10 Simple Habits to Help You Feel Happy Again

Sometimes life can just hit you, and over time, you may not experience the same excitement or joy that you used to feel. You smile on the outside, but on the inside, you feel drained and hollow. Eventually, you live in the dark for so long that you don’t even know how to feel happy anymore. You notice that it spills over to family, friends, work, and other areas of your life. 

You are not alone. 

Many people feel like this for many years and don’t even remember the last time that they were happy. Learning to feel happy again is absolutely achievable and realistic. Will it be easy? Of course, not. 

In this post,  I will give you ten simple habits to help you feel happy and whole again. 

Look, I know this one sounds easier said than done, especially when you have to get up to go to work or school, but try to set maybe 2-3 days out of the week where you take your time and just be present with yourself. This is going to look different for different people, but maybe you get up 5 minutes early and just sit quietly, maybe you can start your day by drinking water before checking your phone, or maybe you express gratitude before getting your day started. 

The point I’m trying to make is that your mornings can set the tone for your emotions for the rest of the day. If you are rushing and you feel like you have no time or you’re late, that can increase your stress levels.

Get outside even if it’s just for ten minutes. Nature can be so relaxing, whether you just want to take a walk, a hike,  or go bike riding. It’s something about Mother Nature that is so calming, especially when the sun is shining bright out and the weather is nice. Considering that you have nice weather where you are, I couldn’t imagine enjoying a walk in -35 degree weather.

And the thing about being outside is that there are so many options that you have. You can have fun outside with the family, walk your dog, and the list goes on. Does it need to be every day? No, but you know what’s best for you. Personally, when it’s warm outside, I’m outside every day.

Studies have shown that sunlight stimulates the production of serotonin, a hormone that is associated with happiness and well-being. Not to mention, being outside helps to declutter the mind. 

This is a big one. I can talk about this for days. People will either help you gain energy or they will leave you feeling drained. I learned throughout my life that not everyone has the same morals and values as you, and some people are perfectly okay with taking as much as they can from you and not giving anything in return. You know the people that I’m talking about. The people who are always complaining, the people who are always criticizing you, the people who feel entitled to your resources, the people who always play victim, the list goes on. 

When you surround yourself with the types of people that are consistently draining your energy, how can you feel whole and worthy? And I get it. A lot of the time, these people are the closest to us, but if you don’t set boundaries with them, you will continue to be unhappy, especially when they are family members. Learnhow to deal with toxic family members and protect your peace and sanity. When you learn how to do that, you will slowly start to see the changes in how you feel, for the better.

Sometimes we just have to go back to the basics by doing what we enjoy and reconnecting with joy. Now, if you don’t know what that is just yet, that’s okay.  Maybe you can try different activities until you find what you like to do. Another idea is using journaling to find that thing that you like. Not to mention, journaling can help you regulate your emotions and takecontrol of your mind.  

Here are some journal prompts to help you get started:

• What activities leave me feeling more energized afterward?
• What drains me, even if I enjoy it at the moment?
• What have I loved in the past that I’ve quietly stopped doing?
• When have I felt proud of myself—and why?
• What moments in my day tend to lift my mood, even a little?
• If happiness didn’t have to be big or impressive, what would it look like?
• If no one were watching or judging, how would I spend my time?

Man, this one used to get me. Consistently talking down on yourself and being overly critical. But what purpose does it serve? Besides making you feel even worse than you already do. I get it, it can be automatic, but to start, observe your emotions without judging them. And then say aloud, “I reject that thought,” for the emotions that you feel are bringing you down. If you do this every time you have a negative thought, you will begin to notice that those thoughts will start to fade slowly. 

Another thing that I find helpful is affirmations. There’s a whole science to saying daily affirmations. Saying affirmations in the morning, right when you wake up, and at night, right before you go to bed, can be very beneficial. When you are “rejecting that negative thought,” replace it with a positive affirmation afterwards. 

Here are some daily affirmations that I used during my healing journey:

• I can make mistakes and still respect myself.
• My thoughts are not facts.
• I am doing the best I can with what I have today.
• This feeling is temporary.
• I choose thoughts that support me.
• I am becoming more grounded every day.
• I speak to myself with the same care I give others.

Have a calm evening routine that allows you to reflect on your day. If there are any emotions that you want to let go of, this is the time to do so. Holding on to emotions and bringing them into the next day will continue to make you feel down, worried, or stressed about whatever it is that is bothering you. I know this can sound easier said than done, but it doesn’t have to be a long routine. 

Here are a few options for you: 

• Journaling before bed 
• Meditating for 5 minutes 
• Stretching 
• Having quiet time just to reflect 
• Say one kind thing to yourself before bed 
• Drink a cup of tea 
• Play some calming music 
• Put your phone down 
• Read a book

Have you ever heard of the saying,” You are what you eat”? Of course, we all have! Supporting your body with healthy foods and staying hydrated can make a world of difference in how we feel. A bowl of oatmeal, some chicken and broccoli, or some eggs in the morning can make us feel so energized. 

Stepping into a healthy lifestyle not only supports our energy, but it also supports our emotions. 

Eating healthy isn’t the only thing that is involved in a healthy lifestyle. Getting some type of movement daily is a part of it, too. You can make it fun, or you can involve the whole family, but exercising can make us feel so good afterwards. It can be an emotional release and a fun activity. 

Earlier, I mentioned getting away from people who drain you. Now, I want to talk about some of the things that might drain you as well. This could be your mindset, maybe you are overcommitting yourself, or you have expectations of yourself that you know you have to let go. I understand that change can be scary sometimes, but what’s the worst that can happen? 

Try to release emotional baggage and things that drain you. 

Understand that we are all human and we are going to have bad days and emotional moments. Do we have to feel happy all of the time? Of course not. But being generally a happy person can make the world of difference in how you view the world, how people treat you, how you treat others, and the experiences that you get to have during this lifetime.

Give yourself permission to feel your feelings and think your thoughts.

To feel happy, there are simple habits to develop over time. Do you need to do all 10 at once? Absolutely not. The most important thing is to start so that you can feel happy and whole.

 Start with one of these habits and try to stick with it every day. 

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