How to Be Happy: Aspects to Nurture to Live a Genuinely Satisfied Life
Much like love, happiness is another thing everyone wishes to flow more naturally and endlessly. But just like how staying in love requires work, so does living a genuinely happy life.
Each person differs in their approach on how to be happy. There isn’t an exact formula that can tell you that certain practices and activities will 100% give you happiness. There is no specific type of happiness, after all. People’s needs, as individuals, and how one’s zest for life gets filled up differ in so many ways. More so, achieving long-lasting happiness can be quite a challenge. Situations change and sometimes the slowness or the rapidness of how life moves causes a load of emotions that may constantly threaten one’s happiness bubble.
Since the onset of the pandemic, individuals have had the chance to reevaluate their lives and priorities. As greater possibilities to live a healthier work-life balance emerge, you may be pressed to question your careers, relationships, spaces, and how much they contribute to your overall well-being. And despite all the uncertainty, people are starting to feel more confident and secure that they do have control of how they can stay happy and healthy. That said, you have power over how you wish to achieve a truly meaningful life.
Many studies agree that there seem to be three major aspects that greatly contribute to the pursuit of happiness: your space, your relationships, and yourself.
Your Space
One’s surroundings directly impact their mental health. Homes and offices are spaces where most people spend their time. Evidence suggests that how you design these personal spaces can be the key to constantly having a positive mindset. By creating a space that comforts, heals, and inspires, your space can boost healthier emotional well-being.
Create a Space That Comforts and Inspires You
1. Choose room and furniture colours that make you feel relaxed and happy.
Everyone's varied experiences colour their perceptions – no pun intended. Green may seem relaxing to some but intense for others. Depending on the needs of each part of your space, you must choose colours that either give you a calming mood, an energy boost, or one that inspires creativity.
2. Keep a clean, well-lighted place.
Studies show that clutter and dark, ill-lighted spaces contribute to higher stress levels, anxiety, and depression. Science also proves that a clutter-free, well-lighted environment can improve your focus, enhance your ability to process information effectively, and set you on a more positive disposition.
3. Decorate your home with plants.
Evidence suggests that nature brings a positive impact on our mental health. Plants alone can help reduce stress levels and boost our moods. In 2014, an Exeter study revealed that officers with greenery and foliage stimulated productivity. After installing at least one indoor plant per square meter, workers’ memory retention improved significantly. They were also more engaged and felt more fulfilled. Similarly, a paper in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology one year later observed lower blood pressure, increased comfort, and enhanced optimism in homes with some level of greenery.
4. Spend time with nature.
In Japan, the Japanese have a practise called shinrin-yoku which means forest bathing or taking in the forest atmosphere. It’s a term that emerged in 1980 as a physiological and psychological exercise to counter the effects of burnout caused by the stressful and restless city life. Evidence shows that spending time with nature is physiologically beneficial. It lowers blood pressure and promotes cancer-fighting cells. However, it also nurtures a healthy state of mind. Nature can calm the activity in the area of our brains that contributes to anxiety and depression.
Remote work opportunities have made it easier to live away from the city. You no longer have to put your career in the backseat. Nonetheless, a big move is not the only answer. As long as you take the time to take breaks and recharge in the company of nature, you will gain its healing power. Mountain hikes, park visits, camping, and beach trips are no longer considered a luxury. They are crucial nature breaks that can help you live a happy and healthy life.
Your Relationships
In a Harvard study of almost 80 years, scientists followed the health of Harvard sophomores during the Great Depression in 1938. The study aimed to discover what contributes to a good, happy, and healthy life. To answer this, the longtime director of the study, Dr Valiant said, “The only things that matter in life are your relationships with other people.”
The data collected from the study suggest that strong relationships can be greatly associated with happiness, physical health, financial success, and long life.
Nurture your relationships. Whether it be with your community, friends, family, or significant other, make the effort to reach out and make each moment count.
- Be fully present when it matters most
- Communicate as much as you can
- Experience new things together
- Be intentional with your words and actions
- Show gratitude and appreciation
- Don’t hold grudges
- Provide emotional support
- Forgive
- Give back
- Volunteer
Also read: Your New Chief Happiness Officer—Should We Have Pets in the Workplace?
Yourself
Routines, sources of bliss, work-life, and ways of making connections can constantly change. And when they do, you are compelled to look inward and seek what truly makes you happy and how you want to live your life. Why? Because genuine happiness starts from within. How you think and what you feed your minds impact your emotional well-being. You cannot nurture relationships if you pour from an empty cup. Comparatively, you cannot provide for yourself if you don’t function as effectively as a professional. Thus, to say that self-care is significant to happiness would be an understatement.
Be kind to your mind.
1. Unplug
Disconnecting from social media allows you to be more present and aware of your surroundings. Not only does it give you the time to appreciate what you have, but it also deepens your relationships with others and yourself. Staying unplugged offers you the chance to be in harmony with your emotions, present reality, and goals. You can focus on your life and not other people’s.
2. Brighten your mornings with affirmations
How you speak to yourself is very essential in managing and reshaping your thoughts. Positive affirmations can help boost your confidence and help you appreciate yourself more.
3. Practice gratitude
Gratitude attracts positive emotions that help build a stable positive mindset. When you practice gratitude, you become more content with your life or become more hopeful in achieving the things you want.
Look after your body.
1. Exercise
Even short, moderately intense exercises can help your body produce endorphins, your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters, and natural painkillers.
2. Pamper yourself
Loving the person you see in the mirror contributes to feeling good and staying happy. You take care of your loved ones, right? You should realise that looking out for yourself is necessary, too. This self-care includes your physical body. Find a self-care routine that works for you and buy clothes that make you look good and feel good.
3. Eat with health and happiness in mind
Nourishing your body doesn’t have to be an unpleasant experience. Fortunately, there are now a lot of accessible and easy-to-follow recipes to explore eating healthy without sacrificing the happiness we feel when we eat delicious food.
4. Get enough sleep
Adequate sleep is crucial for brain function and emotional well-being. Notice how you get easily cranky without enough sleep or find it more challenging to process information? It may be because your mind and body lack the rest it needs to recuperate. Make sure to have at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night to feel well-rested.
Life is short, they say. We only live once, they say. Then wouldn’t it be better if we live it the way we want to and pursue happiness above anything else superficial?
Ready to feel more fulfilled and happy? If you’re looking for a job that can allow you to build a career and follow your passions, update your JobStreet profile and check out #LetsGetToWork. We’re with you every step of your career journey.
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