In an article on the Buffer blog, a productivity, life hacks, writing, user experience, customer happiness and business blog, Belle Beth Cooper wrote about 10 things that will make you happier. The article is titled, 10 Simple Things You Can Do Today That Will Make You Happier, Backed By Science.
She has done an excellent job of research into these areas, many of which have been covered in other postings on Meditation Practices for Healing and Well-being.
The 10 things that will make you happier are:
1. Exercise more – 7 minutes might be enough
In my life, exercise plays a predominant role. My morning exercises consist of a combination of Arica Gym, Restorative Yoga, and Qi Gong movements.
The Arica Gym is a set of psychophysical calisthenics that I learned many years ago. Some would call it a kind of dynamic yoga. It seems that with these exercises, every part of my body moves.
The restorative yoga portion is excellent for core strength.
In addition, I play tennis at least four times a week!
2. Sleep more – you’ll be less sensitive to negative emotions
Getting more sleep is always a good idea. So are lazy days, where you don’t do much at all.
In Plum Village, France, they have a lazy day every Sunday. I enjoyed them immensely!
If you need to sleep more but can’t seem to make it happen, you can learn to sleep better with guided meditation. Try my Sound Sleep Guided Meditation (see below) and see how it works for you. I’ll gladly send you a second guided meditation at no cost if you purchase this one.
3. Move closer to work – a short commute is worth more than a big house
My career as a software engineer was blessed with most of my work from home. Telecommuting is the ideal job situation and I wish it on you!
4. Spend time with friends and family – don’t regret it on your deathbed
Friends and family are a very important part of my life. I have three adult children who I love very much. They all have completed university degrees.
Micah, the oldest and a Stanford University graduate, lives in New York. Rachael is second and she is a certified yoga teacher and Auyuvedic Life Style Counselor. Jessica is off the University of Barcelona for a master’s degree in tourism at the end of the month.
5. Go outside – happiness is maximized at 13.9°C
Living in California, the ocean, mountains, forests are within a 10-30 minute drive from my home. We spend a lot of time outside. My wife walks early in the morning and I play tennis mostly in the afternoons.
6. Help others – 100 hours a year is the magical number
In my effort to give back to my community, I offer Mindfulness in Healing every Wednesday night at the Pine Street Clinic in San Anselmo. This offering is on a completely volunteer basis and it has been going on for more than 4 years.
Come and join us for an evening of deep listening, loving speech, and mindfulness meditation!
7. Practice smiling – it can alleviate pain
In the Fourth Mindfulness Meditation Practice, you are invited to smile when you breathe in and you are invited to release when you breathe out. This comes easily and naturally after you have mastered the first three mindfulness meditation practices.
Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh calls this act of smiling, “mouth yoga!” Do you like mouth yoga?
8. Plan a trip – but don’t take one
During the past year, when Jessica was living in the Galapagos and Quito, Ecuador, we planned many trips, but never took one! She came home on Christmas day and decided to go to graduate school instead.
Now we are planning a trip to Barcelona. Maybe it will happen!
9. Meditate – rewire your brain for happiness
This whole site is dedicated to inspiring you to meditate daily. You’ll find it opens up so many new vistas in your life. You’ll wonder why you had not began earlier. See the meditation tab, below for recommendations.
10. Practice gratitude – increase both happiness and life satisfaction
Gratitude is the subject of many articles on the web site. See, for example, To Desire What You Don’t Have…, and the gratitude tab, below.
Quick last fact: Getting older will make yourself happier
A good example of getting older is found in There Is Beauty In Extreme Old Age. This post was based on the Mikado by Gilbert and Sullivan.
Which of these thing do you do already? Which ones are you wanting to adopt? Which ones give you the most trouble? Please share.
Sound Sleep Guided Meditation
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