journey to faraway places. If you are struggling
with where you are at the present moment, reading can give you a break away from your current
unpleasant thoughts or situation. When reading, you may find yourself visualizing or connecting
with the characters. This can be a great break away from any struggles you may be facing as you
find yourself mentally embarking on fun journeys!

Reading can also help you in the “real world”. Since you are reading this book, you will
likely enjoy reading other self-help books as well! There are so many books out there that can
inspire you to be a better you and to make the most out of your life. I love reading books like
those as they give me constant motivation to get through any day and continue with my healing
journey! We all can use daily motivation, and reading can be a great way to provide us with this
inspiration!

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4. Keep a positive events diary

Have you ever noticed that we tend to focus on what goes wrong in life as opposed to what
goes right? It doesn’t matter how big or small a negative circumstance may be, it tends to fill our
minds with recurring thoughts, which in turn bring us down. However, if you think about it, there
are so many positive events that happen in your life each and every day! Instead of filling our
minds up with negative thoughts or worries, we should try focusing on the things that go right in
our lives.

I first heard about a positive events diary a few months ago when I was still struggling to
truly understand what happiness was. This diary wanted me to write about positive events at the
end of each day, and I honestly did not understand how I would do this. I was questioning myself
as to whether or not there were positive incidents that occurred to me every day. The first night I
sat down and looked at the blank page in my journal. Nothing overly happy happened to me that
day, and I could not think of what to write. After a few minutes, I began to think of just simple
events that meant so much to me. For example, I talked to a friend that day- I have friends now! I
talked in public- I can speak a bit now as opposed to being that mute, anxious girl I was for so
long! These positive events focused on my personal healing and those little baby steps that mean
so much to me, which I tend to overlook on a daily basis!

To get the most out of this tip, you need to set aside a little bit of time at the end of each day
to write. It does not need to be a huge essay or book that you write- you can write as little or as
much as you want! Write about anything positive that happened to you that day or anything that
made you happy. It may be a fun event that you went to, it may be a step towards your personal
healing or goal, or it may even be something as simple as waking up that day or seeing the sun
outside. It does not matter how big or small these positive events may seem, if they made you
happy, these events are worth it! In doing this exercise, you slowly work on reprogramming your
mind to think positively as opposed to negatively.

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5. Practice gratitude

How often do you sit back and give thanks for all the good things you have in life? Take a
moment right now to just sit back and think about anything you can be grateful for in life. Do
you have a roof over your head? Do you have enough food to get you through the day? Do you
have clean water available? There are people out there who have nowhere to live, those who are
starving to death, and those drinking filthy water as it is all they have access too. In reality, you
are likely a lot more fortunate than you think! When you go through each day focusing on all that
you have as opposed to what you do NOT have, you tend to look at life in a much more positive
way.

Each day practice gratitude in some way. In the morning, wake up and give thanks for what
you have in life! At night, give thanks for making it through another day and any
accomplishments you may have made through the day. When we practice gratitude, suddenly life
seems to be much more valuable, and you will realize how happy you become for simply having
the things you take for granted! Life becomes much more meaningful when we appreciate it and
are thankful for it.

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6. Write letters to friends and family

Going along with practicing gratitude, think about all the people in your life that you are
thankful for! When was the last time you truly thanked someone for helping you to become the
person you are today or for simply being your friend and supporting you? There are so many
people that come into our lives-some in a good way and some in a not so good way-but we are
affected by everyone that becomes a part of our life. For those who affect us in a good way, it is
always a good idea to show them your appreciation! Every day of my life in which I make any
small step towards healing I tend to thank people that have supported me and helped to get me to
this part in life.

Sometimes, the best way to thank someone is by writing a letter. Yes, I mean WRITING a
letter as in the old-fashioned sense of the word. In today’s society, receiving a handwritten letter
tends to mean more than a text or an email would. Practice your gratitude by writing and sending
a letter to those who have made an impact on your life. This will not only make you feel happier
as you become more positive by practicing gratitude, but also will make the recipients happy as
they feel appreciated (and knowing this should make you feel happier as well!). We cannot mail
letters every day, but try to make this a practice you bring into your life maybe once a month or
every few months. Simply sit down and write out a heartfelt letter of thanks, you will be
surprised at how good you feel giving appreciation to those who have helped you along the way!
In doing this, you will also be surprised at how fortunate you are to have those in your life who
are deserving of your gratitude- which will make you feel more thankful and happy for life!

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7. Smile!

Do you know the power of a good smile? Whether you fake it (discussed more in the next
tip) or genuinely mean it, a smile has many powers! When you think of a happy person, chances
are the first thing you imagine is a huge smile. Smiling is a common habit for happy people;
therefore, if we make smiling a habit, we can work on making happiness a habit!

Have you ever realized that a smile is contagious? When someone smiles at you, you are apt
to smile back at them! If you make the choice to smile at at least one person a day, you make the
choice to brighten up someone else’s day! Take a moment to let that sink in. By making such a
simple facial expression, you can help turn someone’s day around! In making someone else
smile, you are more likely to feel genuinely happy as you made someone else happy, and we are
programmed to feel good when we do good for others!

