If you feel like the delight in simple, everyday pleasures has vanished from your life, you are not alone. A recent study by Oracle found that 45% of people have not felt true happiness in over two years.
Coaxing enjoyment back into your life doesn’t require endless money or a wish-granting genie. With a little bit of effort and these eight tips, you’ll be on your way to making every day joyful again.
1. Stop waiting for happiness to find you
It’s easy to fall into the trap of waiting for your next big milestone to feel happy. You can be happy when you get that promotion, when you marry the love of your life, when you retire. But while you’re waiting for your next big event to come along, you’re sabotaging the possibility of being happy now.
Focus on the current phase of your life and finding immediate joy. Grow out of the mindset that you can’t be happy without certain achievements, and you’ll start to enjoy your current life a lot more.
2. Keep a gratitude journal
If you struggle to find happiness in your day-to-day life, consider starting a gratitude journal. It’s a simple task that can offer lots of benefits.
The task is simple: write down three things you are grateful for every day, either when you wake up or before you go to sleep.
You can write your list in the notes app of your phone or in a beautiful notebook. No matter how much time or effort you put into your journal, it will help you to adopt a more positive mindset by encouraging you to focus on the good things in your life.
3. Discover something new
Is there an event you’ve always wanted to attend or a country you’ve always wanted to visit? Don’t wait to check them off your bucket list. Plan an excursion that will bring you joy, and revel in the additional excitement leading up to it.
If there’s nothing specific you want to do, try taking yourself out on a solo date once a week. Enjoying your own company on a regular basis will schedule fun into your day and boost your self-confidence.
Some ideas you could try are:
- Enjoying a nice dinner
- Watching a film in the cinema
- Exploring a museum
- Taking a cooking class
- Going to a wine tasting experience.
Let go of the notion that you need to wait for the ideal circumstances before doing something you’ve dreamed of. There will never be a perfect time for it, so you should start doing the things that bring you joy now instead of later.
4. Help others
Acts of kindness are a brilliant way to improve your own happiness. The Journal of Happiness Studies found that people who volunteered in the past year felt more satisfied with their lives and rated their overall health as better than those who hadn’t.
Dedicating yourself to others can bring more joy into your life than focusing solely on yourself. Whether you are complimenting a stranger or donating to a charity shop, the knowledge that you are improving someone else’s day can also fill yours with happiness.
5. Limit negativity
If there’s a source of constant negativity in your life, try to reduce its impact on you as much as possible.
For example, you might find that a constantly complaining friend or a gossipy family member can bring your mood down. By reducing the time you spend with this person, you can limit the influence they have on your own wellbeing.
While this may feel selfish, you must prioritise your own wellbeing. And if there is no way for you to avoid these sources of negativity, go into the interactions with a strategy. Avoid touchy subjects, and don’t let them drag you into adopting their pessimistic views.
6. Treat yourself with compassion
Instead of beating yourself up over every failure, be kind to yourself. Although life can be frustrating and not meet your expectations all the time, giving yourself some grace in difficult times can improve your overall happiness.
Practising this kind of self-love can be difficult at first, but once you get into the routine of prioritising yourself, you can reap the benefits of a more optimistic outlook on life.
7. Make time for your passions
Balancing personal and work life can be hard. But making time for yourself and your hobbies is a vital method of inviting joy into your life.
Whether it’s a club you’ve been a member of for years or a hobby you want to start, set aside time to partake in the activities that interest you. Losing yourself in the things you love is the perfect way to boost your happiness.
8. Plan ahead
Setting realistic goals for your future can alleviate stress and allow you to focus on the present.
One way of doing this is by working with a financial planner. A Herbers & Company study found that people who have mapped out their finances with a professional are nearly three times happier than those who haven’t.
The idea that wealth will bring you joy is a myth. No amount of money can guarantee happiness, but being financially secure can allow you to focus on the other aspects of life that bring you joy.
Especially in times of crisis, it’s important to feel secure in your and your family’s future. The knowledge that you are prepared for any problems that may arise down the line can improve your mental health and boost your happiness in the present.
Get in touch
If you want to ensure your future is financially secure so you can focus on bringing joy into your life, we can help.
Please get in touch by emailing us at financial@barwells-wealth.co.uk or by phone on 01273 086 311.
Please note
This blog is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.
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