10 Daily Habits to Make You Happier

Hey there! Hope your day is going well, and if it’s not, well then this is most definitely the blog post for you! Today I’m sharing 10 daily habits to make you happier. I think we can all agree that some days we just can’t seem to get out of the funk of a mood we’re in, even though we desperately want to! Keep reading for some tips to get out of that funk and boost your mood!

List 5 things to be grateful for each day

I started this practice a few months ago and am shocked at how it has drastically improved my overall happiness. Consistently choosing to start your day finding reasons to be grateful will improve your perspective and boost your mood. I now look forward to this practice each day, and it is the crutch that I need to keep moving forward on the particularly difficult days. For more tips on gratitude, check out my blog post on the subject here!

Get ready for the day, even if you’re not going out

While I love a good jammies day, I also appreciate the way it makes me feel to take a nice, hot shower, brush my teeth, throw on my skincare, and take my medicine. This routine encourages me as I’ve already crossed a few things off my to-do list afterwards, and it helps me be prepared for whatever comes my way that day. It also brings me joy to know that I’m taking care of myself and showing myself love.

Open the blinds

Ask my family and they will confirm one of my absolute favorite lyrics is “open up the windows, let the light in” from Dig a Little Deeper by Jenifer Lewis in Princess and the Frog. There is no denying that sunlight is a wonderful, joyful thing, so if you want to be a happier person, you need to allow sunlight and warmth into your space! One of the first things I do each morning is open the blinds, and on the days where I’ve forgotten, I can feel a difference in my mood. Seriously, this is one of the easiest daily habits to make you happier; try it out!

Wear clothes that make you feel confident and excited to take on life

I can’t deny when I’m wearing my favorite outfit that makes me feel confident and beautiful, it makes me feel so much happier! When you feel amazing, it’s so much easier to go about your day with a more positive outlook.

I have a challenge for you and it’s not going to be easy but hear me out! I want you to dedicate a day to try on every single piece of clothing in your closet. I think we all know the struggle of searching for something to wear at the start of our day and feeling instantly disappointed with ourselves because that blouse we’d love to wear just doesn’t fit like it once did. We need to remove this from our view if we want to start our day on a positive note and be a happier person. If it doesn’t fit, you have two options: throw it in a pile that you will donate or throw it in a pile that will be hidden away for you to try on later. The key here is to remove it from view. If you won’t be donating it, put it in a storage bin under the bed or on those tall shelves in the closet. While you’re trying on the clothes that do fit, pay attention to how you feel wearing it. Do you feel confident, sexy, fun, flirty? Great, it stays! Do you feel uncomfortable, confused, unhappy, or overwhelmed about what you might wear it with? It’s time for donation. The goal here is to create a closet full of clothes that you love to wear and fit your body and your personal style amazingly! Now when you start your day, you can start to feel excited about the options you have to show off, and as you go about your day, you can feel happy and confident about what you’re wearing.

Listen to your favorite playlist

It is literally scientifically proven that listening to music can make you happier and reduce anxiety, so why not give it a try? I’m a huge podcast fan, don’t get me wrong, but nothing lifts my spirits like a kick-butt playlist of my favorite songs! I love to play music in the background while I work to keep my spirits up, but my absolute favorite times to listen to music are in the car alone or while cooking. If you pull up next to me at the stoplight, don’t be surprised if you see me flipping my hair and dancing ridiculously to my Golder Hour playlist with no shame.

I also love a good dance party with my spouse in the kitchen as we cook dinner. It’s one of my favorite ways to connect with him after a long day and instantly lifts my mood.

Call and catch up with a friend or family member

When I’m feeling sad or lonely, a call to my mom is just the dose of happiness I need! Moms always know just the right balance of tough love and encouragement to motivate you and boost your mood. I also love calling my former college roommates to catch up. It helps me relive the fun memories we made together, process the highs and lows of my life, and hear about what they’ve been up to lately!

Exercise

Get that heart rate up and the endorphins flowing! This is such an incredible way to relieve stress, focus on yourself for half an hour, and unwind after a long day. If you have a chronic illness like me and it’s a struggle to get your exercise in, check out these Easy Ways to Move Your Body with a Chronic Illness. Or, if you feel like you’ve been in a rut with your current workout routine, consider trying something new! My favorite forms of exercise are walks around my neighborhood, swimming, and water aerobics, but consider something different like a new group workout class, boxing, dancing, golf, or pickleball.

Keep a journal

While we’re pursuing habits, I think keeping a journal is an important daily habit to make you happier because unfortunately, life happens, and negative circumstances arise in our lives all the time. Having a dedicated place where you can fully process all the complex emotions you’re feeling can allow you to have the emotional release you need, provide closure, and permit you to move forward with your day positively.

Get a good night’s sleep

When I think of the grouchiest people I know, they are all sleep deprived! And I know for me, I always feel off when I haven’t had a restful sleep the night before. Get your sleep pattern back on track by starting your evening routine earlier, turning off electronics before bed, reading a fictional book to relax your mind, and investing in the coziest bedding. Most people need about 7 hours of sleep per night, but those of us with chronic illnesses likely need more!

Take care of your loved ones

When you care about the happiness of others and make it your mission to help them improve their happiness, you’ll find the same happens for you too! The fact is, we all have challenging, hard life circumstances. Nothing makes me feel more loved, happy, and grateful than knowing that someone went out of their way to help me. Turn that around and make someone else’s day, and trust me, you’ll feel fulfilled too! My husband works long hours, and it makes him feel so special and loved knowing I worked hard to treat him to a nice meal. Seeing him fulfilled and feeling grateful, boosts my mood too! Not to mention, when I treat him, he typically returns the favor by taking care of me and making me feel loved when I need it too!

Conclusion

These are just a few of many daily habits to make you happier! It’s a journey to being a happier person, one you must choose each day, so find what works for you and then repeat it! The more you practice these daily habits, the easier it will become and the more you’ll see a shift in your perspective to a happier one! Which of these habits will you adopt into your daily routine? Let’s chat about it below!