Forget Resolutions this year and think happiness hacks. For some people resolutions offer the promise of a new start that can improve your life forever. But how many promises are broken before the first month is over? I think of resolutions like vows in a marriage that isn’t likely to last. We keep making them in the hope of succeeding when we secretly know we’re going to relapse as soon as deep winter sets in. Resolutions may well be invitations to fail. That’s the reason we’re going for happiness hacks this year. We know they work and you don’t have to give up anything to do them.
These happiness hacks are scientifically proven to empower you to love yourself and your life, wherever you are in your life. Each one can be a step you add to your daily life that will stimulate your brain and activate your feel-good hormones. Adding these new actions will create lasting energy that doesn’t require a promise or a grade.
Certain hormones are known to help promote positive feelings, including happiness and pleasure. These “happy hormones” include:
We could have created a hack for each of these crucial activities because they all stimulate your feel good hormones. You can flood your system with positive feelings just by mindfully adding these three actions to your everyday.
Get you laughs by tuning in to sources where you can get jokes, standup comics, funny videos or wherever makes you laugh. There’s even laugh Yoga.
Sing in the shower, or in the car, or chant (Lindsey and I love to chant). Singing nourishes your brain and lifts your spirits. Oommm.
Dance around. All right here the health experts will say, “Exercise, you fool!” But exercise is a word that turns off many people, even those with good intentions. Moving to the music, however, is something everyone can do even if you can’t get out of your chair. Move to the music some time during the day. Listening to music also brings joy and is another happiness hack.
We don’t mean the beach, although that would be nice. You can get your warm by helping other people (volunteering), by calling someone who needs connection, by sending a card or email, cooking for someone who needs a little love and attention.
Going where it’s warm means generating your feel-good hormones by connecting. Hugging a friend, or your dog. Avoiding people who make you feel bad or less than and choosing to be with people, animals an activities that make you feel good is going where it’s warm. It’s a recovery term we use a lot.
Light helps us to feel more energetic and lifts our mood. It is a known fact that lighting has a direct impact on our brain and our hormone balance via the retina in our eyes. The happiness neurotransmitter serotonin isn’t released to the same extent if we don’t receive enough light. Sunshine is just one way to get it. Light up your home, especially in winter.
When we’re in urban environments or the office all day, we can experience sensory overload, resulting in tension and mental fatigue. Studies have shown that our minds and bodies relax in a natural setting. This increases feelings of pleasure and can help us concentrate and focus more effectively, according to studies in the National Library of Medicine.
Nature makes us feel better, but even if we can’t do forrest bathing in the city, going outside provides relief. Remember there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.
On the subject of sensory overload and stress, there are other ways to relax quickly. We love mini mind breaks. You can do breathing exercises, or just sit quietly and listen to the waves. Taking breaks are good for calming and refocusing. A short walk wherever you are or a cup of tea can add to your calm.
Here the Japanese might say find your purpose. What is your purpose for 2025? This might also be your bliss. What do you want. It can be something really simple. Think about it for a moment. What do you love to do? What would you like to do better?
Here’s what I’m doing. I was listening to French songs and was motived to take a test (online) to see how good my french is. I found my level. I’d forgotten a lot, but my comprehension wasn’t as bad as I thought. My listening to French songs motivated me to rekindle my love for the language and improve in 2025. I can do this online. Learning French or music or knitting or growing things brings excitement and interest to your life. What new activity can you launch this year that keeps your interest alive? Chair yoga?
You may we wondering why we haven’t included getting more rest and good nutrition. We’ll get to them in another article. Until then, try these. Happy New Year.
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