10 Typical Daily Habits of Genuinely Happy People

Easy, simple, and practical advice on how to become happier.

Modern society conditions us to believe that happiness is a destination we arrive at: the promotion that will wash away all our problems, the new car that will make us feel good, the freedom we will obtain from leaving a 9–5.

So we now live with this idea: “When X happens, I’ll be happy.”

I lived the entirety of the past decade cultivating this toxic mentality and it affected every major decision I made in my life. I was always chasing the next big thing, in constant pursuit of happiness, never truly indulging in the fullness of what I already had.

Despite having it all — the job at Google, the close-knit friends, the jet-setter lifestyle — I was unhappy, and I didn’t know why.

So I reverted back to ancient teachings and arrived at the realization that happiness is not a distant island we must travel to, happiness is a place we already live in because happiness is found within us.

Happiness a deep-rooted rose of contentment that you carry with you everywhere you go — and you are the one who chooses whether or not to water it every morning upon waking up.

“Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart… And remember, no matter where you go, there you are.” — Confucius

Happiness exists right here, right now.

If you fail to appreciate this sentiment and continue to chase the big elusive dream of a distant happy future, then you’ll never experience the self-worth and contentment that can be found in this present moment.

Author and mindfulness teacher Thich Nhat Hanh said it best:

“There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way.”

Our sole objective is to turn our gaze inward and find all the barriers within ourselves that we’ve unconsciously built to bury that happiness beneath our sight. How do we do that? We form new habits that cast away the shadows and allow us to see the light again.

That said, here are ten typical daily habits of truly happy people.

1. Happy people stay grateful for everything they have.

Two weeks ago, a man on the streets of Dubai formed a heart out of the fallen leaves and twigs he had collected while on his street-cleaning shift. Someone snapped a photo of him and it went viral.

When asked why he did it, he said:

“I’m surprised people who have seen the photograph think I am sad and that is why I made the heart. I actually feel very lucky. I have a good job and I enjoy going to work every day. I am in good health. I have a wife and a close family. I have a lot to be thankful for.”

Happy people understand the one fundamental truth of life: What you focus on expands. So if you’re constantly engaging with depressing, self-critical, or negative thoughts, well then guess what? Your life experience will reflect those very thoughts you’re giving your attention to.

And that’s exactly why happy people practice gratitude.

Every day, they actively divert their attention to what they already have instead of what they lack. They express gratitude for what they are working on instead of lamenting over what they haven’t been able to achieve yet. And that’s how opportunities flow their way.

As per the words of Oprah:

“Opportunities, relationships, even money flowed my way when I learned to be grateful no matter what happened in my life.”

How to apply this habit: Practice gratitude every single day, and it will feed positivity to every corner of your life because what you focus on expands.

When you wake up, open your notebook and write down three things you are grateful for in your life. Before you go to sleep, write down one line to express what you were most grateful for today. It’s as simple as that.

Want to make it a little more exciting? Open a page on your notebook, draw a heart, and fill it with all the things that you’re grateful for in life. Repeat this 2-minute exercise every single day and watch how you naturally become a more peaceful, positive-oriented, and happy person.

2. They give freely (and that’s how they make an impact).

Taking the time to help others not only makes them happy; it makes you happy as well. When we act with kindness, we do it with the intention of making the recipient feel good.

But, as several studies have revealed, when we engage in an act of kindness, our brain increases the release of oxytocin “the love hormone,” and that’s why we feel a surge of happiness.

It comes to no surprise then, that what Plato wrote centuries ago still holds true today:

“Caring about the happiness of others, we find our own.”

Think about it, when you help someone in kindness and generosity, you make them feel special — you make an impact on their life. And isn’t that what we’re all striving for in life?

How to apply this habit: Want to become a happier person? Make it a habit to give more freely. Give what you can. Help people. Ask yourself, how can I make someone else’s day better today? It really is as simple as that. And while you’re at it, be kind to yourself. Treat yourself with compassion and care that you would someone you love.

