13 Small Ways to Be Happier In Life This Year

Table of Contents

The path to happiness lies in…

Let’s talk about small ways to be happier today.

First of all, happiness can’t be bought. Happiness has to come from within. No one can tell you how to be happier because there are so many different ways to be happy. They all work differently.

What works for me might not work for you, and that’s fine. Yet, there are still fundamentals to take into account, and that’s what I’m talking about today. After all, they say that happiness is simple.

I believe that to feel good about yourself, you need to develop healthy habits in the first place. It’s actually not as hard as it sounds. It will take only one step—you have to decide that you want to live a happier life. Everything else comes naturally.

They also say that happiness is a choice, and I believe that to be true. Make focusing on your personal growth a priority. This way, it’s easier for you to also incorporate some happiness tips into your daily routine. That’s actually what this post is about.

a pin for a blog post that talks about small ways to be happier this year

This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you click on a link and purchase something I recommend, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The best tips to follow for a happy life

1. Get some motivation

For some people, positivity comes naturally. Yet some of us need to work harder to maintain positivity. If you want to have a better life, you need to feed your mind with positivity. The more positivity you try to absorb, the more positive things you’ll attract into your life.

It’s actually connected with the law of attraction. You will attract happiness if you are happy. We tend to attract people who are like us, and our thoughts tend to attract similar results.

That’s why it’s so important to keep yourself motivated. I found a lot of useful tips in the book “Secret,” and it totally changed my outlook on life.

To get some motivation, don’t be afraid to use some outside resources. You can listen to a motivational speech or a podcast. It will help you get your mind off of negative thoughts. This way, you’ll actually get new ideas on how to change your life for the better.

It will also boost your mood and motivate you to work harder because you’ll hear about what can actually be done. I love TED Talks, as they’re packed with educational information as well.

If you don’t like podcasts, you can also read personal development books that motivate and encourage you. Reading broadens your knowledge and helps you be the best version of yourself.

2. Spend some time alone

I know what you’re thinking. “But other people will get mad if I spend too much time alone!”

Don’t be a people-pleaser. It’s absolutely okay to spend some time alone, and no one should criticize you for that. You and your mental health should be your number one priority.

By being alone, you’ll learn to understand your feelings better. This way, you’ll also understand how to be a happier person because you’ll know what to avoid and what to pursue.

Trust me, you don’t need validation from other people. As I mentioned, happiness is simple. You have to learn how to fall in love with yourself first. Self-love is not selfish.

It’s actually one of those small ways to be happier this year. By loving yourself, you’re not relying on other people. You’ll be more confident in yourself and your abilities.

Think about it. How can you truly love other people if you don’t know how to love yourself?

You should also acknowledge that we all have not-so-good times, and that’s okay. That’s why it’s really important to do some self-reflection every now and then. It helps us understand what triggers us and how we can avoid those things.

3. The path to happiness? Positivity

If you’re looking for ways to better yourself, make sure to be positive. Be kind to people and treat them with respect. Be kind to yourself as well. Be proud of yourself and your achievements, because you’re doing the best you can.

As I mentioned, positivity isn’t something that comes naturally to all of us. I mean, you have to choose to be positive. Choosing is the first step toward living a happy life. If you don’t work toward it, it just won’t happen.

You should find things that lead you down a path of happiness and do them. Find positivity in small things, such as drinking your morning coffee or being able to breathe in fresh, unpolluted air.

Also, identify things that don’t make you happy and drop them. Live your life exactly the way you want to live it. Choose to be happy.

Recognize that only you have the power to change your life. By accepting that, you are accepting more happiness into your life. It’s the law of attraction, remember?

4. Spend time with positive people

Choose wisely how you spend your time and who you spend it with. Instead of browsing on your phone, put it away and spend time with people who make you feel good. Social media and electronic devices might sometimes do you more harm than good.

You probably know that the people around you will have a huge impact on how you feel about yourself and your life. If you surround yourself with happy people, you’ll instantly feel happier.

Actually, I read that not spending enough time with your loved ones is among the worst things people regret not doing once they’re older.

I actually wrote a post about all the things you will regret not doing in life. Make sure to check it out if you want to live your life to the fullest.

5. Be active

It’s true that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but so does being active. To be happier, you should exercise regularly. Exercising increases your energy levels and helps you fight fatigue. I mean, it has so many health benefits, so there’s absolutely no reason not to exercise.

Exercising releases endorphins in your body. Endorphins are natural stress relievers that boost your mood and improve your self-esteem.

By “exercising regularly,” I don’t mean doing a vigorous workout every day. You can go for a 30-minute walk outside, and you’ll already feel better. And if you’re like me, you can grab a coffee later, sit down, and just watch people.

It actually helps me to realize that other people are facing problems as well and that I’m not alone in this. My situation, whatever it is, could actually be much worse. I have a lot to be thankful for.

6. Stick to your routines

Sticking to your routines means having balance. For me, it’s a great way to help yourself find happiness. With strict routines in place, I’ll prevent unexpected things from happening. It means I’ll avoid stress, and I can focus on things that really matter.

