How to be “Instantly Happy”

How to be “Instantly Happy”

In today’s time challenged, coffee chugging world, it’s often hard to find time to read an inspirational self help book that preaches happiness. But you can always find time to read an inspiring poster. One reason we have so much trouble attaining happiness is that we don’t even know what it is. We keep trying to annihilate anxiety and other disturbances. So we share some tools for instant happiness –

Do a Shower Power Meditation. Take a shower and multi-task washing away your stress and anxiety. Concentrate on the feel of the water upon your skin. Envision the power of the shower washing away your negative thoughts! Whoosh! Envision fear, regret, and anger soaping off you and swirling down the drain.

Get Lit. Studies show that sitting in dark rooms can lead to darker thoughts and that, alternatively, spending time in bright light (from being outside in the sun or inside in very well-lit rooms) can create happier brain chemistry.

Stare at something yellow. Put on a yellow shirt. Buy some yellow flowers. “Yellow can lift your spirits and self-esteem,” says color psychologist Shruti Wagh.

Walk on something green. Being surrounded by nature is good for human nature. Go take a hike or go for a stroll in the park.

Say “ohmmmmm.” Give yourself the gift of five minutes of quiet time, sitting in a comfortable position, humming “ohmmmmmm.” Studies show the sound of “ohmmmmm” vibrating in your throat relaxes your body—even warming up the skin a bit.

Organize your home/office—and clean up messy thoughts in the process. It’s a funny thing how the less clutter you have all around you, the more calm your mind becomes.

Give yourself a helpful hand—with some hand reflexology. Massage the chakra points on your palms – right at the base of each thumb. They match up with your adrenal glands, which need a little loving attention when you’re stressed/depressed. Hold one hand in the other, then use the pad of your thumb to gently but firmly massage this zone.

Send the Universe Some “Muah!” Gratitude is often the antidote to depression. And that’s a researched fact. A study done by the University of Australia showed that when people took time each day to think about five things that made them happy, they increased their overall joy and improved some health issues as well. With this in mind, send five “muahs!” to the universe. Literally. Think up something you’re grateful about, then pucker up and blow the universe a kiss! Then do it again! Appreciate. Blow a kiss. Repeat. Appreciate. Blow a kiss. Repeat.

Sniff Your Way to a Happier Mood. Studies from the University of Miami School of Medicine report that lavender is a major olfactory happiness tool—shown to improve mood, soothe anxiety, and even help to reduce some physical pains. If you don’t have lavender around your home, grab a bottle of Vanilla Extract from your kitchen cabinet. This yummy scent is also considered a powerful aromatherapy happiness booster. Added Bonus: Studies also show the scent of vanilla arouses men, so considered yourself forewarned!

Have Some Punch. Punch a pillow. Punch a teddy bear. Punch some dough. Get the negative energy out of your system through energetic action.

Do Some Heavy Petting—With a Dog or Cat. Lots of studies repeatedly show how pets are a powerful furry form of stress relief. They lower blood pressure and reduce harmful stress hormones like cortisol. Plus, hugging and playing with pets has been shown to increase happiness-inducing oxytocin. One Grimshaw study specifically showed that patients who spent a short amount of time with a dog right before undergoing an operation experienced a thirty-seven percent reduction in their anxiety levels.

Go Fish. A Duncan study showed that watching a fish tank for thirty minutes lowered blood pressure significantly.

See Your Problems from a Headstand Position. Many yoga enthusiasts recommend doing headstands to release stress. MRI studies even back up a headstand’s mood-boosting benefit—showing how regular headstands literally improve brain function.

Get Doodle Happy. Grab some magic markers and doodle lots of heart icons. Big heart doodles. Small heart doodles. Give some of the heart doodles smiley faces. The silliness of this doodling action combined with the repeated visual stimuli of seeing icons representing love will cheer you up. Extra Feel Good Bonus: Doodle your heart icons on a plain white card and mail it to a friend/loved one with a note expressing your adoration of them.