3. They focus on what they’re good at.

Remember what we said earlier? What you give your attention to, expands. I’ve noticed that when I focus on my weaknesses, I amplify them, and as a result, I feel weak. When I focus on my strengths, I magnify them, and as a result, I feel more confident.

Studies have shown that when we focus our energy on developing our strengths, we grow much faster than when attempting to improve our weaknesses. We become more confident, happier, and energized at work.

That’s why happy people make it a habit to water their strengths.

They focus their attention on what makes them feel good.

How to apply this habit: Acknowledge your weaknesses and assess them. If you find that they aren’t holding you back or hindering your progress, then there’s no need to invest time and energy on improving them. Divert that energy onto what will advance you further in life: your strengths.

4. They create time to do what they love every day.

Our days are filled with things we have to do, things we need to do, and things we want to do. Most of the time, however, we end up doing what we have to do, along with all the other things that comfort us and help us escape from the stress that arises from doing the former… And so we end up putting off all the things we really want to do.

How often has this happened to you?

Look, I get it. There’s always stuff that needs to be done. But you need to realize that all these tasks, errands, chores, plans, and projects are not going to magically vanish. They’re a natural course of life.

What you need to do is make time for what you really want to be doing.

Make time for what you love. How? Prioritize it. Manage your energy better and block time for what matters to you. That’s a habit of happy people — they carve out the time to do what they love because doing what they love makes them happy.

How to apply this habit: Take out a sheet of paper and on the top of the page write “what I love doing.” Now, let me ask you this: What brings you joy? What makes you feel happy? What fills your soul with passion and excitement for life? What is it that you keep putting off, but deep down you know you really want to do? What is it that you must do more of because if you don’t you’ll regret not doing so ten years down the line?

Write them down.

And then choose one thing that you can start doing today.

As per the words of the 13th-century poet, Rumi:

“Let the beauty we love be what we do.”

So, what makes you happy? Go make time for it so you can do more of it.

5. Happy people find reasons to laugh and forge deep connections.

Have you ever heard the saying “laughter is the best medicine?”

Well, there’s a reason for that.

Studies have revealed how laughter lowers our levels of cortisol the “stress hormone,” boosts our mood, relieves pain, improves our immune system, and stimulates the release of endorphins the “feel-good hormone.”

Laughter is not only good for your health; it also draws you back to the present moment. When you laugh, you’re not thinking about the past or the future, you’re deeply lost in the joy and silliness of the present.

It also allows you to create, reinforce, and deepen your relationships. This is imperative since true happiness does not stem from our wealth in money or material possessions, it sprouts from the depth of our relationships with people.

How to apply this habit: Happy people aren’t afraid to laugh more, and they begin by laughing at themselves. Why take life so seriously? Relax, you’re human. You’re imperfect by definition.

“To truly laugh, you must be able to take your pain, and play with it.”― Charlie Chaplin

We all make small mistakes and stupid decisions. Make it a habit to laugh about the silly things. Laugh at yourself. Find humor in difficult times; it’ll draw more joy and human connection (read: happiness) into your life.

6. They are okay with not being okay, but they stay positive and try to make the best of everything.

Happy people know that bad things happen to everyone. So when tragedy hits, they accept it. They allow themselves the privilege of fully feeling that frustrating or sad emotion.

But instead of dwelling in self-pity or complaining about the could have’s and should have’s, happy people reflect on what they can be grateful for.

They turn their attention to the lessons that can be learned from downfalls, and then, they work toward finding solutions to those problems. They face life’s challenges with enthusiasm and optimist — and that’s how they maintain a positive spirit that allows them to try and make the best of everything.

“Happiness is not found in things you possess, but in what you have the courage to release.” — Nathaniel Hawthorne

How to apply this habit: Whatever happens, accept it as it is. Do your best to release all pessimistic about the situation. Pessimism rots the air, so don’t allow it to fester in you. It damages your mood and blinds you from seeing the stars in the night sky.