A smile also has many positive benefits for you! Smiling tends to make you feel happier,
which will be discussed more in the next tip, but it can also help with other emotions! Smiling
has been shown to help reduce stress and anxiety. The next time you are feeling overly stressed,
simply smile. This smile will typically trigger the brain to believe that you are happy, which will
slow down your breathing and heart rate, thus making you feel less stressed. I did not believe this
at first, but I recently tried it out, and it does work! Smiling can reduce stress, and we know that
being overly stressed makes it harder to remain happy!

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8. Fake it!

What should you do if you’re in a not so good mood? Well, you can always fake it! I know
you’re likely thinking it’s impossible to fake happiness, isn’t it? In a way, perhaps you are right-
you cannot simply “turn on” the happy. However, you can always fake a smile! We practice
faking smiles often. Think of how many times you have been told to “smile for the camera.” We
tend to smile for photos no matter how we feel, so what would happen if we went around smiling
during our depressing days?

For one, you would get all the benefits of a smile! It does not matter if a smile is real or not,
there are still benefits associated with it like the benefits of smiling at others as discussed in the
previous tip. You may think that we smile because of happiness, but in fact, as shown through
various researches, a smile can also CAUSE happiness! Yes, you read that right. Through faking
a smile, we can make ourselves truly happy. These studies have shown that by faking a smile,
individuals were more happy to be performing activities than people who were told not to smile.
It appears from many studies that the brain produces the same response to a fake smile as it does
to a real smile by releasing chemicals that make us happier. If you don’t believe me, do a simple
search for it online. I bet you will be surprised at the science behind it; I know I was!

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9. Go for a run, or a jog, or a walk!

Yes, I know this tip consists of 3 different steps- but I feel as though these techniques can all
fall under the same category! I have met many people who choose to go for a walk or a run
whenever they are feeling upset, and it truly helps to calm them down and feel happier in the
end! I am one of those people! In fact this past year, when I was at college, I would go for at
least one walk a day. I would go for an early morning walk, which helped me to start each day
off on a good note, and I would also head out for a walk whenever I felt overly stressed, which
helped me blow off some steam and calm down! Why is this?

To begin with, running, jogging, and walking are all forms of exercise- which is a well-
known way to increase happiness (and will be discussed in a later tip). Exercise releases a
chemical known as endorphin, which helps reduce stress and triggers a response from the brain
that makes you happier! There is a lot of science behind this, so if you are interested, I suggest
reading up on it! I don’t want to try to explain it all, as I am not a scientist and do not want to
mess up any of the scientific explanations! The response triggered from these endorphins could
very well be the reason so many people choose to go for a run or a walk when they feel stressed
out! However, there are many other good reasons to choose to go for a walk or a run daily.

Walking and running are both activities that tend to be free or at a low cost! Sometimes,
people struggle with exercising as they do not want to go about paying for a gym membership,
but that is not the case here! You can go out for a walk or a run around your neighborhood, local
park, or many other areas. Walking and running are also both exercises that can be done by
almost anyone! Most ages and ability levels will be able to go out for a walk, and these same
people can go for a run as well. It does not matter how fast or slow of a runner you are- the
benefits are still the same no matter the pace of the running!

My best advice to you is to try to find a way to go for a walk or a run at least once a day! If
possible, I suggest trying to get out in the morning to do these activities- it makes for a great way
to start the day off in a calm and relaxed mood! Grab you friends, your pets, your kids, your
family, or simply head on out by yourself and learn how such a simple activity can have such a
big influence on your emotions!

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10. Volunteer for a worthy cause

What better way to work on improving yourself than by helping to improve the lives of
others? Volunteering is an amazing way to increase your happiness level! We all have causes we
feel strongly towards- whether it’s cancer research, clean water, or abandoned animals- there are
many causes that are deserving of your time! Why sit around moping when you could be out
helping to make a difference?

Volunteering has been shown many times to be beneficial to a person’s emotional and
mental health. When you volunteer, you keep yourself busy and are focusing on others rather
than your own problems! Through focusing on the good you can do for others, you start to
improve your self-confidence and self-esteem through realizing that YOU can make a difference!
This realization will likely make you feel better about yourself, and you may even find yourself
looking at life in a more positive way as you realize how much of an impact you have on this
world!

When volunteering, you will likely be put in an active situation of some sort! Activities are
always an important way to better your emotional health. If you just sit around all day worrying
about yourself or thinking about your problems, you are more likely to end up depressed than if
you get up and keep your mind busy through an activity such as volunteering! Volunteering also
tends to put us in social situations, which are made to make us feel good! No matter how shy you
may be, we need social interactions, and volunteering is a great way to get social interactions in
some of the most meaningful ways.

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11. Try the natural antidepressant- Exercise!

I know I have already talked about some examples of exercise and how they can help you
feel better, but exercise in general deserves a tip all of its own! Did you know exercise actually
produces the same effect on your brain that an antidepressant does? I am not saying this is a
reason to not go on antidepressants or to go on antidepressants, but I am just saying that it is
important to make exercise a daily part of your everyday life to live a happier and more positive
life!

Throughout this book, I have some tips that are about specific forms of exercise, so I wanted
to base this tip more on ways that you can incorporate exercise into your day! This means you
can do ANY type of exercise. There are so many options out there to get exercise into your day
whether it’s going to a gym, following YouTube videos, or playing active video games, there is a
way for every individual to find ways to fit exercise into each and every day! In order for this tip
to best benefit you, you need to find types of exercise you find fun! Any exercise produces that
happy response from your brain, but if you find an exercise fun, you are more likely to stick with
it and get more out of it!

