Happiness Hacks to Try This Spring

“Live your life, sing your song. Not full of expectations. Not for ovations. But for the joy of it.”

This post is inspired by the “Happier” podcast, where Gretchen Rubin and her sister Elizabeth Craft share “happiness hacks” to try at home in order to live a happier and more fulfilling life. As a therapist, I love that Gretchen and Elizabeth focus each episode on behavioral interventions that are easy and accessible for their listeners to try each week. Gretchen has also written several books where she outlines tips/techniques for cultivating happiness through intentional habits. Here are some of my favorite hacks that I will continue trying this month:

Have something warm to greet you first thing in the morning:

I love this happiness hack! This seems so small but it makes all the difference when you can slip on your favorite pair of slippers or your favorite plush robe as soon as you hop out of bed. This small behavior serves as a signal to myself that it is time to start the day and complete the tasks at hand before beginning the work day. It also serves as a gentle reminder to be kind to myself and most importantly to the people I interact with throughout the work day. If you can’t be kind to yourself then how are you supposed to extend it to others?

Create a space that is completely your own:

This may be challenging depending on how big your living space is and who you are sharing it with, however, I think it is worthwhile to consider. Everyone deserves to have something that is completely their own, even if it is a small corner in a shared living room. Maybe your space is a cozy, plush chair next to a sunny window where you read the paper and drink a cup of coffee each morning, or maybe your space is the vanity in your bedroom where you keep all of your most treasured items. However you find this hack fitting into your living space, carve out a section of a room that is just for you-a haven of sorts when you need it the most, you won’t regret it.

Create morning and evening routines:

Gretchen’s podcast focuses on habits and she reiterates that the more conscious decisions we make, the more fatigued we feel by the end of the day. Creating and sticking to routines is a great way to combat the potential for “decision fatigue” as Gretchen calls it. Some ideas for morning routines could be reading your favorite blog (I love The Daily Good) while you drink your coffee-I do this during my paperwork hour in the morning before I start seeing clients and it has had a wonderful impact on my mindset going into the work day. Some ideas for evening routines could be setting an alarm clock for bedtime or utilizing an essential oil before going to sleep. These are all great ways of signaling to yourself that it is time for rest and recharging.

Do something every day:

In one of her episodes, Gretchen talks about doing something every single day. I have incorporated this into my work day and it has been very helpful for me. Each morning or evening before starting or ending my day, I will find a quote that resonates with me for that day and write it down in a journal I have in my work desk. I find that whether I do this in the morning or the evening, it has a positive impact on my mood and behaviors that follow. Doing this simple task every day signals to me that my day is starting or ending and it grounds me and helps me to stay present during the work day or after it has ended. I also love that now I have an entire journal worth of thought provoking quotes that I can refer back to.

Seek out silence:

I have loved focusing on this happiness hack as it is such a challenge for me. During my work commute I listen to podcasts, I turn Pandora on while I take showers, and the T.V. is consistently on in the background in our apartment. I love the idea of intentionally seeking out silence, which is a great way to check in with myself and focus on my thoughts/feelings. I feel that this is a great tool to help increase mental wellness.

Get rid of it as soon as it is useless:

I have truly adopted the phrase “Outer Order, Inner Calm” and feel that this happiness hack fits right into this statement. Having useless items around your house/apartment that take up space and create clutter can be a huge stumbling block to happiness. Personally, I am guilty of having way too many water bottles, coffee mugs, and plastic souvenir cups-they create so much clutter in my cabinets and I honestly use the same 2-3 items each time. Excited to work on this one and to do some serious spring cleaning! 

Read a book about a place you are traveling to (or want to travel to some day):

I love this happiness hack! What is better than allowing yourself to day dream and travel to new places by reading a book and getting lost in the story line. 

I hope you enjoyed some tips for creating happiness habits, inspired by Gretchen Rubin’s podcast “Happier.” Sending you all the best during this spring season. As always, thank you for taking the time to stop by.

All the best,

Ragan