Happiness

We all know what we can do to live a happier life, but when those claims are backed up by science, we tend to take them more seriously. After all, if it's been poked and prodded at by scientists, the findings definitely sound like they have more validity. It's up to you to figure out what works for you, but these strategies are worth trying! Here are some things that will increase your life satisfaction, according to studies:

• Watch less TV: Unhappy people spend more time watching TV, according to a study in the Social Indicators Research journal.
• Get older: If you're dreading the white hairs and health drawbacks of aging, know that there's a silver lining. More studies are showing that happiness increases after middle age.
• Plan a vacation: Researchers found that it's the planning of a vacation and not the actual trip itself that increases happiness in people. Perhaps the anticipation of getting away from the daily grind causes us to grin more than when we're actually on the beach without a worry in sight.
• Change it up: Even if you're doing something that makes you happy, the joy may wear off if it becomes routine. Change things up every once in a while. For example, give your current hobby a break and take up a new one.
• Be around happy people: Happiness is apparently infectious, according to a study in the British journal BMJ, so surround yourself with positive people. That doesn't mean you should break up with your Debbie Downer friends, say the researchers. You can help spread happiness by doing things to improve their lives.
• Enjoy nature: Viewing greenery gives your brain a mental break, while city living can stress you out. Take the time to visit a nearby park or garden to take in nature's beauty and boost your happiness at the same time.
• Do cultural activities: Go to the museum this weekend and get cultured. A study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found men who take part in cultural activities are more happy and satisfied versus those who don't.
• Own pets: A furry friend will increase your self-esteem, feeling of belonging, and meaning of your existence, says a study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Quite a tall order for such compact creatures.
• Do charity work and volunteer: Doing good for society has its perks. People who give away their money to charity or volunteer tend to be more satisfied, according to a study published in the journal Science.

Being happy may just be the single most important thing you can do for your health, making it just as important as diet and physical activity. If you aren't feeling like yourself lately, not to worry. Knowing that times are stressful and the unexpected often occurs, here are ways to help you get back to happiness almost instantly.

1. Play a game (not on your phone): Get your family together, invite some friends over, and have a game night. Not only will you be surrounded by good company, friendly competition usually guarantees a good time and a good laugh.
2. Smile: When in doubt, smile! Not only is it contagious, smiling helps relieve stress, boost your mood, and release endorphins.
3. Go for a walk: If something isn't going well at work or home, step outside and take a walk. It doesn't have to be long, but a quick stroll will help you get fresh air and clear your mind.
4. Call a friend: Don't text, dial! Calling a close friend is a great way to talk over your worries and get advice from someone you trust.
5. Try something new: Stop your rut by switching things up. Try a new gym class, restaurant, or take a new route to work in the morning.

For more happy ideas, read more

You may wake up on the wrong side of the bed, but that doesn't mean you have to adopt a negative attitude. Sometimes bad days seem inevitable — you miss the bus, arrive late to work, then forget a major deadline — but just a few tweaks to your everyday routine can set you up for better, happier days. Hoping to have a joyful Spring? Check out 10 simple ways to make a good day more likely:

1. Set multiple alarms. It's hard to be satisfied when you're tired and groggy, so do yourself a favor by going to bed at a decent hour. More importantly, though, be sure to set several alarms so that your day gets off to a prompt, panic-free start.
2. Eat a healthy breakfast. If you're hungry, it's not a good day. Period. Easy solution? Allow yourself enough time each morning to sit down and enjoy a filling, nutritious meal. Pack healthy snacks to make sure you have plenty of energy throughout the day.
3. Look good, be comfortable. If you dress well and feel positive about your appearance, you're more likely to channel your best self. Your attitude will shift, if only slightly: "The rain is terrible, but at least my sweater is cute."
4. Have a plan. Avoid any hectic moments or anxious breakdowns by giving yourself a daily schedule. If you're able to prep the night before, you'll feel much more relaxed as you tackle your daily responsibilities.
5. Chat with loved ones. Engaging with the people you care about, be it in person or over the phone, can do wonders for your attitude. Even a five-minute conversation with your pal will be enough to lighten your spirit and leave you energized.

Read on for more ways to improve your days.

Do you wince when you think about going into the office? Don't despair if you have a job you hate; Wise Bread has tips on how to cope.

Somewhere, sometime in life, everyone has a job they hate. Whether the hours are terrible, the pay is awful, the coworkers are wretched, or the boss is horrid, hated jobs are very much a thing of the present. We work them for different reasons, for different lengths of time, and with different levels of satisfaction, but almost all of us work them at some point. For many people, these jobs are a drag that make them feel like hollow shells of their former selves. However, there are a few people who manage to survive and thrive in jobs they really don't like. Here are a few of their secrets for making that hated job easier.