You may be asking yourself right now: “How am I going to exercise every day?” I am not
asking you to go to the gym for an hour or anything like that- you can exercise for just a few
minutes a day and still have a positive benefit! If you find you only have a few 15 minute breaks
in your day, then designate some of those breaks to exercise. The best way to ensure that
exercise plays a part of each day is to schedule exercise into your daily routine- try to put in
exercise during the same time each day! Eventually, you will get so used to exercising at that
time that it will simply become a routine part of your day- a routine to creating a better and
happier you!

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12. Try to be outgoing, no matter how shy you may feel

DO NOT SKIP THIS TIP! You may be reading this and thinking you can never do this
because you are such an introverted person, but just hear me out! I was so anxious for many
years of my life to the point where I just stopped speaking. Even today, I am still socially
anxious and constantly doubt myself in any kind of social situation. However, life is all about
getting out of our comfort zones. Think about it: If we stayed in our comfort zones, we would
never grow as a person! We all have some type of anxiety within us- it is a natural part of life!
However, we need to work on getting out of these comfort zones to heal and become a better
person.

This tip requires you to take a step out of that comfort zone. If you are very socially anxious,
work on trying to speak to a person one on one. If you are a naturally talkative person, try to
broaden your communication skills in a situation with new people! As humans, we are made to
be social individuals. By going outside of our comfort zones and working on being social and
outgoing, we will in turn make ourselves happier by spending time with others!

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13. Go for a massage, or give yourself one

I used to not be a huge fan of massages simply due to fear of being touched. However, a
massage can be an amazing way to make yourself feel happier! If you are fortunate enough to
have a friend who is willing to give you a massage or are able to pay for one, you will experience
the happiness benefits that come from being around others. However, you can also always look
online to learn how to give yourself a quick massage to get some of the benefits associated with
it!

A massage is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety! When reducing this anxiety, you are
better able to enjoy life and receive increased happiness from everyday life. Studies have also
shown that a massage releases chemicals in the brain that help to reduce depression or the
chances of being depressed. That seems to be an awfully good reason to allow yourself a chance
to relax! Not only will you feel less physical tension afterwards (which may give you more
energy to spend doing more happiness activities!), but you will also have some amazing
emotional benefits.

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14. Clean!

Some of you may be reading this and groaning. I know- cleaning used to be the LAST thing
I would ever want to do! However, cleaning can actually be very therapeutic in a way.

Studies have found that a clean house leads to a better mood. Therefore, through cleaning,
we are more likely to increase our positivity! It appears that the act of cleaning also has many
positive qualities. When people clean and get organized, their stress level seems to go down.
Additionally, cleaning keeps your mind busy on the present moment- which is a great way to
practice thinking in the present instead of reflecting on negative thoughts in the past or future
worries. The act of cleaning also provides a sense of satisfaction, which tends to put people in a
better mood!

Cleaning can also be a therapeutic way to help rid yourself of negative thoughts or
memories. For me personally, this came in the form of my high school yearbooks. I felt like I
should keep them since I paid for them, but I knew that they would cause me distress to look
through them. I made the choice to throw these yearbooks out, and I must say I felt relieved in
doing that! You never know what therapeutic ways cleaning can benefit you! If something is too
painful to hold on to and you know it will only hold you back in becoming a better you- then you
may want to think about getting rid of it! Cleaning can be an amazing way to free yourself from
things that have been holding you back.

I have been on a cleaning kick since my college graduation, and it truly does help put me in
a better mood! I never thought I would say I enjoyed cleaning, but it has become very therapeutic
to help me move on with my life and get rid of so many bad memories (that would never do me
any good with holding on to). I also do feel much happier after I finish cleaning a section, and I
love being able to feel organized. Additionally, I tend to make it even more fun for me! I will
blast music and sing/dance along while I clean! It is an amazing stress reliever!

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15. Laugh until you cry!

Similar to the earlier tip where faking a smile can lead to happiness, laughing or faking a
laugh can also cause happiness! The best type of laugh is one that is so big it causes you to start
to cry! There are many ways to make yourself laugh. It can be tough to fake a laugh at points, but
chances are you have tried to do it at some point in life! Perhaps you laughed at a friend’s joke as
you wanted to be nice, or you laughed during a movie because you did not want to feel like the
only person not laughing. However, there are many ways to cause a good, true laugh!

Try to enjoy something that will make you laugh at least once a day! There are so many
options available. You could always look at comedy movies to watch or funny TV shows.
Personally, I love watching “Whose Line is it Anyways?” and “Impractical Jokers.” You can
find those shows on the Internet or on TV. You can also always do a search for simple terms like
“try not to laugh” and find some hilarious shows or sayings! There are also many funny websites
or stories you can find online. Personally, I love looking up “funny autocorrects” as they tend to
always make me laugh! Try looking online sometime- I am sure you can find something that will
give you at least a bit of a laugh, and each laugh can make the difference in a day!

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16. Try progressive muscle relaxation!

If you are reading this and have no idea what I am talking about, then join the club! The first
time I was told by my therapist to follow along with his CD for progressive muscle relaxation, I
could not help but question: “Progressive what?” I’ve now been working with my therapist’s CD
for progressive muscle relaxation, or PMR, for the past year, so I have personally learned the
benefits of this!

