5 Simple Ways To Make Yourself Happy

Illustration (Kal Visuals/Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Achieving happiness is not an easy action, but it is one thing that is worth fighting for.

Every March 20, the world commemorates the International Day of Happiness which was founded by Jayme Illien with the aim of inspiring every human being to take a step forward and strive to increase their happiness and well-being.

Then, what steps can be taken to make yourself happy? Adapting We Are Homes for Students, Wednesday, February 2nd, here are 5 easy and simple ways to make yourself happy.

Take a breath

At first it may sound trivial. But achieving happiness can be as simple as taking ten deep breaths. In the hectic pace of everyday life, you can forget to slow down and take a moment to relax.

You only need two minutes in a quiet room where you can take some time to breathe, letting go of all worries. That way, you will feel refreshed to go through the day. Breathing deeply sends messages to the brain to calm down and relax tense muscles and allow positive free thinking.

Taking a moment to breathe can affect your productivity and allow ideas to be formulated naturally rather than forced.

Smile

A smile can spread like fire. If you take the time to smile every day, you may find that small, positive moments affect your day and even the way other people see you.

Similar to taking a breath, smiling induces a chemical reaction that helps lift the mood. It can even boost the immune system and relieve stress. Take a positive view of everyday little struggles and you may find that they are not as stressful as you first thought.

Smiling can be a brain trick into thinking you're happy. It spreads positivity to the people around and can affect daily activities. You've probably done it yourself without realizing it, but most people's perception and reaction to someone happens when they see them. If you start the day with a smile, you are more likely to encourage others to react the same way. Who knew a simple act like smiling could make so much difference?

Appreciate yourself

You don't have to wait for other people to respect you, you just need to be able to respect yourself. Respecting yourself can be as simple as deciding that you deserve respect. It may sound easy to say and hard to do, but continuing to think positively about yourself will slowly create a different mentality and view of yourself.

Another great way to appreciate yourself is to remember how far you've come. Think back to last year, five or ten years ago – did you ever think you would be where you are now?

Whatever goals you have achieved, remember not to put yourself down or compare your achievements with others. Achieving happiness begins with respecting yourself and your own accomplishments.

Meditation

Meditation is one of the main ways to help reset the mind. It allows you to sort through your thoughts in a calm, non-judgmental way and even helps you leave your problems behind for a while.

Meditation also inspires your creative side and problem-solving skills, and allows you to sleep more easily without distracting thoughts that keep you up at night.

Meditation also provides mental clarity to solve everyday problems related to personal or work-related.

Spending 20 minutes a day in a quiet place focusing on your breathing will help dispel negative thoughts and encourage you to focus more on returning to the task at hand.

Go out

Take a day to leave the house and go outside by spending the day with a friend. Or just go for a walk with the pet and enjoy the view. A few minutes of fresh air has been proven to brighten the day. It even has physical benefits by increasing your blood pressure and improving your mental health.

Being in one place all the time can be boring, so going outside allows you to physically distance yourself from stressful situations until you're in a better frame of mind to deal with them.

Many health problems are caused by feeling confined. If you feel you can force yourself out of the house, it's a good idea to schedule a part of your day to leave the house, even if you don't have a goal. Even just 10 minutes out can change your mood for the better.