How to be happier? science answers

Joy is one of the most valued positive emotions. Who does not like to surround themselves with optimistic people who live life with joy? Although they say that joy is contagious, it has a lot to do with the habits that a person has and the way they think.

• Related article: "People Who Transmit Positive Energy Share These 9 Traits"

How to be happier, according to science

Both happiness and joy have been the subject of scientific study on multiple occasions since arouse great interest not only among psychologists, sociologists or doctors, but in any being human.

In this article you can find a series of tips or keys that will allow you to generate a positive attitude to help you change the perspective of your life. We show you below.

1. Work in what you like and close to home

Work is a very important aspect of our well-being, as we spend many hours of the day in the company where we work. In fact, it is a fundamental pillar of professional development of a human being, and something that can make us really happy if we work on what we really want

. Finding what motivates you and fighting for it keeps you happy and upbeat.

Being well at work affects our daily life, and it is important that there is a good balance between work and family life. In addition, a study carried out by Yeo Valley found that people who live close to their work are much happier than those who spend more than 20 minutes to get to the company.

2. Become an emotionally intelligent person

Research suggests that emotionally intelligent people are much happier and more joyful, with greater well-being and self-esteem. Well, they are individuals who know themselves well, regulate their emotions and adapt them to the context in which they find themselves, they master social skills that allow them to create healthy affective bonds and have a greater capacity for self-motivation.

In addition, these types of people accept their emotions as they are, and better overcome difficult situations that life can present to them. The good thing about this is that emotional intelligence can be learned, and for this reason there are many courses or workshops that help individuals improve their well-being. In the article "The 6 best Emotional Intelligence and Personal Development courses” you can find a selection with the most useful training to acquire the emotional and relational management skills necessary to improve your level of joy.

3. Go to the street

Going outside brings many health benefits, especially if we take advantage of it to walk. You can check it in the article “The psychological benefits of walking”.

Going outside is very good to clear your mind and breathe fresh air. Studies suggest that sunlight makes us happier, as it stimulates the production of vitamin D, which in turn increases the performance of the enzyme responsible for converting tryptophan to serotonin. Serotonin is known as the happiness hormone..

• To know more: “Serotonin: discover the effects of this hormone on your body and mind”

5. Surround yourself with people with optimism and a positive mindset.

Friends are one of the keys to happiness, and surrounding yourself with positive people too. Who does not like to spend good times in good company? A study conducted by the BMJ Group states that surrounding yourself with happy people is contagious, because you end up breathing the same enthusiastic and positive air. Also, we all like to surround ourselves with happy people with a good sense of humor.

6. Do physical exercise

To affirm that physical exercise is beneficial for our health is nothing new. But in addition to the benefits that physical activity can have on our body or our body aesthetics, it also helps us to be happier.

The reason for this is that when we exercise, we release neurochemicals such as serotonin or endorphins, which help us feel more relaxed and improve our mood and perception of life.

7. live in the present

Being in the here and now, without future worries and unrealistic expectations, makes us happier. In fact, there are many forms of psychological therapy that seek that patients focus on the here and now and connect with yourself, leaving anticipatory anxiety behind. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is an example.

Although it seems simple, learning to live in the present is not easy. In the article "How to live in the present moment, in 7 psychological keys” We give you some tips so you can achieve it.

8. Listen to music

Music has a great effect on our emotions and our motivation and, in general, on our mind and our behavior. In this sense, there are many studies that have tried to find out more about the effect that music has on us.

On the one hand, a study by Saarikallio and Erkkila in 2008 found that studying music can make us happier. by affecting our mood and state of mind. Likewise, another investigation, this time carried out by Lonsdale and North (2010) verified that music helps us manage and control negative emotional states.

9. Spend more time with your loved ones

Family and friends bring happiness to your life and make you more joyful. According to a study published in the book The Longevity Project, close people, such as family and friends, are essential to living a long and happy life.

10. Travels

Traveling is enriching, but it also makes you happier. But scientific studies affirm that it is not the trip itself that makes us happier, but planning it. This is what can be deduced from the results of an investigation by Dr. Jeroen Nalwun, a professor at the University of Breda (Holland). According to the researcher, "planning vacations causes a greater degree of joy and happiness due to the effect of anticipating good times what awaits us."