It would probably be helpful for me to describe PMR to you! Progressive muscle relaxation
involves tensing specific parts of the body and then letting go of this tension and relaxing that
part of the body. For example, if you are told to tense up the muscles in your hand, you would
make a fist and concentrate on those muscles. After a while, you would be asked to relax these
muscles and would slowly open up the fist. As I said, I have a CD from my therapist that tells me
which muscles to tense and relax and guides me along this journey. You can find your own PMR
to follow along by searching “progressive muscle relaxation” on YouTube.

What is the point of trying PMR? I personally can vouch for the relaxed feeling you get right
after performing this exercise. Progressive muscle relaxation teaches you how to relax your body
to lower your stress levels and anxiety. Through lowering the stress of your everyday life, you
are more likely to be able to enjoy more aspects of life and become an overall happier person!

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17. Have a sleep routine each evening.

Getting a good night’s sleep is essential to one’s well-being both physically and mentally!
How then do you guarantee yourself a restful night? Well, there are many ways out there that
work for different people, but here are a few tips that I have learned to incorporate into a routine
each night to ensure a good sleep!

The first thing that is essential to a good sleep routine is to try to fall asleep around the same
time each night. Eventually, your body will get used to falling asleep at this time. This is
obviously tough to do, and there are times when it needs to be adjusted for special events!
However, it is still a very helpful practice to put into play! Try to pick a time when you typically
start to feel tired at night.

Secondly, it helps to try to relax the mind for at least an hour before trying to fall asleep.
This is very tough to do in today’s society, and I am a constant victim of this! We are constantly
stimulating our minds whether it’s through texting, social media, or television. This stimulation
is okay at points, but it is NOT going to help us fall asleep! About an hour or so before you head
to bed, turn off the TV, your computer, and silence your phone before putting it away. This is
tough to do at first- I will not lie! The first time I attempted this trick, my mind was constantly
worrying about any texts or emails I may have received, but I needed to learn to let these worries
go to rest. When you get into a routine of putting away all these mind stimulants about an hour
before your scheduled sleep time, you will start to notice yourself worrying less and going into a
peaceful state of mind.

Now that I told you to put away the electronics about an hour before you head to bed, you
are likely asking yourself what to do with that extra hour! Try to relax! We put away the
stimulants to help relax our mind, but there are also many other ways we can help relax and put
our minds to rest. The better relaxed you are, the more likely it is for you to have a better night’s
sleep! How can you help relax your mind to get ready to sleep? There are many ways! For
example, you could try reading, meditation, or progressive muscle relaxation. You may also
know some other ways that work to help relax you such as a nice bath or a relaxing yoga routine
before bed. There are many ways out there to try! Remember we need a good night’s sleep to
function in the best way possible, and it is a key essential for our happiness!

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18. Have a morning routine to start the day off right!

Just like a night routine to help us have a better night, a morning routine can help us start our
day off right! The way we start our day off can set the mood for the entire day! How can you set
a morning routine that has the best impact for your day?

One of the best ways to begin your day is by waking up naturally as opposed to needing to
wake up with an alarm! The best way to do this is to practice waking up around the same time
every morning- eventually your body will get used to this rhythm. Another way to help your
body naturally wake up is to try to get some sunshine into your morning routine! You can do this
by taking a morning walk or even by simply opening the shades on your windows first thing. The
benefits of this and of waking up early will be discussed more in later tips!

Now that you’re awake, what do you do with the rest of your morning? The best way to start
your day off right, similar to the way you end your night, is to start off in a calm and relaxed
manner. Soon after waking up, take some moments to practice your gratitude and remind
yourself what you should be thankful for. Think about what you’re looking forward to for the
day or what you can add to make your day more fun! Next, take some time to just relax and get
yourself into the moment. This means stay away from your phone and computer for a while- it’s
not worth getting stressed out first thing in the morning. If you take some time to practice
relaxation, you will find it easier to deal with any potential stress that may come from emails or
texts later! There are many ways you can practice relaxation in the morning. Take a few minutes
to meditate, stretch, or do some yoga before beginning your day!

You will likely need to experiment to find the morning routine that best works for you! Here
is my morning routine for days I do not work for an example, but remember it may not be the
best fit for you!

• 8:00 AM: Wake Up- Think about what I am thankful for and my plans for the day;
Practice asking myself: “If today was my last day, would I be happy with what I do?”

• 8:05: Do some quick stretches to help wake up.
• 8:15ish: Open the blinds and look outside. Meditate for about 10 minutes.
• 8:25: Grab a glass of water and read a chapter in a self-help book and look at positive

blogs online.

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• 8:45: 15 minutes of a yoga session
• 9-10: Perform my rounds- I take an hour out in the morning and evening to check up

on people and my help email. I will also typically enjoy breakfast around 9:30-10.
• 10-10:15: Quick exercise typically from a YouTube exercise program or following an

app on my phone
• 10:15: Shower while singing along to some motivational music!
Again this may not be the best morning routine for you, but try to experiment with different
relaxing and uplifting strategies! Try to stay away from going online or checking your emails or
messages for a while after waking up. Remember if your morning routine leaves you feeling
relaxed and refreshed, you will be more prepared to take whatever the day has to offer in stride
and have a happier day!

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19. Stretch often!

