Enjoying life is often understood as a mindset, the result of reflection, action and gratitude. While most of us don't have enough free time to solitude to find a path to happiness, the best way to find happiness is to make changes that can be applied in our daily lives. With the awareness to respect others and give yourself the opportunity to do your best, these small changes will bring greater enjoyment to your life.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Developing Emotional Wellbeing
Step 1. Have a pet
Pets can add love, friendship, and fun times to your life. Owning a pet also has health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure and heart disease risk, improving well-being and feelings of connectedness, and teaching empathy and caring lessons.
Consider rescuing animals from shelters near your home for added warmth and tenderness
Step 2. Develop an interest in music
Listening to the beat of music that flows into the brain's imagination and self-existence will increase your self-esteem and reduce feelings of isolation. Listening to music will awaken the power and ability to face anything. Play your favorite album––or music you can feel the meaning of, turn up the volume, then ignore all other distractions so you can truly immerse yourself in the music.
In some cases, music has been shown to help people with dementia, giving them a greater feeling of empowerment. Music therapy is also beneficial for people experiencing anxiety and depression
Step 3. Start your day with a smile
Facial expressions are usually thought of as windows that reflect the soul, but there is also an assumption that facial expressions can affect mood. Therefore, make it a habit to smile so that your mood is always happy. You even need to smile in front of the mirror in the morning after waking up – the happy face you see in the mirror can ensure that your heart is happy for the whole day.
Step 4. Rest
A proper rest is not drowning yourself in front of the TV or browsing cyberspace. Taking a break means setting aside a certain time and making it special. Thank yourself for a vacation or "home vacation," changing up the scenery-even if it's just a backyard picnic or building a fort with your kids in the living room. Rest that is different than usual and the feeling of comfort it brings will bring amazing benefits in the form of feeling happy, entertained, and happy.
Step 5. Spend time with fun people
As we know, people who have a wide circle of friends tend to live longer. Birds are sure to hang out with their kind, and if observed, the behavior of your friends will also have a big impact on yours. Make sure you associate with positive and fun people so that you are inspired to live a richer life.
- Have you been wanting to call an old friend for a while? Call him today too! If you can't reach him by phone, take the time to write a lengthy email, or try the old fashioned way of writing letters with pen and paper.
- Do you feel carried away in unhealthy friendships? Letting your friend misbehave won't do anyone any good. Reconsider by asking your own conscience and then decide whether this issue will be resolved heart to heart or by simply ending the friendship.
- Do you find it difficult meeting new people? Get out of your comfort zone by visiting new places, starting conversations with people you don't know, taking up a new hobby, or joining certain social activities like Meetup.com.
Part 2 of 3: Maintaining Mental Well-being
Step 1. Reduce stress
You don't need a doctor to say that stress is unpleasant, but did you know that mild stress-induced mood disorders like subclinical depression can damage the immune system? In fact, the length of stress you experience has more effect on your immune system than the level of stress itself. To deal with stress, first identify the condition and don't try to fight it yourself. Find ways to calm yourself and release energy constructively. Sports, exercise, hobbies and spending time with friends are all good ways to deal with stress. You can try to imagine with a guide, yoga, or taici; if you have a severe mood disorder, seek counseling and/or treatment.
Step 2. Improve the way you manage stress if you can't get rid of it
Can you change the conditions that cause stress? If you can, do it. In many cases, stress has to do with work, money, or family. In today's uncertain times, it is certainly difficult to change jobs, so in this case you have to find a better way to manage your work.
- Managing stress caused by work or family can be done by being more assertive about your needs and boundaries. Being assertive and setting boundaries can include learning to say "no" to additional tasks in your already full schedule, setting aside time for "self" on a regular basis, and not taking calls about work while you're relaxing at home with your family. or friends, and vice versa.
- Another way to manage work-related stress is to work smarter, not harder, meaning breaking large tasks into smaller ones and delegating them to someone else if necessary. Also, make sure you take advantage of company resources such as training and professional development events to change the way you work that may have an impact on your health and well-being.
