10 Daily Practices of Genuinely Happy People

Every day I seek new ways to make or create happiness for myself, or make someone else happy. What I have discovered is its not something that just happens to you, nor is it something you chase after and get in one day.

Happiness is something you actively cultivate with your daily habits and practices. That means you take a close look at your everyday routine and determine which ones actually contribute to your happiness.

Having been through some moments when happiness wasn’t easy to find nor create, I have spent time to accumulate and write down the ways I have brought happiness back into my life. Read on to find one that might help you.

Start your day with gratitude.

I remember a time when the day I began my day was not so good. I was often frazzled after a night of angry dreams. But now I see each day as a gift, a new moment to make a new memory – and to live. But not just live, but to give back to those who have helped me. So I give gratitude. For some that’s prayer. That ain’t my thing, but I get it. Prayer can simply be for being able to wake up healthy and happy and both hips working!

For me, starting my day with gratitude gets me thinking positively right from the moment I get out of bed. I like thinking about how my family gives me joy in each of their ways. My kids, as loud as they can be, are amazing. Having tickle-fights ends in tears of laughter. My wife keeps me happy by just being there for me when I am not feeling well. Together we prepare and cook meals, together we find ways to save and make money, yet still keep our individuality for the jobs and passions we have for ourselves. Oh, and having a purring cat and gorgeous dog to even up the male/female ration in the house makes everyone happy!

Practice mindfulness

Oh gosh, this needs the most practice. For many years I had no idea what this meant. During a short job contract a few years back, I was given a little book entitled “MINDFULNESS – A PRACTICAL GUIDE”. Upon reading it, my eyes and mind were opened, and a great weight was lifted from my shoulders. I still read it from time to time (actually more often these days!) when I need to de-stress and need a little bit of advice on how to deal with an issue. Itis definitely in my Top10 books for easy reading and application.

Mindfulness is pretty important. So often we dwell on regrets, focus on unfounded fears and even imagine a future before its happened! Usually these thoughts come something else that’s stuck in our mind, so it’s important to NOT ruminate on them, but to discuss and determine the root of the problem, work through it, release it and move forward quickly – but not without forgetting our path, our journey and our expectations. Remember to breath in and out, to take pauses when the fears take over, and find calmness amongst the chaos….

Practice self-reflection

In today’s noisy world, this one’s a real challenge. Truth is, self-reflection and mindfulness walk hand-in-hand throughout your day. The way we operate, work, play, handle and spend time with other people is born from the way we see ourselves, not how others see us. Yet once you become more mindful (told you so) of yourself, your self-awareness and inner-reflection is found. And you’ll get into the habit of looking inward and examining your thoughts, feelings, and behavior.

Yeah, it can feel uncomfortable, especially when you’ve got some hard truths to admit, like maybe you’ve been selfish, maybe you’ve been unkind, or haven’t been helping others properly. So now that you know how to see yourself from the outside looking in, you’ll now know what to change! Well, almost. Nothing is that easy. But at least you can take the first step. Positive change can only happen once you know and accept what needs to change.

Practice self-care

Self-reflection and mindfulness are two ways to practice self-care. Self-care is another thing that many of us forget to do today. Combining them both will breed happiness within your soul – and others will see it come out of you.

OK, so there’s family hassles, work disputes, even traffic problems that drive you crazy. All these things get in the way of focusing on yourself, on your personal care, and sometimes mean you stop eating good food.

That’s why we should prioritize giving ourselves some love. For me, it means taking time to do things that make me feel good, like walking the dog, vegetable gardening (we now have a MASSIVE vegetable garden!), writing an article here, or reading a self-help book. Spending time being good for my body, mind and spirit that helps me feel more relaxed and happy.
It took me a long time to understand that self-care is not being selfish; it’s about taking time to make ourselves well enough to be OK in the service to others, which is a huge ingredient for happiness!

Get moving

Oh wow, this is a biggie: SPEND MORE TIME MOVING. Taking care of yourself means exercise, movement, less lounging around and staying active!

Yes, lounging around in bed or on the couch all day sounds so good. Sitting at your desk all day sounds so productive. Yet those are actually counterproductive and won’t make you happier in the long run.

Exercise will add to your happiness quotient. It’s a great way to boost your mood and reduce stress because it releases endorphins, our feel-good chemicals. .

You don’t even need to lift heavy weights or run a marathon to reap the benefits of exercise. Even a short walk around the block with the dog or a quick yoga session can help you feel more energized and focused.

Take breaks

In my younger days, I could go on and on at work without taking breaks. I remember one day that I every meal that day! I worked straight from 7AM to 5PM in a crazy desire to get all the somehow done for that day.
Boy, I really short-changed myself big time those days. These days I relish the breaks. I discovered that closing my eyes and letting my brain take an rest from everything is an essential part of feeling and being happy day-after-day.

So, learn from my mistake: Take moments and short breaks throughout the day to refresh your mind and body and stay focused. Get out of the house, take a quick walk outside, do full-body stretching exercises, or – and everyone seems to like this option – close your eyes and take a dozen deep breaths. Find ways to take breaks that work for you and your schedule.

Connect with others

Another way to recharge is to reach out and build strong relationships. Look, you might be an independent person or an introvert, or even an online entrepreneur who prefers alone time. That’s totally fine. But that doesn’t mean you’ll never need company, either with family or friends.
It’s said on so many self-help websites and all the best books pending time with others can help boost feelings of happiness and connection. Whether it’s a quick chat with a coworker or a long conversation with a friend or a deep and meaningful with your spouse, or maybe become a host of a regular radio program – make time for social connection each day. It will leave you feeling fuller and more confident that no matter what happens, you’ve got someone out there who cares about you. And that thought is always going to make you happy!

Laugh more

You know what’s great about having human connections? You’re more likely to laugh more – another key part of happiness. Laughing doesn’t just boost your mood and make you feel lighter. You’ll actually be healthier because it stimulates organs and decreases your heart rate and blood pressure. In short, laugh more, live longer – and happier!

Learn something new -each day- regularly

Speaking of living longer, here’s another habit that will get you there – learning something new everyday. This practice increases your level of happiness. It won’t be a euphoric or intense feeling, but you’ll have an overall sense of well-being. And if you’re aiming for long-term happiness, that’s the way to go! So, go ahead and chase after those things you’d love to learn more about. You’ll be able to look back at your life and be amazed at how you’ve tried out a lot of things!

Practice kindness

Finally, we get to a daily practice that gives us huge rewards in terms of happiness – being kind. Not just to the family pets, but actual happiness with the people you call family.
What you’ll notice is, and this always blows my mind – when you do something nice for another person, you can’t help but feel good, plus they may reciprocate. Meaning they will be good back to you. Not always, but that isn’t the goal.

When you give of yourself, you will feel like you have a purpose. No matter how depressing life may seem some days, there’s still something you can do that matters. Even if it’s just to one other person.
Since kindness boosts our mood and contributes to long-term happiness and boosts your mood, you’ll feel more inclined to be even kinder. It’s the circle of life (according to the Lion King!), and that’s what you want.

Get a Daily Mantra

A few years back I found myself unable to find happiness. Because I liked reading, I decided to develop a mantra that encapsulated all the things I needed most.

So now I say this on my vlogs plus I have merchandise that say this: BE HAPPY, LIVE SMART, STAY STRONG.

I actually enjoyed writing all of that. Because I have been down this road a few times – so it feels good to tell it to someone else! Now you need to do the same. Go on, practice kindness, connect with others, share it on, make someone else happy.

Before You Go

See the smiles in the header image? They were designed and built by me. You can have one. Be Happy!