25 Feb Don’t have as much money as you’d like? Well here are 8 proven ways to be happier anyway!
by Lizette Borreli from Medical Daily
Many of us, at some point, have come down with a bad case of the "Sunday Night Blues," overwhelmed with that feeling of the workweek looming. Monday is the start of a whole new countdown until Friday 6 p.m., when we can rejoice for 62 hours thereafter until we go back to the same old song and dance for the following week. However, happiness shouldn’t be reserved for only the weekends; we can instantly feel happier throughout the workweek — all drinks aside — without spending money. Just try these eight scientifically proven ways:
1. Put A Smile On Your Face
Yes, it’s that simple. The mere act of smiling can turn you from feeling OK to being happy. Smiling is contagious, so when you smile, others will also likely return the smile, creating happiness all around. To feel better, smiling is best done when it’s associated with positive thoughts. A study led by Michigan State University found customer service workers who smile as a result of harboring positive thoughts, such as waiting to see their significant other or to see their child in a school play, improved their mood and withdrew less from work. Those who fake smiled throughout the way were more likely to worsen their mood and withdraw from work. Remember there’s a noticeable difference in a fake smile and a genuine smile.
2. Lend A Helping Hand
Volunteers are needed year round, rain or shine. A random act of kindness will not only help others be happy, but also make you happier in return. Try to set time aside each week, for example two hours per week, and dedicate it to helping others. The power helping people has on the psyche is highlighted in a study on the collapse of East Germany and its infrastructure of volunteering. Due to the reunification of Germany, a large portion of the volunteering infrastructure collapsed as people randomly lost their opportunities for volunteering. These volunteers were then compared to the control group who had no change in their volunteer status. The findings revealed volunteering is rewarding and is linked to higher life satisfaction…
…keep reading the full list of 8 happiness tips HERE