How To Maintain Happiness On A Daily Basis:

10 Tips for investing in your daily happiness: you are worth the practice!

Maintaining happiness is a personal and ongoing journey that can be influenced by various factors. What happiness means to you is individual. It helps to define it as specifically as you can to help form a list of practicing behaviors that will be an investment in your mental health and wellbeing. When do you feel your best? What are the thoughts that get you there? What is the underlying theme: freedom, creativity, adventure, accomplishment, connection, etc.? Do you engage in activities that bring joy: Make time for activities that bring you pleasure and happiness. It could be pursuing a creative outlet, spending time with loved ones, traveling, exploring new hobbies, or engaging in activities that make you laugh.

Here are some general strategies that can help promote and sustain happiness in your life:

Tip #1 - Cultivate positive relationships: Surround yourself with supportive and uplifting people. Invest time and effort into building and maintaining strong connections with family, friends, and community. Positive relationships provide emotional support, companionship, and a sense of belonging. Do you feel stuck in negative relationships at work, at home, in your network or in your community? How can you refocus your attention on your positive relationships instead, feeding the negative ones less? Can you spend less time with these negative people? If not, can you refuse to let them set your mood and vibrational frequency by intentionally cultivating yours to where you want it to be?

Tip #2 - Practice gratitude: Regularly acknowledge and appreciate the good things in your life. Keep a gratitude journal, where you write down three things you are grateful for each day. This practice helps shift your focus towards the positive aspects of your life and fosters a sense of contentment.

Decide how often you want to make a gratitude list. Be realistic about it. Think you can list on paper or even in your head twice a day, just 3-5 items? Make a list of 3 NEW things each time? Commit to once a day and stick to it. Grateful for toilet paper? List it! Start where you are at and then watch what emerges.

"Gratitude is the closest thing to beauty manifested in an emotion" – Mindy Kaling

Tip #3 - Take care of your physical health: Engage in regular exercise, eat a balanced diet, and get enough sleep. Physical well-being is closely linked to mental well-being. Regular exercise releases endorphins, which can boost your mood, while proper nutrition and rest contribute to overall vitality and energy levels.

I know for me that if I go to an exercise class, for a run, a walk, stretch at home, or even do a 10 minute yoga video on YouTube... I feel 90% better than if I didn't. Especially if I do something outside. That feels like a 2 for 1. Add a friend to the work out and I've got nature, exercise and connection all in one 30-90 minute session. I like to get it done in the morning time as it sets me up for success to focus and be productive all day long. Also, then it's not looming over me as a task all day which tends to cause negative thoughts and resistance in my field. The older I get, the more I see the wisdom in getting up earlier than anyone else in my house and working out before they may need help. I come home refreshed and present for them.

Tip #4 - Find meaning and purpose: Engage in activities that give you a sense of fulfillment and purpose. Discover your passions and pursue them, whether it's a hobby, volunteering, or a career that aligns with your values. Having a sense of purpose can contribute significantly to long-term happiness. Studies show that when we get out of our own heads and think of others, we feel less anxiety. Unless of course, spending time thinking of others is out of balance and you already do it too much, you may want to find meaning in your own self care practice or new endeavors.

Try different meaning formats from time to time. One month, volunteer at your child's school, then try a homeless or animal shelter. Maybe try a trail or beach clean up or go to a town meeting to see what it's all about. Know anyone at a nursing home or who enjoys their local senior center? Go for a visit with them? Lots of opportunities to share your ear, time or expertise. Sign up for that class you've been wanting to take, try that new restaurant by yourself if that will fill your cup or go on that trip you always wanted to experience. There are many options and perhaps go online to find resources, ideas and community connections to help you get started.

Tip #5 - Practice mindfulness and self-care: Take time for yourself to relax and recharge. Engage in activities that bring you joy, such as meditation, yoga, reading, or spending time in nature. Be present in the moment, practicing mindfulness and letting go of worries about the past or future.

1. Set realistic goals: Establish meaningful goals that are achievable and aligned with your values. Break them down into smaller, manageable steps and celebrate your progress along the way. Working towards goals provides a sense of purpose and accomplishment, which can contribute to happiness.

2. Manage stress effectively: Identify and implement stress management techniques that work for you. This could include deep breathing exercises, engaging in hobbies, practicing relaxation techniques, seeking support from others, or seeking professional help if needed.

3. Practice self-compassion: Treat yourself with kindness and understanding. Be mindful of your self-talk and challenge negative or self-critical thoughts. Practice self-compassion by accepting your imperfections and embracing self-care practices that nurture your emotional well-being.

Don't Forget The Value of Therapy

Having a professional to listen, reflect, question, goal set and plan with you can be a very valuable tool to help you to practice putting your happiness first. Stay ahead of it and get in touch with a therapist before you are unhappy, anxious, confused or more. A Therapist is like a coach that has information you may have never considered about how your brain works and how to use this knowledge to your greatest advantage. Stay in front of your mood, learn how to get started at Mind-Flex.org.

Written by: Jena Schmidt, LPC, LMHC, founder: Mind-Flex.org