Inner peace and happiness are never guaranteed in life. According to the latest wellbeing data from CityLab, a majority of Americans registered a decline in their overall happiness levels last year, with the country being at one of its lowest points in decades.
There are many factors that are likely to have contributed to this, with many aspects of modern life simply proving to be detrimental to long-term happiness.
However, your wellbeing journey starts with you. A few simple adjustments to your lifestyle can have a significantly positive impact on your happiness levels. Here are some essential daily tips for those looking to lead a happier life, starting right now.
Develop an Affirmative Mindset
Our own thought processes are often the most detrimental to our inner happiness. However, there are steps you can take to break the cycle of negative thinking. Research from the Mayo Clinic has shown that those who take efforts to ‘filter out' negative thinking report much higher levels of long-term happiness than those who don't.
You can start by identifying your negative thoughts. Perhaps you're stressing over work, filled with self-doubt and insecurities, or prone to pessimism. Once you can see where your own thoughts are letting you down, you can take action to break the cycle.
Read some motivational literature and get into the habit of pumping yourself up. Stay away from negative thought influencers such as social media and bad friends. Start making decisions based on the potential they have to boost your mindset.
Socialize as Much as Possible, Even at Home
Us humans are social animals at heart. There are countless studies that show that even a small amount of regular socialization can boost wellbeing significantly. Gathering up the energy and courage to meet people can seem like a challenge at times, especially if you're an introvert, but you'll rarely regret taking the plunge and doing so.
If you don't know where to start, try signing up for a social platform like MeetUp to get involved with people in the same boat as you and make new friends in a non-judgmental environment.
Alternatively, you don't have to leave the house to interact with others if you're not ready for that. Real-person interaction is now a central feature of most home entertainment platforms, and this can be a great way to connect with people.
You can start small by playing online multiplayer games such as Call of Duty, which allow you to speak and play alongside people from anywhere in the world. You can even enjoy face-to-face interaction when gaming online. Online casino platforms like Betway feature live casino games where you can play blackjack, poker, and roulette with real people via a live stream. This is a simple and low-pressure way to accustom yourself to some regular human interaction.
Cut Out Toxicity
As mentioned earlier, happiness and wellbeing take effort. One of the most powerful steps you can take is to cut out toxic influences in your life as soon as possible. If you have friends who don't make you feel good and never say anything to boost you up, it's probably time to cut them out and move on. Similarly, poor habits such as eating junk food and smoking are proven to have a negative effect on mental health.
This is a process you can gamify to make sure you stick to it. Use a habit-tracking app like MindSet to help you identify all of your toxic influences and cut them out one by one. Once your environment is conducive to your wellbeing, happiness will be just around the corner.
Keep Your Body Active
Finally, it's crucial to remember than an active body leads to a healthy mind. Psychology Today recommends just 45 minutes of exercise per day if you want to see massive improvements to your overall wellbeing. You don't even have to go through the trouble of getting a gym membership. Simply opting to walk places instead of driving can give you the exercise you need to get on the right track.
Better yet, combine the social aspect with the active aspect and join a running club, cycling team, local baseball team, or anything that takes your fancy. Sitting around doing nothing all day will drain your wellbeing and prevent you from realizing the inner peace and happiness you deserve.
These simple adjustments will help you reap big benefits when it comes to your wellbeing. Happiness is too important to procrastinate over, so get started right now.