If you want some ideas on how to come up with proper routines, I’ve written blog posts about proven morning routine tips to transform your day and proven tips for a productive night routine. There, I’ll share my bulletproof tips on how to come up with routines that will help you be more productive and achieve more.

7. Pretend this day is your last one

It might sound morbid, but if you live every day like it’s your last one, you’ll achieve much more because you don’t want to miss out on certain things. Sadly enough, knowing that you don’t have much time left motivates you to push harder.

You’ll also realize how much you have to be thankful for. Never take anything or anyone for granted, because life can change in an instant. Happiness is simple if you put things into perspective. The things you have might be the things someone else is actually praying for.

8. Practice and show gratitude

Try to make it a daily habit to write down three things you are grateful for. It’s impossible to feel so down when you’re counting your blessings.

After all, gratitude means focusing on what you have instead of what you don’t have. Celebrate the small things and small wins, and you’ll instantly feel more grateful.

Meditating helps you stay calm and keeps you focused, but it’s also a bulletproof way to help yourself find happiness. How so? Well, mindful meditation is a proven way to connect yourself with your body and mind. So, it reduces your stress and increases your happiness.

9. Quit toxic habits

There are a lot of simple things that make you happy, and then there are things you do that make you unhappy. Toxic habits belong to those things.

Toxic habits are the things you do (and might not even be aware of them) that decrease your quality of life in the long run. They will just make you miserable.

If you’re more interested in this topic, make sure to read my blog about toxic habits that are 100% ruining your life. These are simple things that can be avoided, but they’ll have a huge impact on your quality of life.

The worst toxic habit is comparing yourself to other people. It’s pointless because everyone’s path is different. The only person you should compare yourself to is the person you once were. Someone else’s success is not your failure.

Stop doubting yourself by stopping the negative thoughts in your head. You can achieve whatever you set your mind to.

Also, don’t take criticism personally because what other people say has nothing to do with you. They do not know what’s best for you. However, constructive criticism can help you better yourself.

And finally, stop procrastinating (here’s how). What’s interesting is that a study shows that depression and procrastination are linked. The more depressed we are, the more we procrastinate, and vice versa.

So, whatever your goal is, start working on it now! Don’t give yourself time to make excuses. Remember, it’s better to try and fail than to look back on your life later and regret never trying.

10. Treat yourself

If you want to be on the path to happiness, you have to acknowledge that you deserve to treat yourself. Treating yourself doesn’t only mean taking a bubble bath and listening to soothing music. There’s so much more to nurturing yourself.

To be happier, you should constantly take care of both your mind and body. Have a proper self-care routine in place. Invest in yourself using these 15 easy self-investment tips. Make sure to get enough sleep, as it plays a huge part in your overall well-being.

Besides, spoiling yourself makes you happier as well. It basically boosts your self-esteem. Think about it. How do you feel after buying a new lipstick or a new dress? Good, right?

11. Replay happy memories

When I’m thinking about how to find happiness in yourself, I immediately think about the Harry Potter books. If you’ve read them, then you know that to cast a Patronus spell, you need to concentrate on a powerful and happy memory.

That’s what I also try to do in my daily life. I reflect on those happy memories I’ve made. I do not dwell on them. I like living in the present, but thinking about them every now and then gives me a boost of happiness.

I strongly believe that positive thoughts attract positive things, and negative thoughts attract negative things. Replaying your happy memories certainly can’t hurt you.

12. Get rid of stress in your life

Getting rid of stress is one of the best small ways to be happier. Actually, getting rid of stress doesn’t only mean avoiding things that stress you. Sometimes, all you need to do is face your fears and analyze the cause behind them (here’s how).

The things that cause you stress might actually not cause you stress. What causes stress is your fear of these things. Let me explain how I approach this idea. It might not apply to everything, but at least that’s what I think.

If I’m afraid of an upcoming job interview, does that mean I’m really afraid of the interview itself? Or maybe I’m afraid that I’m not qualified enough. Or what if I fail or make a stupid mistake?

So, to avoid the stress that comes with job interviews, I need to work on myself first. If I’m confident enough in myself and my skills, these situations won’t stress me. That’s why it’s really important to focus on personal growth, as it helps you be happier.

However, not all stressful situations can be approached this way. If your neighbor is listening to music very loudly and it’s stressing you out, just trying to think about why it stresses you won’t help much.

Or if your job is stressing you out and you’re experiencing burnout, it’s sometimes better to just start looking for a new job and quit your current one. Don’t settle for things that don’t make you happy.

I want you to analyze things that you think stress you. Think about why they stress you and how to get rid of them. Maybe you don’t need to get rid of them, but you do need to change your thought patterns. It’s not going to be easy, but then again, if it helps you grow, go for it.

13. Live with less

I’m going to repeat it again. Happiness is simple. Happiness lies in small things. To understand that, try to live with less. This is my last piece of advice about what to do to be happier. It’s so simple, yet so effective. You don’t need material possessions to be happy.

Living with less helps you focus on things that really matter. The things that matter are usually the things that make you happier. Use these tips to mentally and physically simplify your life. By decluttering your personal space, you are also decluttering your mind and striving for inner peace.