Step 3. Learn new things
Higher education can support self-esteem and interest in the world. But education is not for everyone and is not the only solution. Reading, traveling, taking fun courses, attending lectures from guest lecturers, and meeting people from other cultures will also do the same. Or try MOOCs––massive online open courses––they offer ways that encourage you to expand your knowledge and skills, and are held at a time that fits your schedule. The point is, don't avoid new experiences, open yourself up and get as many new experiences as possible. After all, you only live once
Step 4. Find out what your hobbies are
Hobbies and extracurricular activities are indispensable for you to enjoy life, whether it's stamp collecting or kickboxing. Rigid routines are counterproductive to spontaneity and surprise––add a little flexibility to your schedule so that life isn't filled with boring routines and events. Take up a hobby or activity because you like it, and because it can make your life "flow," not just to maintain good relations with others or conform to unrealistic social standards.
Research shows that participating in pleasurable activities has a positive impact on physical and mental health and well-being. The benefits that can be obtained from hobbies are lower blood pressure, lower cortisol, lower body mass index and a higher perception of physical ability
Step 5. Read a good book
Sitting with your feet up and watching your favorite TV show at the end of the day can feel good, but since passively watching a story doesn't stimulate your imagination enough, you can also feel restless and sluggish. To feel more motivated, find a book that will make you forget yourself for a while. If you don't like reading, look for books that relate to your hobby: if you're a baseball fan, choose Bill Veek's autobiography; if you enjoy riding motorcycles, read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
Write down the words or ideas that go with your heart. If you keep a notebook and are ready to jot down those inspirations, you'll soon have a collection of inspirational ideas that are important to you and can help direct your life goals for years to come
Step 6. Practice meditation
Meditation can reduce stress and make you feel calmer. Meditation for a few minutes each day can inspire a positive outlook and make you feel balanced and relaxed. Meditation is important for maintaining good posture and should be done in a distraction-free place.
Part 3 of 3: Improving Physical Well-being
Step 1. Boost your immune system
No one can be happy when they are sick! The immune system can be boosted only by simple means such as taking multivitamins such as vitamins C, E, and A, selenium, and beta-carotene.
A strong immune system allows you to respond better to stress or physical illness. Other strategies such as regular exercise, adequate rest, and adopting a healthy diet are also important to boost immunity
Step 2. Exercise
Exercise affects the release of endorphins which send messages to the brain and translate them into positive feelings. Regular exercise can not only fight depression, anxiety, and loneliness, but also strengthens the immune system. Even walking can increase antibodies and killer T-cell responses in your body.
Step 3. Get enough sleep
Sleep is closely related to one's health, stress level, weight and quality of life. In addition, during sleep your body produces cells that can fight infection, inflammation, and stress, which means that lack of sleep will make you more likely to fall ill and take longer to heal.
Exercise is one of the best ways to sleep well at night.
Step 4. Play on the ground
Scientists found that good bacteria in the soil was able to trigger the brain to produce the hormone serotonin (which functions almost the same as antidepressants). If your house has a garden, get out there and start digging. If you don't have one, consider starting your own garden-if you don't like growing flowers, grow vegetables and herbs that you can use to cook healthy meals. Planting in pots is also enough to invite sunlight into your life.
In addition to good bacteria, in your garden there are also bacteria that are less friendly. Wear gloves to protect your hands, especially if you have a cat or if the neighbor's cat uses your garden as a small room. Don't forget to wash your hands after playing with dirt
Step 5. Eat a healthy diet
It's clear that eating well (fresh, unprocessed, natural) provides a myriad of health benefits. Plus, taking the time to cook meals from fresh ingredients for yourself to enjoy will also improve your emotions: they smell good, appetizing, delicious, and as you get better at cooking, cooking can be a fun escape from the routine. Apart from being a way to pamper yourself, cooking is also good for your wallet. If you're just learning to cook, try some quick and easy recipes that won't deter you from cooking for the rest of your life. The less processed foods you have in your diet, the healthier you will be, and the happier you will be.
Tips
- Although the instructions in this article are supported by scientific theories about happiness, keep in mind that the ability to enjoy life depends on the person concerned. There is no scientific way to measure happiness, and everyone has a different view of happiness and contentment. In short, you can choose to be happy––or not––and the only person who can make that choice is you.
- Anxiety is a useless waste of energy. Instead of feeling restless, harness this anxious energy and do something about it. If you're so helpless that the thought of doing something seems scary, take some time to rest first, then get up and deal with the problem you're having. You'll feel a lot better if you get over it than if you back off.
- Use your imagination every day. Think creatively and enjoy a fun life.
