Summary

The article outlines five scientifically supported strategies to quickly enhance one's happiness, including surrounding oneself with the color green, practicing gratitude, spending time outdoors, listening to upbeat music, and maintaining a clean living space.

Abstract

The article "5 Science-Backed Ways to Instantly Be Happier" emphasizes the importance of prioritizing happiness in one's life, even during challenging times. It suggests that happiness can lead to a more compassionate nature, improved well-being, and increased motivation to pursue personal goals. The article provides actionable advice such as changing digital backgrounds to green, which is associated with calmness and happiness, and encourages the reader to practice daily gratitude to foster positive emotions. It also recommends engaging in outdoor activities, particularly near the sea, to elevate mood and reduce stress. Listening to cheerful music is proposed as a way to uplift spirits, and keeping a tidy living space is linked to improved productivity and overall happiness.

Opinions

The author believes that individuals have the power to make themselves happy and that simple changes in one's environment and habits can significantly impact mood.
The article conveys that nature, specifically the color green and seaside environments, has a calming and mood-enhancing effect.
It suggests that gratitude practices, such as journaling, can shift one's mindset towards positivity and away from stress and anxiety.
The author is of the opinion that music has a direct influence on emotions and that upbeat tunes can contribute to a happier disposition.
The article posits that a cluttered living space can negatively affect various aspects of life, including productivity, sleep, and eating habits, and that a clean space is conducive to a happier life.

5 Science-Backed Ways to Instantly Be Happier

How you can make happiness a priority in your life

Feeling happy adds many benefits to our lives. It can make us more compassionate people, look and feel happier on the inside and out, and helps us seek out our personal goals and ambitions, amongst other things.

Unfortunately, most of us tend to neglect our own happiness, especially when everything seems to be going wrong.

Never forget that you have the power to make yourself happy. So, what’s stopping you?

No matter what is making you feel sad at the moment, whether you're going through a rough patch in your life or occasionally find yourself feeling down, there is always something you can do to instantly boost your mood and make yourself happier.

1. Make Your Backgrounds Green

Green has been found to be associated with feelings of calmness, happiness, comfort, and peace.

Since our phones and computers can be quite toxic due to social media, work, and the news, by changing your backgrounds to green — or one that is primarily green — will help you be in a happier mood throughout the day.

This means green can improve your mood even more than that cute picture of your dog!

2. Be Grateful

Gratitude has been proven to make you feel happier. It creates positive emotions in our minds, like love and joy, helping you detach from negative ones such as stress and anxiety.

Personally I like to start my days by writing down 3 to 5 things I feel grateful for in the morning.

By adopting this into your own morning routine, you’ll quickly begin to notice a positive shift in your mindset over a couple of weeks. This practice will only take 5 to 10 minutes of your day and it will help you immensely in becoming a happier more grateful person.

Aside from improving your mental health, keeping a gratitude journal will also help you notice the positive little joys in life which tend to get overlooked and not appreciated enough.

3. Go For a Walk

A recent study found that spending time outside, especially by the sea if you can, leads to higher levels of happiness.

When you start to feel sad or unmotivated go for a walk or do any other activity that can be done outside. This time spent surrounded by nature will reduce your stress levels and bring peace back to your mind.

Additionally, other outside activities such as walking your dog or exercising are also directly linked to happiness, boosting your mood even more.

4. Listen To Upbeat Music

A lot of people might think that music doesn’t affect their mood, but they’re probably wrong.

According to research, when you are trying to be happier, you should stop listening to your old, boring, and sad music and throw on some new upbeat tunes.

When you consistently listen to uplifting music you will start leaning towards happiness on the daily.

My top three feel-good songs are I’m Still Standing by Elton John, Think About Things by Daði Freyr, and Watermelon Sugar by Harry Styles. Give these bops a listen next time you're feeling low.

5. Clean Your Space

Ever heard of the saying messy house messy life?

Well, it's true.

This study proved that when we are surrounded by clutter we tend to be more distracted and less productive, in turn making us less happy.

If your personal space is messy it has a negative snowball effect on so many other aspects of your life, including your sleeping and eating habits. So do yourself a favor and tidy up, your mood will thank you.

Always remember that you have the ability to shift your mindset and determine your own happiness.