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As children, many seemed to believe happiness would sort of fall into our lives as we grew older simply due to the nature of life. Now, having had a dose of reality and adulthood, it is very apparent that this is not the case. In fact, it seems far more likely that any happiness we do experience is a creation of our own – relationships, experiences, thought processes, and more all fall into this category. Seeing as happiness is an emotion that we seem to be in constant pursuit of, it would make sense to be intentional about creating the desired happiness. The words of author Roy T. Bennett, are a wonderful jumping off point for doing so, “If you want to be happy, do not dwell in the past, do not worry about the future, focus on living fully in the present.”

There are numerous avenues to explore when it comes to attempting to feel happier. Sometimes, it’s as simple as setting aside 10 minutes of your day. Below are a few suggestions for activities to explore. 

Go for a walk

Rachel Blank is the founder and CEO of Allara, a brand offering care for polycystic ovary syndrome. She believes a little physical activity can go a long way.

“Our daily lives leave us immobile in a lot of ways. Think about it, many of us sleep, and then sit down at a desk, before moving to the couch to finish out the day. The reality is that our bodies are meant for moving and they do vastly better when this happens regularly. I’m not just talking about being in shape either. Moving more frequently in any regard will provide a boost to your happiness. It doesn’t have to be much either as you could just go for a quick walk. If exercise becomes part of your daily routine even just a little bit, you’ll see a noticeable difference.”

Read a fiction book

Hush specializes in products geared towards aiding the tattoo experience. Their CEO, Ubaldo Perez, suggests taking the time to get lost in a story. 

“There are points in life where everyone needs to take a break. Of course, taking 15 minutes or your lunch break might come to mind, but I think there’s something a little bit better for our mental wellbeing – reading a fiction book. No matter what you do for a living, I’m sure there have been points where you just want to get away from whatever is stressing you out. Stepping into a story about worlds or lives which are dramatically different from the one we’re living is a great method for achieving some basic happiness and escape. Stepping away from the things in front of us is not always the easiest so the help of a good story is sometimes a necessity.”

Phone a friend

Human interaction can bring about a flurry of emotions. Azuna is a business providing plant-based odor elimination. Their director of marketing, Philip Mantalvo, considers it important to connect with people who care about you.

“If you look at every era of history one thing remains the same – humans need other humans. None of us are geared for a life of total isolation. The pandemic made this the case for many and as we come out of it now, it’s important to remember how vital it is. From experience and reading studies, I’ve come to understand that even the simple act of phoning a friend for a few minutes can bring about positive emotions. The reciprocal care and enjoyment can’t be quantified but trust me, you’ll know those feelings when they’re present.”

Spend time with a pet

Melissa Thodes is the CEO of Physics 1on1, a brand offering online psychic readings. She advises others to take a few minutes for their animal companion. 

“Pets can be one of the biggest blessings, should we choose to see them as that. I know that as pets grow and mature, they become part of everyday life. As they should. But this also means the excitement and joy a new pet owner experiences has worn off. Again, this is natural. But sometimes a jumpstart to your existing perspective can bring about change. Go get a new toy or go for a new route on your walk. Whatever it takes to make your relationship with your pet a little fresher is absolutely worth it.”

Revisit a favorite viral video

Spot Pet Insurance specializes in health insurance for pets. Their CEO, Trey Ferro, believes rewatching a video which brought you a hearty belly laugh can be beneficial. 

“Everyone has a different sense of humor but the true point here is that everyone is capable of laughing, provided they’re given a reason to do so. Whenever the conversation topic of viral videos comes up, every person participating has a video they just have to show everyone because of how hilarious it is. Oftentimes, it is truly hilarious. When you’re feeling down in the dumps, try to remember one of your favorite viral videos and revisit it. It might seem too easy but even just the smallest assistance should be welcome when it comes to personal happiness.”

Focus on breathing

All the things on one’s daily to-do list can begin to tally up to the point where they might feel as if they are being crushed. BISOULOVELY is a business providing a wide variety of jewelry. Their CEO, Breanne Millette, proposes paying attention to the act of breathing to combat this.

“It’s a very different way of looking at things but we reside within our physical bodies. Because of this, we have a tendency to exclude our bodies from consideration far more often than we should. Obviously, this can be a pretty harmful action if taken at the wrong moment. Think about moments of high stress or anxiety – my guess would be you’ll remember a feeling close to light suffocation. The reality is, this wasn’t a figment of your imagination. Under pressure, fight or flight mode can cause tension resulting in lack of oxygen to your body. It’s easier said than done but remembering to take deep breaths can really make a difference in your happiness levels.”

Eat or drink something

Jeff Goodwin is the senior director of performance marketing and e-commerce of Orgain, a brand offering organic protein. He cautions others to be aware of their food intake. 

“Food is very much a habitual thing for many people. Meal times are planned out, meal planning exists and, at least from what I’ve seen, food has come to a point where it’s more about quick, efficient delivery to our bodies rather than the quality of the food being consumed. Like it or not, what we eat has a direct correlation to our moods. Fast food holds some character traits of a depressant while items such as fruit, vegetables, and high protein-low fat meats act much more like a stimulant. What I’m saying here is that if you choose to eat healthy, your overall feelings of happiness should take a sizable leap.”

Listen to a favorite song

Mad Rabbit specializes in tattoo aftercare products. Their CEO Oliver Zak considers music to be one of more influential items to a person’s happiness.

“Take a second and think about some of your best days. If you’re anything like me, when things are going well in life, I find that I’m more willing to hum or sing a song I enjoy because of where my mood is at. But the inverse is also true. Music holds this power which can swing our moods at a moment’s notice due to a specific lyric or sound present in whatever we’re listening to. It works both ways so if you’re filling your ears with songs of sadness and loss you’re not going to get very far. Pick the music that raises the corners of your mouth and puts that light behind your eyes.”

If everything above could be summed up into one phrase, it may have been put into existence by author Alice Walker, “Don’t wait around for other people to be happy for you. Any happiness you get you’ve got to make yourself.”