25 Career Changes You Can Make Today

Know Why You're There

Whether you took the job in the first place because you thought it was something other than it turned out to be or because you absolutely had to make rent and couldn't do it any other way, knowing why you took the job will help you maintain perspective while you're there. Remembering the process that led up to your current situation: the job search, the interviews, your conversations with others about the job, your conversations with yourself about it, hearing that you had the job, your acceptance of it, and anything else you went through during that time will remind you that you are more than your job. YOU took IT for a good reason. If that reason isn't so good anymore, well, then it's time to reevaluate. But you can do that, because you are more than the job.

Read on for more.

Although it's good to focus on your own happiness, it's always beneficial to spread the joy around. In fact, studies have shown that people who perform kind acts see a boost in mood. Since today is world kindness day, let's celebrate by doing some nice things for people.

• Send a postcard. Send a postcard to a friend or family member who doesn't live in the same city, updating them on your life and telling them that you're thinking of them.
• Give affirmation. Praise someone about a quality that they have that you really appreciate. Make sure it's true for you or it won't sound genuine!
• Help someone with their belongings. If you see an elderly person struggling with their belongings or even groceries, offer to help carry them. Perhaps you can help them load the bags into their car, or if you live in the same neighborhood, you can drop them off at their door.
• Aid someone with their job search. Take some time out of your day to help an unemployed friend or family member. Go through job listings and send her a list of suitable jobs, offer to edit her resume and to prep her for interviews.
• Clean your home. If you live with roommates or a partner, clean the home and do all the chores without any prompting.

Read on for more kind acts.

Sometimes we take people for granted, and we forget to let them know how much they mean to us. Take this weekend to show the important people in your life that you care — be it a friend, family member, or a partner. Here are some affordable ways to show your appreciation:

• Write them a long letter.
• Handmake a card with a special message.
• Get a paperback copy of a book you think she'll love and highlight the most meaningful passages. Pepper comments throughout the book.
• Offer to help her with a chore.
• Make dinner for her.
• Invite your friend out for coffee, and spend the day talking about your hopes and dreams.
• Ask her about her week.
• Call or Skype her if you don't live in the same city.
• Watch one of her favorite movies or TV shows with her.
• Give her something that you made yourself. Even better, check out one of these cool upcycling projects that she may love. You'll be saving money (and the earth!) and showing appreciation for your friend at the same time!

It seems as if most of us strive for a happier life. We try to seek out the perfect job, partner, and friends to gain a sense of joy and fulfillment in our lives. But actually, happiness isn't a complex equation; there's only one rule you need to know about being happy, says life coach Martha Beck in an interview:

"Notice what makes you really happy and what doesn't. You would be amazed to know how blind we go to our own joy or discomfort as we learn to follow cultural norms. Go back to your inner guidance. Then, move toward things that make you feel good, and away from things that make you feel bad (really, it's not rocket science). Do this whether you're choosing a snack or making a lifelong vow."

A lack of confidence can hold you back in many ways. It may cause a self-defeatist attitude that prevents you from reaching your full potential. I talked to life coach Martha Beck, a speaker at the O You! event in Los Angeles this Saturday, who had some wise words of advice for those who don't feel good about themselves. Here's how you can drop your insecurities:

• Challenge yourself. "The only way to become confident is to do things that frighten you," Beck says. "When I was 14 years old, I started doing one constructive thing that feels scary every day. I still hold myself to that. It's the only reason I have any confidence at all."
• Acknowledge it. "It's not unhealthy to be insecure as long as you don't lie about it. Insecurity is natural. Admitting it is courageous. Being honest about insecurity allows security to develop."

In the spirit of Positive Thinking Day, let's take steps to banish some of the most common negative thoughts many of us repeat to ourselves. Being in a negative space is harmful to our overall well-being, because what you dwell on can easily become self fulfilling if you don't change your mindset.

I'm not good enough. This type of negative thought that can apply to many categories. Maybe you don't think you're a good enough mother or good at a sport. Even if you find yourself lacking in something, there's no need to keep repeating it to yourself. The human brain is an incredible thing. Be inspired by Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, Harvard-trained neuroscientist who suffered a stroke that left her unable to walk, read, write, talk, or remember her previous life. Dr. Taylor took eight years to recover and has since then written a best-selling book about her experience and appeared on Oprah. Keep on working toward something, and watch the leaps and bounds you'll make.

No one cares about me. To accurately say that your family and friends don't care about you would be a very rare situation. Maybe you're being too negative and overlooking the gestures of love they show you. They don't even have to be big gestures, but it's the little things they do for you that count. And people may be reacting to the energy you're putting out; perhaps you think they don't care about you so you don't make any effort in your relationships. Start showing people you care, so they can show you back in kind. And if you don't have good relationships with the people you know, what's stopping you from making new friends?

Read on for more.