10 Tiny Habits of the Happiest People

Why do some individuals maintain a consistent level of happiness? The most content individuals engage in practices that increase their chances of experiencing joy. Conversely, those who often feel discontent have habits that lead to less favorable emotions. It’s essentially straightforward. If you find that your current level of happiness is lacking, it might be wise to examine your daily routines. Let’s look at small ways to improve our tiny, happy habits.

Those people you see that are happy share many qualities. Adopting these same qualities will yield positive results.

Tiny habits that lead to happiness:

1. Choosing Optimism. Obviously, if you believe good things will happen, it’s much more likely that you’ll be happy. Expecting the worst does nothing to improve your mood! Realistically, it’s not even important to expect a positive outcome, only to believe that everything will be okay. Optimism is also a form of belief in yourself. If you believe that you can handle any outcome, you can be optimistic and have the mental freedom to be happy. (Kleiman et al., 2015)
2. Opting for Altruism. Doing things for others provides multiple benefits. You can see firsthand that you have a lot to be grateful for. You can feel good about yourself for assisting others. You have a good reason to get out of the house. You also feel useful. Make a list of at least three ways you can help others that will also fit into your schedule.(Nichol et al., 2023)
3. Practicing Gratitude. Do you realize how many great things and people you already have in your life? By maintaining focus on the things you don’t have, you’re making yourself unhappy. Experiencing gratitude helps to create feelings of happiness. (Why Gratitude Enhances Well-Being: What We Know, What We Need to Know, n.d)
4. Imagining the Future. Being happy requires having things to look forward to, like graduating from college, having a baby, retirement, a vacation, or a fun date on Saturday night. Set some goals that you’re excited about — both short-term and long-term ones. (Goal setting strategies can influence positive emotions, 2018)
5. Experiencing Success. Spend some time doing things that you’re good at. It feels good to do well at something. It doesn’t have to be a competitive event. You can hit golf balls at the range or play the guitar and feel great about yourself. Make of list of the things you excel at and try to spend at least a little time each day doing one of them.(No Pain, No Gain: Mastering A Skill Makes Us Stressed In The Moment, Happy Long Term, 2023)
6. Resilience. It’s impossible to avoid challenging times. Sooner or later, something will happen that threatens your progress, success, or happiness. Resilience is the ability to continue forging ahead. Some people have a knack for making obstacles seem bigger than they really are. Others are able to maintain their composure and continue making progress.(Fletcher & Sarkar, 2013)
7. Setting Reasonable Expectations. When your expectations are overly optimistic, you’ll routinely experience disappointment. When your expectations are consistently low, you won’t feel very optimistic. Neither is a recipe for happiness. It is important to strike a balance with our expectations, neither being overly optimistic nor consistently low. This will pave the way for more sustainable happiness in the long run.(How to Manage Expectations to Maximize Happiness, 2023)
8. Practicing Forgiveness. How can you be happy while holding a grudge? Forgiving others quickly and easily make happiness possible. You might feel that some people don’t deserve forgiveness, but what is the alternative? Making yourself unhappy.(Forgive and…Feel Happier, 2008)
9. Exhibiting Authenticity. Investing your energy in portraying a persona that isn’t true to who you are can undermine your self-confidence. True joy becomes elusive if you struggle with embracing your authentic self. Celebrate and express your individuality.(Jongman-Sereno & Leary, 2019)
10. Being Present. Thinking about the past leads to regret. Thoughts of the future can lead to anxiety. Keep your mind in the present if you want to experience happiness on a regular basis. This is one of the benefits of meditation.

Making small changes to our routines and habits can have a significant impact on our overall happiness levels.

There’s nothing complicated about happiness. Forgive others, be yourself, be kind, and be grateful for what you already have. Having an effective set of these tiny habits will result in you feeling more happiness.

What’s the most impactful book or article you’ve read that has influenced your mindset?

References and Citations:

• Fletcher, D., & Sarkar, M. (2013, January 1). Psychological Resilience. European psychologist, 18(1), 12–23. https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000124
• Forgive and…Feel Happier. (2008, May 13). https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/forgive_andfeel_happier
• Goal setting strategies can influence positive emotions. (2018, September 18). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-09-goal-strategies-positive-emotions.html
• How to Manage Expectations to Maximize Happiness. (2023, January 31). https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_manage_expectations_to_maximize_happiness
• Jongman-Sereno, K P., & Leary, M R. (2019, March 1). The Enigma of Being Yourself: A Critical Examination of the Concept of Authenticity. Review of general psychology, 23(1), 133–142. https://doi.org/10.1037/gpr0000157
• Kleiman, E M., Chiara, A., Liu, R T., Jager‐Hyman, S., Choi, J Y., & Alloy, L B. (2015, November 11). Optimism and well-being: a prospective multi-method and multi-dimensional examination of optimism as a resilience factor following the occurrence of stressful life events. Cognition and emotion, 31(2), 269–283. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2015.1108284
• Nichol, B., Wilson, R G., Rodrigues, A., & Haighton, C. (2023, May 4). Exploring the Effects of Volunteering on the Social, Mental, and Physical Health and Well-being of Volunteers: An Umbrella Review. Voluntas. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-023-00573-z
• No Pain, No Gain: Mastering A Skill Makes Us Stressed In The Moment, Happy Long Term. (2023, February 6). https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091029120900.htm
• Why Gratitude Enhances Well-Being: What We Know, What We Need to Know. (n.d). http://emmons.faculty.ucdavis.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2015/08/2011_2-16_Sheldon_Chapter-16-11.pdf

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