Write a list of simple things that give you pleasure... and do them at least a few times a week.
Carving out the time to do some of those simple little things will reinforce your belief that life is indeed good.
Get moving.
Rather than viewing exercise as a tool to lose weight, prevent disease, and live longer — all benefits that occur in the future — try viewing exercise as a daily tool to immediately enhance your frame of mind, reduce stress and feel happier.
Eat light — and right.
What you eat directly impacts your mood and energy levels in both the short and long term. Whereas eating right can prime your body and brain to be in a focused, happy state, eating processed junk foods will leave you sluggish and prone to chronic disease. Ditto for over-eating, which can leave you feeling bloated and sluggish.
Take a cold shower.
Exposure to cold temperatures via cold water may offer health-boosting benefits for virtually everyone. Taking a cold shower increases your circulation and helps minimize inflammation. It also tends to leave you feeling energized and invigorated.
Talk less; listen more.
Talking less and listening more can help increase heart-centered communication. Listening helps you soak in the wisdom of others and allows you to quiet your own mind at the same time. Intent listening can help you feel content while helping you gain different perspectives.
Get some sun every day.
Getting safe sun exposure, which allows your body to produce vitamin D, is great for your mood. Getting a little bit of sun on bare skin each day is better than spending hours outside on the weekends only.
Turn off the TV.
Evidence shows cutting back on TV time can add years to your life. Watching TV also has a detrimental impact on your brain chemistry. Instead of turning off your brain, why not turn off your TV and mindfully engage in something from your list of pleasurable activities?
Create.
You don't have to be an artist to be creative. Creativity can take any form, from gardening to cooking, to dancing and singing, to taking up a new hobby.
Enjoy nature.
Spending time in nature is an excellent mental health "prescription." And while you're at it, take off your shoes (as long as it's safe to do so). Walking barefoot, grounding yourself to the earth, has a wide range of health benefits, over and above the simple feeling of connecting with Mother Earth.
Know the simple truth about yourself.
Positive self-talk and mantras can play a role in cultivating more happiness. Say to yourself, like you mean it: "I am enough, I am worthy, I am good, I am loved." Believe it!
Express gratitude.
Harness the positive power of gratitude by keeping a gratitude journal or list, where you actively write down exactly what you're grateful for each day. Doing so has been linked to happier moods, greater optimism and even better physical health.
Laugh it up!
Laughing causes your body to release beneficial chemicals called endorphins, natural "pain killers" that contribute to your sense of well-being and may counteract the effects of stress hormones and cause blood vessels to dilate. So, if you're going to watch TV, why not make sure it's something really funny?