How do you adopt a positive attitude when things aren’t going your way? Simple: Direct your attention towards the good, rather than the bad. In psychology, this is referred to as ‘cognitive reframing.’

And as per the quote attributed to Helen Keller:

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.”

7. Happy people live slow, stay present, and enjoy the hidden pleasures life has to offer.

Do you know what makes me happy?

Reading, writing, and exercising. Sports. Being in nature. Having dinner with friends. Basking in the sun at the seashore. Going for an evening walk with my mom. The simple pleasure I receive from making a cup of Turkish coffee in the late afternoon and sitting outside in the garden to look up at the sky and contemplate life — it’s a mere five-minute ritual, but it makes me happy.

All of these things are free.

Life has taught me that when we rush, we fail to appreciate it. But when we live slow, we begin to see, taste, and feel the beauty that life can offer us.

And that, my friends — the ability to slow down, just be, and fully enjoy the moment — is one of the most basic yet profound pleasures of a happy life.

How to apply this habit: Slow down. Breathe. Forget the past. Stop worrying about the future. Train yourself to control the pace of your mind. How? Meditate 10-minutes every day. Write a little every day. Search for beauty.

Recognize that the scent of life does not diffuse in the rhythm of rush, it floats to the tune of stillness.

As per the wise words of Confucius:

“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”

8. They exercise.

Motion creates emotions. When we move, we change our moods. In fact, research has shown that people who exercise for as little as 10 minutes a day tend to be more cheerful than those who never exercise.

Exercise improves our mental health, cognitive functionality, and memory, while also reducing our stress and anxiety — all of which help us lead a healthier, happier life.

How to apply this habit: Let’s link this back to things you love to do but don’t make time for. Yoga? Tennis? Walks in the parks? Whatever your heart yearns for, schedule regular movement sessions, and follow through on it.

9. They consciously nurture a growth mindset.

There are two core mindsets in life: fixed and growth.

With a fixed mindset, you believe that your qualities are set in stone and thus, you cannot change. With a growth mindset, you believe that you are capable of change and expansion — that you can improve with effort.

As Carol Dweck, author of Mindset puts it:

“When you enter a mindset, you enter a new world. In one world — the world of fixed traits — success is about proving you’re smart or talented. Validating yourself. In the other — the world of changing qualities (growth mindset) — it’s about stretching yourself to learn something new. Developing yourself.”

People with a fixed mindset don’t deal well with challenges and everything they do is driven with the intention of bolstering their ego. But not happy people; they focus on their personal development instead. They practice surrender, embrace failure, and seek opportunities to learn something new.

How to apply this habit: Seek transcendence, not ego. Seek unity, not individuality. Seek education, not entertainment. Seek effort, not ‘hacks.’ All these are qualities that cultivate a rich growth mindset.

10. They only focus on what is within their control.

If you look back at all the habits above, all nine of them relate to this cornerstone habit of happy people: They only focus on what they can control.

Choosing to be grateful, choosing to be kind, to make time for what you love, to stay positive, to slow down, to exercise, and seek growth — all these are habits within your control.

How to apply this habit: It’s simple; in any given situation, always choose to focus on what’s within your control. Anything else you give your energy and attention to strips away your power. This habit helps you find more peace and joy, and build real mental strength.

What Matters to You: Happiness takes effort.

“If you do the work you get rewarded. There are no shortcuts in life.” — Michael Jordan

You have to make an effort to be happy.

No one wakes up feeling happy every day, but happy people do their best to frame their mornings with positivity. They work harder at it than anyone else because they recognize that happiness takes inner-work and effort.

They constantly reflect and evaluate, monitor, and explore. And wherever they go, they carry the 10 habits above with them; because they know that happiness is not a destination you arrive at, happiness is the way.

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