The benefits of stretching tend to be overlooked! To begin with, stretching is a form of
physical activity, which releases those chemicals known as endorphins to make you happier and
improve stress. In fact, activities that release endorphins have even been shown in studies to
reduce the symptoms of diagnosed depression! Along with releasing these chemicals to help
improve your happiness, stretching also can be beneficial to improving your overall life for other
reasons.

As mentioned in my morning routine in the previous tip, I like to include stretching in the
morning. Stretching is a great way to wake up and feel energized! We need to feel energized in
the morning to be able to get through our day. If we went around feeling sluggish and tired, we
are more likely to feel depressed than if we go around being active and feeling energized!

Additionally, stretching has been shown to have various other benefits on our overall health-
both physical and emotional. A previous tip in this book mentioned how exercise is known as the
natural anti-depressant, and stretching is important to keep our bodies in physical shape to
perform these exercises that will increase our happiness! Stretching our muscles can also help
improve our posture, and a good posture can increase one’s confidence, which is essential to
getting the most out of life. Finally, stretching increases our mindfulness. When we stretch, we
pay attention to different muscles in our body. By focusing our attention on our bodies, we
become mindful of the present moment- similar to how we feel during meditation. The best part
of all of this is that to get these benefits, we only need to take a few minutes out of our days to
stretch! It’s an easy change to make to your lifestyle that can have a drastic effect on your health
and happiness!

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20. Drink water daily!

I’m sure many of you have heard the benefits of drinking water! It is very common to hear
how we are expected to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day and how we need water to survive.
Water is especially important to help you through some of the techniques in this list involving
exercise as we do not want to get dehydrated, but did you know that water can also help your
emotional state? That’s right; water can actually help you to be happier!

Researches in many studies have shown that drinking water can help to improve one’s
mood. In fact, when one gets dehydrated, they are more likely to be depressed and agitated.
Studies have even shown that just the slightest bit of thirst can negatively impact one’s mood. By
simply making it so we drink more water daily, we can help ourselves to stay hydrated- which
will help us to stay happier! As an added bonus, drinking water helps keep us energized, and
being energized to do activities is important in keeping our moods positive and happy!

Make sure you find time to add water to your daily schedule! In fact if you add drinking
water to your morning schedule, you will be off on the right foot for the day. Work on drinking
water throughout the day. Keep a bottle of water with you throughout the day, so you constantly
have this go to drink! If you find the taste of plain water boring, you can even mix it up every
now and then by adding fruits such as lemon or lime to your water. There are so many ways to
include water in our diet, and by taking this simple step, we can help to improve our everyday
mood!

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21. Try some fresh juicing.

Yes, that’s right juicing has actually been shown to lead to increased happiness. In fact,
studies have shown that juicing can help improve moods for various reasons. Some people find
the practice of juicing to simply be therapeutic. Additionally, the nutrient properties from fresh
juices have been shown to increase happiness as well.

If you look up juicing recipes online, you will find a wide variety of tasty and healthy
recipes to try! Juices can be made using a juicer or simply a blender. There are so many ways to
incorporate juicing into your life! I even have a personal blender that blends directly into a travel
cup, so I can take my juicing right on the go with me! Juicing is nutritious, delicious, and may
help to improve your mood- why not give it a try?

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22. Change the hands you brush your teeth with each day.

This tip is exactly what the title says! Did you know that doing something as simple as
switching up the hands you brush your teeth with can actually improve your mood? We tend to
always brush our teeth with our dominant hand, but when we switch every now and then to
brushing with our non-dominant hand, something amazing happens!

I have seen many studies done about this, and I was pretty amazed to hear about such a
simple tip. We get so used to daily tasks like brushing our teeth that we tend to just zone out and
not focus on it, but if we switch it up to our non-dominant hand, we make ourselves focus more
on brushing. Through doing this and forcing ourselves to focus on the task at hand, we are
practicing mindfulness, which helps increase our mood.

Additionally, when we switch the hands we brush our teeth with, we actually stimulate the
production of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the brain, which is used to
encourage the growth of neurons that are linked to your mood! This protein is oftentimes lower
in people when they are feeling depressed, and anti-depressants are used to increase production
of this protein. That’s right- by taking time to brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand,
you are getting a bit of the same effects you would receive when taking anti-depressants. This is
such a simple change to make to your daily routine every now and then, so why not try it?

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23. Dance!

So you think you can dance? Well, honestly, it doesn’t matter if you think you can dance or
not! Dancing in general has been shown to raise happiness levels, so it does not matter how
much rhythm you have- get out there and shake it!

Studies have shown that participants who took part in weekly dance classes-some who even
had diagnosed mood disorders like depression-had a significant boost in their mood that lasted
even months after they finished dancing. There are many explanations for why dancing can have
such a positive effect on our emotions! First of all, dancing is a great form of exercise. As
already discussed in many tips, exercise is a great way to improve our happiness! In fact, some
studies have even found that people who danced became happier than people who participated in
other forms of exercise. Part of this could be because dancing helps improve self-esteem as you
gain confidence in your body and get creative with dancing. Additionally, dancing may be one of
the best ways to increase happiness due to the fact that music helps to activate pleasure responses
in your brain, and dancing involves both exercise and music- which both have been shown to
increase happiness. It’s like the best of both worlds!

