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All humans have a tendency to be a bit more like Eeyore than Tigger, to ruminate more on bad experiences than positive ones. It’s an evolutionary adaptation — over-learning from the dangerous or hurtful situations we encounter through life (bullying, trauma, betrayal) helps us avoid them in the future and react quickly in a crisis. One study found that “Exercisers were more satisfied with their life and happier than non-exercisers at all ages”[5]. And the good news is that it takes as little as 30 minutes to gain the amazing benefits of exercise.

We tend to be happier when we connect with other people. Where you live — the country, the town, your neighborhood and your home — all have an effect on your overall happiness. Learn how to tame negative thoughts and approach every day with optimism. That’s a great place to be on Monday morning when you’re trying to get out the door and you already know where the lunchboxes are, and the bills you have to mail. Sitting down, lighting a candle and doing some deep breathing for 10 minutes is all it takes to relax your mind and body.

So as you think about your living space and how it’s affecting your happiness, make the bedroom a high priority. If you do nothing else, incorporate the one-minute rule into your life. It will give you a short boost of happiness after you accomplish so much in a short time — and as a bonus, you will end up with a cleaner room, which will also make you happy. The chronically-messy person can change through behavioral therapy or with guidance from numerous self-help books on the topic.

what makes you happy answers love you no matter what, and that type of bond can be a great comfort throughout life. Decisions can be stressful, even more so when you’re fixated on picking the best option. Finding that thing in life that brings you fulfillment is considered your calling or purpose. For example, working for an understanding manager who helps shoulder some of your work burdens may make you happier than if you had a manager that has no consideration for your time and overschedules you.

We tasted ketchup to detect the five basic tastes of sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. A friend told me, “My aunt works in palliative care, and they just recently put in a big order of light, cuddly throws. It’s really comforting for people to touch something soft and warm.” The smell of eucalyptus, for example, always reminds me of the 10 lovely months I lived in San Francisco. The study, like its remaining original subjects, has had a long life, spanning four directors, whose tenures reflected their medical interests and views of the time. “The people who were the most satisfied in their relationships at age 50 were the healthiest at age 80,” said Robert Waldinger with his wife Jennifer Stone.

Those moments when you’d lift your face to the sky and grin (but you don’t because it feels awkward), make note of those moments. Open up the ‘notes’ app on your phone and type in what, exactly, you were doing. And, yes, I know you’re thinking “I should do that! I think you’ll be really surprised by what actually makes you happy. You’ll note that it’s oddly specific because I’ve found that the devil (and happiness, apparently) is in the details.

Many people think of their marriages as a source of happiness. That’s great, but it doesn’t mean that if you’re not married that you won’t be happy. By eating better, you’re not only taking care of yourself, but you’ll also feel more vibrant and energetic. You’ll literally be healthier from the inside out. Research has shown that simply getting enough sleep “improves memory, increases people’s ability to concentrate, strengthens the immune system and decreases people’s risk of being killed in accidents”[6].

That’s definitely a booster on the happiness scale and will lead you toward more of the things that make you happy. We all make mistakes in life–that’s part of the human condition. However, with a little forethought, you can try to avoid making big mistakes and focus more on the happy things in life.

For myself I know that simply being ‘present’ right now is enough to enable happiness. I have to say the open road and my favorite song on a Sunny day with the top down on my Jeep does it for me every time … without fail. It’s good to be reminded of these things, especially when the days are a bit gloomy. May be we will make the world a happy place one day.

Use the remaining 5 minutes to do a quick walk through your living space, putting away whatever stray items end up in your path. It can take practice to stop comparing yourself to others, but it’s worth it for the benefit of having your inner peace and happiness. Instead of letting yourself get overwhelmed, try to address the stressor head-on.