psychology
5 things happy people do
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What really makes you happy? Studies show again and again that it is less the external circumstances, but rather that our happiness is largely in our own hands. Happy people do things differently.
Lots of money, a stable job, a family and a nice, big apartment – all of these things can make us more satisfied with our lives. But real happiness does not depend on these external and certainly not on material things. Of course, we need a certain level of economic and financial security to even get to the point of asking ourselves what makes us happy. But once we have passed this point, we can do a lot for our own happiness. We can copy these habits and characteristics from truly satisfied people.
Happy people do these 5 things regularly
1. You are grateful
In difficult times it is often not easy to be grateful. Gratitude can help us immensely, especially in moments like these, and some people have been able to do that Studies prove. Because if we keep reminding ourselves of what we have instead of just focusing on what we are missing, then these (supposedly) missing things quickly lose importance. Satisfied people know this and therefore practice gratitude regularly, ideally even daily. Maybe they practice this in the form of a gratitude diary in which they write down in the evening what they were particularly grateful for that day – be it a roof over their head, enough to eat, good friends or their pet. Or you can simply talk to your partner about these things or do a gratitude meditation. Remembering what you have always makes you happier than constantly thinking about what you don’t have.
2. They maintain relationships
Humans are social creatures and cannot function without other people. Happy and successful people are aware of this and nurture their relationships accordingly. Of course, that doesn’t mean that they constantly spend time with others beyond their energetic capacities. But self-care also means maintaining our social network and having people around us who we trust and who support us in difficult times.
3. You spend time alone
No, this point is not a contradiction to the previous one. Because as important and healthy as it is to maintain social contacts and relationships, it is just as important that we are at peace with ourselves so that we can be alone sometimes. How much time we spend with friends and family and how much we like to be alone naturally depends primarily on whether we are more extroverted or introverted. Satisfied people know themselves well enough to know how much space they need for themselves and how much of their time they dedicate to others – and what ratio of the two is good for them. In any case, they do not avoid being alone out of fear of their own thoughts and stay in company beyond their own limits just to be distracted.
4. You practice mindfulness
Especially those who have a more brooding nature and are prone to worrying thoughts know how difficult it is to really live in the moment. Ultimately, that is exactly the key to long-term satisfaction – that is now well scientifically proven. Because anyone who is constantly concerned with fears for the (already uncertain) future will be just as unlikely to be happy as someone who is constantly thinking about the past. Successful and satisfied people know this and therefore practice mindfulness. Depending on your type, you too may find it difficult to stay in the here and now. But they stick with it, meditation or other mindfulness exercises help them.
5. You get enough exercise
When we are not feeling well and have little energy, we often tend to hide on the couch or in bed. We underestimate how much positive influence sport or other forms of exercise can have on us. They could do that too Studies prove. Those who are satisfied do not allow themselves to be lulled into the fallacy that only doing nothing can replenish our energy reserves. He:she makes sure to get enough exercise and knows that he:she feels better after a long walk in nature, a yoga session or a HIIT workout – even if it takes some effort at first. Building enough time into your everyday life for exercise is an important component of being sustainably happy and satisfied.
Sources used: psychology-heute.de, psychologytoday.com, forbes.com