If the thought of attending a dance class with others makes you anxious, then you can
simply begin by looking up dance videos online! I have found beginner ballet classes, beginner
tap classes, and many other dance classes available- which I can do in the comfort of my own
room with no cost. However, getting out to a beginner ballet class or even another dance exercise
program like Zumba is a great way to work on improving your happiness with not only dancing
but also being social (and working on your self-confidence)! Dancing is a great form of exercise
that helps improve your mood, and it’s also simply a lot of fun!

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24. Raise a plant.

Have you ever thought of the benefits of raising a plant? No, I’m not just talking about it
making your place look nice! Plants either inside or outside do in fact cause pleasure within a
person by being aesthetically pleasing. However, the process of gardening or simply nurturing a
plant can also be a terrific way to boost a mood.

Whether you are planting seeds or watering an indoor plant, you are taking care of a living
thing. This is a great way to remind you of the power you hold in your life! Caring for plants
tend to make people feel accomplished as they watch their plants grow, and this sense of
accomplishment is a great mood booster! Additionally, being around these plants increase our
energy levels as multiple studies have shown that being around natural environments- such as
plants- increase positive outlooks on life, which make people feel more alive. This natural effect
can also produce a very relaxing and soothing benefit, which will help to keep you more positive
in times of stress!

Even if you are doubtful about the positive benefits of planting, you have nothing to lose by
simply buying some seeds or even just one plant to keep in your room! Plants can be relatively
cheap, so it will not burn a hole in your pocket. Even if caring for a plant does not seem to have a
major increase on your mood, at least you will increase the physical look of a room!

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25. Eat outside whenever possible

You may not think of yourself as a “nature person”, or you may not be a fan of eating
outdoors thinking that it’s “too buggy” or “too hot”. Just wait and hear me out! Depending on the
location in which you live, there may only be a few months out of the year where it’s actually
nice enough to eat outside! During the time when the weather is nice, you want to get in as much
of the sunshine and nature as you can, and eating outdoors is a great way to help you get this
daily dose.

What do you tend to do when you’re eating? Do you watch TV, surf the Internet, or check
your phone? Have you ever considered taking the time to appreciate the food you’re eating?
When we eat outdoors, we are in a more relaxing and mindful environment that is free from most
distractions. We can use this time to focus on the food we are eating, which tends to make this
food taste a whole lot better! In fact, paying attention to our food can actually be a form of
meditation as you practice paying attention to the present moment. Being outdoors is also a great
way to reduce the stress of the day, so it is a great way to take a lunch break and refocus yourself
on what you want from the day. When we decrease this stress and increase our mindfulness, we
help to better our moods to overall better our days!

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26. Celebrate all the little reasons!

Who doesn’t love feeling accomplished? We celebrate events all the time such as birthdays,
holidays, or job promotions, but what if we made every day seem like a holiday? There are
reasons to celebrate each and every day!

You are alive today- you are here for a reason. We can celebrate each day that we are here
because we have another chance at life, another day to make something of ourselves. Look for
reasons, big or small, to celebrate within each and every day. Right now, I celebrate each chapter
I complete of this book because I know that I’m one step closer to the finished product. I also
celebrate any accomplishments I make. Today, I ended up calling someone back on the phone to
arrange for an interview. For so many years, I was mute and let my anxiety win. Even though I
was terrified to call and speak to someone I did not know, I still managed to do it, and I felt so
accomplished afterwards! To me, that is a huge reason to celebrate as it is one step closer
towards me healing. Try to find something in each day to celebrate, whether it is being alive,
being closer to a goal, or working on bettering yourself in some way. When you look for ways to
celebrate and acknowledge all your accomplishments, every day can seem like a major
celebration! Celebrating each day will only make you feel happier to be here and to be where
you are in life!

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27. Try going to sleep earlier.

Benjamin Franklin once said: “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man wealthy, healthy,
and wise.” I don’t know if going to bed earlier will make you all these things, but I do know that
having an earlier bedtime may increase your happiness!

Multiple studies have found that those who have regular sleep schedules in which they go to
bed early tend to be more positive than those with irregular schedules or those who call
themselves “night owls.” It turns out that people who stay awake longer at night tend to have
more worries and anxieties throughout the night and the following day than those who choose to
hit the hay early! Most researches have not figured out the reason behind this, but there definitely
seems to be a correlation. If you want to get the most out of your days with less worries and
more happiness, try going to bed earlier!

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28. Go on random trips!

For much of my life I was a fairly withdrawn person, but going to college allowed me to
slowly get out of my shell and start seeing what life has to offer! One of my favorite parts of my
college experience would have to be the random road trips we would take! When I think back on
these trips, I can’t help but smile!

It did not matter where we went on these random trips- sometimes we even just drove
around to see what we could find. It was truly just fun being able to “live in the moment.”
Additionally, the drive was extremely fun with friends. We would be blasting music on the radio
or even have “flashbacks” to 90’s songs, and we would be singing on top of our lungs and just
dancing around like idiots! I used to be very uncomfortable in situations like those, but I learned
to let loose and get out of my shell. It helped me to keep in mind that it was only my friends in
the car with me, so it was a safe place to have fun! (Obviously, if you are driving, you need to
take extra precautions, but I am hoping you all know that!)

The drive to random trips can be so much fun that you may be able to understand how the
journey is sometimes more fun than the destination. Although, it can also always be fun to see
where random road trips end up taking you! It is a great way to relax and just let the stress of the
week go. Get some friends together, and head out on a road trip. Remember it doesn’t matter
where you go- just have fun living in the moment and experiencing life!

