30 Ways To Increase Your Happiness In The New Year

Whether or not you set resolutions for the New Year, you probably would like to maintain or increase your happiness quotient. If so, the following tips may prove to be helpful:

Write down three positive things that happened to you each day and think about how and why they occurred. Maybe they seemed to happen out of the blue, but there’s also a high probability that you and/or other people contributed in some way. Use this opportunity to acknowledge that even on the toughest days there can be blessings, and that you most likely were instrumental in bringing them about.
Show interest and compassion when conversing with others. Make eye contact, remove other distractions, smile when appropriate, and ask questions or paraphrase what you’re hearing, to show you are trying to understand the other person.
Perform five acts of kindness in one day. These don’t have to be time-consuming. Say hello to people you pass on the street, allow someone to go in front of you in line at the grocery store, and give your spouse a hug – these all count, and they may make a bigger difference to the other person (and yourself) than you might expect.
Forgive others and yourself. Forgiveness doesn’t imply that you approve of the offending behavior. It does release you from the chains of resentment and allow you to move on.
Quietly sit and follow your breath for 15 minutes. Try to still your mind and focus just on this one activity and this moment. Detach from the many thoughts that inevitably pop up and be simply the quiet, warmly present observer. Mindfulness opens your mind and heart to deeper levels.
Once or twice a day, take a moment to pay attention to the physical sensations in your body. Check in with what your body might be telling you. Are your shoulders tight? If so, roll your shoulders a few times and imagine warmth spreading through them. Are you sitting in a hunched position? Reposition yourself with a straight spine and your head erect. Note how this new stance can help you feel more alert and confident.
Write a letter to yourself expressing compassion about an area in your life for which you usually give yourself grief. Consider what a close friend might say to you. Recommit to being on your own side.
For 15 minutes, write about how your ideal future life would look. How would you spend your time? With whom? Where would you live? There are no wrong answers. The point is to get clearer on what you want and then determine what is within your power to do, to help get you there. You could even write about different “ideal futures” on different days.
Write down a list of things for which you are grateful. Some people do this on a daily basis, but doing so on a weekly basis has been shown to increase happiness, too. You’ll gain appreciation for the wonders already in your life.
Write a letter of gratitude to someone. Try to let go of feeling self-conscious or as if you need to censor yourself, as you don’t have to send the letter. However, know that doing so can benefit both the recipient and you.
Smile even if you don’t feel like it. It will stimulate the happiness part of your brain.
Join a social network, attend regularly, and actively participate – don’t just stand on the sidelines. Allow people to get to know the real you.
Check in with your family and friends about their needs and how you can help meet those needs.
Surround yourself with positive people who share similar goals to yours. Cultivate relationships that support intimacy and bonding.
Show kindness to everyone you encounter. Give love freely and accept it openly. Study the people you admire and emulate them. Find a mentor.
Be a mentor to someone. You have a lot to give.
Remain open, humble, teachable, and approachable to others. The more people you meet, the more opportunities you will receive.
Ask for help and support when you are overwhelmed. Our culture promotes the “pull yourself by your own bootstraps” mentality, but the truth is that we tend to thrive when we give and reach social support on a regular basis.
Do or learn something new every day. Read an article, do a crossword puzzle, look something up on the Internet, or memorize a new word. Be curious about life and people. Keep asking questions and growing.
Face problems head-on and handle them promptly, if possible. This will build your sense of competency. Take action and the motivation will tend to follow.
Do some form of exercise every day, even if it’s just taking a short walk. Get those endorphins flowing, breathe deeply, strengthen your muscles, and increase your lung capacity through moving your body. Your mind and spirits will thank you.
Take yourself less seriously. Lighten up and laugh more.
Try to live in the present the majority of the time. Let go of regrets about the past and worries about the future. Take things one day at a time.
Create a goal for each month and daily action steps to get you there.
Tell your friends and family about your goals to keep you accountable. Consider joining a support group to help keep you on track.
Write down your values and make sure your life and work reflect those values. Aim for internal fulfillment rather than external fulfillments. When spending money, invest in experiences rather than possessions.
Every day ask yourself, “Who am I and what do I want to create today?”
Become aware of your limiting, negative thought patterns and actively work to become more solution-focused and optimistic. Focus on the positives.
Relinquish perfectionism. Accept that you are perfectly imperfect, as are we all, and simply strive for improvement in those areas that mean the most to you. If you try something and it doesn’t work out the way you’d like it to, embrace failure as your friend. It means you’ve tried.
Slow down. Walk more slowly, drive more slowly, eat more slowly, talk more slowly. Life is not a race to the finish line. What matters is appreciating the journey and not driving yourself into the ground.

Are there items you’d like to add to this list? Please feel free to leave your comments. A very Happy and Content New Year to you!