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29. Spend some time with some furry companions!

Let’s talk about the true friends with benefits- pets or animals in general! Animals make
great friends, and they offer some great benefits that increase your overall mood!

Many studies have found that spending time with animals has been found to increase
happiness. Spending time with these amazing friends has also been found to help make people
more relaxed. Ever wonder why therapy animals go into hospitals? They can give you that same
relaxing effect in any setting- whether it’s at home, a pet store, or even a zoo.

When hanging out with an animal, you are also being social. This is similar to hanging out
with any good friend and can increase your happiness. Additionally if you own a pet or volunteer
to take care of one, you can get some exercise benefits as well! Try saying no to Fido when he
wants to go play outside or go for a walk; it’s pretty tough to do! Exercise has a bunch of
benefits in itself to increase happiness, so having a buddy to exercise with can bring even more
joy!

If you don’t have a pet of your own, no problem! There are still many opportunities for you
to get that relaxed and happy effect from spending time with animals. Look into animal stores or
puppy stores around your area- you will often find stores that will let you in to play with the
animals! You could also look into volunteering at an animal shelter or some other cause with
animals. Not only will you get to spend time with some animals that are well in need of some
loving, but you will also get the interior joy of volunteering for a worthy cause! It doesn’t matter
the setting where you spend time with animals, you can get that happiness benefit in any
location!

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30. Eat breakfast each morning.

How many of you growing up were told by your parents or guardians to always eat
breakfast? Eating breakfast is healthy for many reasons such as decreasing the risks to develop
diseases, but it also has positive effects for your mood!

It has been shown that people who eat breakfast daily are less likely to develop depression
and anxiety. Additionally, eating breakfast has been shown to lead to increased happiness and
decreases irritability. This could be for a wide variety of reasons! Eating breakfast daily will give
you increased energy to get through the day, which allows you to have the energy to exercise and
take on more activities. Breakfast also helps to lower a stress hormone known as cortisol, which
will help you to be less stressed! It may very well be true that breakfast is the most important
meal of the day, both for physical and emotional reasons!

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31. Get surprise gifts for loved ones

Giving is better than receiving. We have all likely heard this many times while growing up.
Who wouldn’t love to get a surprised gift from someone just because? Think of the people in
your life who mean a lot to you- the ones who make you feel loved and cared for. As already
mentioned in previous tips, giving gratitude is a great way for us to feel happy. When we look at
life in a thankful way, we realize how fortunate we truly are!

Besides simply saying thanks, we can show our gratitude by surprising our loved ones with
gifts! Through doing this, we will make our friends and family happy- which should make us
feel happy. However, the simple act of giving has a lot of benefits in itself! Giving has been
shown to increase happiness. Scientists believe that giving to others actually releases endorphins
in our brain- similar to the way that exercise releases these same chemicals- which make us feel
happier and more pleasant. In fact, the pleasure that is achieved through giving actually has a
specific name, and it is known as “helper’s high”! To get this amazing feeling, we simply need to
give to others. We will feel happy when giving to anyone, but the added feeling of giving to
those who truly care for us is amazing! Plus, let’s not forget that these surprised gifts will likely
make these important people in our life truly happy and thankful as well!

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32. Hug!

Let’s start this tip off by me simply sending you all air hugs! That’s right, hugging actually
makes you happier! Hugs are a great form of communication and can be used to congratulate
someone, to comfort someone, or even as a simple greeting. The best part is not only can a hug
make you happier, but it also tends to have the same pleasurable effect for the other person as
well! It’s a win-win situation.

Now, you may be asking yourself why a hug actually makes you happier. Hugging actually
reduces the level of stress hormones in your body. Thus, it has been shown to help reduce stress
and fight depression. A hug has also been shown to stimulate other hormones such as serotonin,
the same chemical that is regulated by anti-depressants, which leads to increased positive moods!
Even better, relationships and friendships that involve hugging tend to last longer than other
relationships! As humans, we are in fact social beings- no matter how shy we may be- and crave
to feel included in loving relationships. Hugging helps us to maintain close friendships, which
only adds more to our feelings of happiness! Work on trying to give at least 3 hugs a day- you
may be surprised how well you feel!

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33. Try some aromatherapy!

It’s time to smell the roses! If you want to take that literally and step outside to smell the
roses- awesome; if not, then keep on reading to learn about some other fun scents to help you
out. Aromatherapy is exactly what it sounds like; it’s “therapy” with certain scents. It may sound
like a strange way to help yourself, but there are in fact certain scents that can help you feel
happier!

We often take the power of smell for granted, but the truth is our simple ability to smell can
truly help us to better ourselves. There are so many scents out there that can help you feel
happier, more relaxed, and more enthusiastic about life! Some of these amazing scents that have
been shown to improve pleasant feelings include lavender, rosemary, vanilla, and lemon. There
are many ways to incorporate these scents into your life such as a bath with these scented oils,
putting some drops of oil on a cloth to inhale, using a scented candle, or even spraying a
perfume. Try to get your hands on some of these scented oils- regardless of whether or not it
truly helps you feel happier, it will at least smell good ( and there’s no harm there)!

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34. Take a relaxing bath!

Who doesn’t love the idea of feeling nice and relaxed? This feeling can be tough to achieve,
but luckily, there are options available to help you feel relaxed. One of these options includes
taking a relaxing bath! You may feel as though you do not always have the time to take a bath,
and I understand how a shower is a much quicker option. However, try taking a bath when you
feel stressed or perhaps once a week for a special treat!

A nice calm bath can truly help to just melt away your anxieties and stress. A shower tends
to be quick and rushed, while a bath can give you a meditative environment. Take the time to
simply sink in, enjoy the warm water, and focus on relaxing. You may be surprised how relaxed
you feel afterwards! You can even add some scented oils to the bath (like the ones talked about
in the previous tip) to add even more relaxing benefits!

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35. Work on your posture

How many of you can say you always have perfect posture? I honestly doubt many of you
pay attention to your posture constantly. Right now though, just take a minute and think about
your posture throughout the day. How do you walk around? What about when you’re just sitting
and relaxing? Your posture can actually affect the way you feel.

The importance of body language in our society is quite evident! Take a moment to think
about what a confident person looks like. Do you picture them slouching over or standing
straight up? By working on our posture, we can help to improve our confidence. In fact, when we
stand or sit up straight, we tend to think more positive than when we slouch over. Additionally, a
good posture helps us to feel more powerful- like we can accomplish more in our lives! We need
this feeling of power to truly help us to make the most of our days.

Take some time to work on your posture. When you notice yourself slouching, try to fix it!
If you constantly have bad posture, do a search online for exercises that can help to improve
postures; these exercises work on strengthening the muscles in your back to make it easier to
have good posture. A good posture truly can make you feel happier and more confident- plus it
will make you look better and healthier!

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36. Set goals for each day!

Do you wake up each day with a purpose? Or do you just lie around and be lazy if you have
no plans? While it is always nice to relax, it is also helpful to have a to-do list to motivate
yourself.

When you wake up in the morning, take time to ask yourself the following question: “If I
could only accomplish one thing today, what would I want to do?” By asking yourself this
question, you will find your most important priority for the day. Put this task on your checklist
first, and add a little star next to it to remind yourself how important this is to you. Next, add
some other tasks that you would like to accomplish on this checklist. These can be tasks related
to a project, a greater goal, or simply bettering yourself (such as by working on some of these
tasks in this book!) One of my favorite things to do is to add a goal to my checklist for each day
that helps me truly recover. For example, I may add “calling someone” or “going in public
without scanning for five minutes” to help me work on overcoming my social anxiety and PTSD.

If you find yourself laying around and being lazy for longer than an hour, take out that
checklist to remind yourself about what you want to accomplish today. This will help to motivate
you to stay accomplished during the day as opposed to getting too lazy (which can contribute to
negative feelings and thoughts.) We want to keep our minds busy throughout the day and feel as
though we are being successful to help increase our positive thoughts. It also is an amazing
feeling to be able to cross off tasks on your list for the day and makes you feel very
accomplished for the day!

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37. Dress to impress (yourself!)

I’m sure that many of you have heard the saying “dress to impress” before, but who exactly
are you trying to impress? Should our own self-worth really be determined by the way others
think of us? The truth is the only person you should be trying to impress is yourself!

We all have our own sense of style, and this style should influence what we wear! By
wearing clothes that we feel comfortable in or that we feel pretty in, we help to raise our self-
confidence- which in the end is what really matters! Sure, there are times when we may need to
meet a certain type of dress code, but try to add a little bit of you whenever possible to your
dress. Show the world your style- which helps to show a bit of the true you! When we stay true
to ourselves in dressing, we truly do start to feel better about ourselves. Choose to wear what
makes you feel the best! When you’re feeling good about what you’re wearing, you will feel
happier going about the day!

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38. Begin your morning by reading something positive.

What do you do when you first wake up in the morning? Did you know that your actions
could set the mood for your entire day? I love to begin my day with some positive readings-
these articles help me to start the day off on a positive note!

There are so many places to read some positive and inspiring articles! You could look into
getting self-help books, or you could check out many online websites! Two of my favorite
websites to read inspirational articles are Wanderlust and Marc and Angel. These two sites have
many archived articles that help influence me to be a better person and think positively! It is
always amazing to do some positive reading as it helps train your mind to see things in a more
positive light, and it truly helps us develop a happy lifestyle once we learn how to see things
positively! Instead of checking your emails or texts or hopping right into stressful work first
thing in the morning, try instead to take a few minutes out to read some positive articles! It will
truly help you start your day off right!

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39. Don’t seek praise.

How many times do you go about doing a good deed, yet you expect praise in the end? This
is something I still struggle with on a daily basis. We all know how performing an act of
kindness can benefit the recipient, but oftentimes; we want our own benefit as well in the form of
acknowledgement. We need to work on not seeking praise for us to know what is right.

When we feel like we need praise from others, we are simply putting ourselves in a place of
rejection. Imagine the feeling you get when you don’t receive the acknowledgment you hoped
for. By feeling we need praise in order to feel good about ourselves, we in fact take away a part
of our own confidence. Work on doing what you know is right simply for that very reason
because it is the RIGHT thing to do. Perform random acts of kindness for others simply because
you know it will make them happier. You don’t always need to tell people about your good
deeds; in fact, if you do feel the need to share with others it should be to try to encourage others
to go out and do the same things! When we do what we know is right without feeling the need to
get acknowledgement from others, we start to feel better about ourselves as we don’t need to
worry about rejection.

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