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Are you lacking that spring in your step?
Do you feel like life is just passing you by?
In our go-go-go world, it can be hard to stop and find the energy and motivation to take control of your own happiness.
But here’s the good news, there are dozens of proven “happiness hacks” out there that have been scientifically tested and backed up through research.
These tips can help add some joy back into your life so you can live more happily each day.
So, if you’re ready for a change, let’s dive right into 21 of the best-kept happiness hacks around the world.
Try them out today to unlock fresh perspective and newfound contentment!
#1. Maintain Your Friendships (And Look For New Ones)
Making friends as a child or adolescent is easy. This is because you’re with a ton of other kids with who you’re likely to have something in common.
But once you get older and leave social places like school, you’ll find that meeting new people becomes increasingly difficult.
More important to note is that some people will drift apart as they encounter more life situations like marriage, childbirth, or even just balancing jobs. Take care to maintain your friendships now and look for new ones where possible.
This will prevent you from dealing with loneliness as you grow older.
#2. Make Time For Things You Love Doing
Some people think that growing up means abandoning all hobbies in pursuit of responsibility. However, this isn’t true. Make time for the things you love doing to maintain your peace and happiness.
Most importantly, don’t worry about what others have to say about your hobbies if they aren’t as popular as others. Do what you love regardless of what anyone has to say.
#3. Don’t Chase Perfection
I agree! Younger people tend to want to get everything perfect. After all, they’re told that minor mistakes can make all the difference in whether or not a development works out in their favor. The good news?
Good enough is often good enough. You could miss potential opportunities if you waste time worrying about perfecting everything.
Even worse, you could slow your progress or even second-guess yourself to the point where you give up entirely.
#4. Build An Emergency Fund
If you’re living paycheck to paycheck, all it takes is one unforeseen expense to put you in debt and potentially change your life.
That’s why emergency funds are so important these days. Aptly named, an emergency fund is to help you cover expenses that pop up unexpectedly.
This could include everything from job loss to car maintenance. When you have an emergency fund, you can rest a little easier. No matter your goal, start putting your money in an account for when you need it.
#5. Don’t Care So Much About What People Think of You
Everyone judges. That’s a part of life. However, some people are overly-conscious of what others think of them. Younger people may not know that not many people in public are paying that much attention to you.
They’re often too busy with their lives that they don’t take much notice of what’s going on around them.
Don’t worry about what others might think. Live your life, and those who are meant to be in it will inevitably come.
#6. Forgive Early
Another lesson to learn early? Forgiveness.
Forgiving others for your own peace and sanity can help you avoid a lot of unnecessary anger and resentment in the future.
#7. Learn How To De-Stress And Cope With Life
Growing up often means learning that life has its fair share of challenges to throw your way. Now is the time to learn the skills that will help you become more resilient and navigate them without being significantly impacted.
Start to look for stress busters that can help you breathe easier and shake off the various stressors of the day.
Develop coping mechanisms to help you better process and deal with any difficult developments. The more you have in your toolbelt, the better off you’ll be.
#8. Figure Out What Matters Most To You Early On
Life goes by in a blink, especially when you’re young. By the time you know it, you’re a grown-up and expected to figure out exactly how you want your life to go.
One way to make this process easier is to figure out what matters most to you.
What are your values? What do you want to do in life that would offer you fulfillment? What are your goals and objectives, and why do you want to achieve them? Figuring out what matters to you and creating a plan of action can carry you far.
#9. Social Media Isn’t Real
We live in a digital age, and as a result, many people live their lives online. Seeing other people on social media might make you feel discontent with your own life. However, social media is often an illusion.
People with these glamorous lives are typically influencers who are getting paid to pretend they have it all together.
No matter where you are in life, you’re doing fine and can always change course in the future.
#10. Choose People Wisely
This piece of advice can pertain to both partners and friends. People can have a massive impact on the course of your life.
You always want to spend time with those who make you happy, support you, and otherwise encourage you to make good decisions as you age.
Don’t be afraid to let go of people who don’t fit these standards or act in ways that harm you. Choose who you love to be around and who enriches your life.
#11. Start Investing For Retirement Now
It’s easier said than done, but it’s worth noting that the sooner you invest, the better. Like most things in life, retirement requires more and more money.
Many people who were never able to save and eventually reached retirement age without any type of investment to rely on inevitably regret not saving.
No matter what you’re able to stash away, create a plan so that you’re contributing to this future fund. Something is always better than nothing.
#12. Take Good Care Of Your Teeth
Dental care is expensive, and health insurance does not cover it. For some people, dental care may even be a luxury. If you’re not taking care of your teeth now, it can result in many costly procedures later on, including needing dental implants.
One person with this experience said, “Take care of your teeth. This is the only set you’re ever going to have and you don’t want to neglect them and mess them up like I did.
I’ve got tons of fillings which don’t last forever and need replacement. A filling isn’t as good as the real thing and filled teeth can break, requiring crowns. I have two and it sucks.”
#13. Focus On Developing Kindness
There’s a lot of ugliness in the world, but there’s also a lot of good. Try to be kinder to others and look for opportunities to help people around you.
Kindness not only impacts others positively, but it can help you step outside yourself and impact you as well.
#14. Tackle Debt As Soon As Possible
More and more young people are finding it increasingly hard financially to navigate today’s world. Between the high cost of education, low wages, and inflation, affording everything can be challenging. This often leads to high amounts of debt they have to carry.
If you have extra money, dedicate it to paying off your debts as soon as possible, especially if they affect your credit score.
Debt can be a looming specter that affects multiple areas of your life. The sooner it’s taken care of, the easier you’ll be able to breathe.
#15. Invest In Higher Quality Products
Low-quality goods dominate today’s world. After all, why spend big bucks when you can easily throw $20 or less at something and solve the issue?
You’ll discover as you grow up and do this that the cheaper items rarely last as long as you need them to. Take, for example, a cheap pair of boots.
Sure, they may help you keep your feet protected for a bit, but they will fall apart in less than a year. That’s the intent, so you can keep returning and buying the same boots.
However, investing $100 in a high-quality pair of boots will last you much longer. Invest in high-quality items that will last, so you save money and surround yourself with good things you love.
#16. Ask For Help And Advice When You Need It
Staunch individualism has led to many people being afraid to ask for help. They might be seen as weak or look like they don’t know what they’re doing. However, most of us don’t know what we’re doing.
That’s what navigating life is all about. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Instead, working together and asking for help from others when you need it is a sign of strength and wisdom.
No matter what it is, you require assistance with, see if someone might be able to change your situation and improve your life.
#17. Be More Diligent About Your Health
Younger people who have excellent health naturally feel invincible. They may not focus on good health habits because there’s no incentive.
The reality? Choices made now can significantly impact your health in the future.
Whether it’s drinking more water, eating healthier, or even making a greater effort to exercise throughout the week, focus on better health habits now to set yourself up for a healthier future.
#18. It’s Usually Never as Bad as it Seems
We have a tendency to think something is the worst thing that could happen to us and it’s usually not.
Or we fear the outcome of something because we think of the worst possible outcome, which rarely comes true.
The more you can let go of this feeling, the happier you will be.
#19. Take Opportunities As They Come To You
It’s important to preface this by saying that not all opportunities will be good. However, you should not ignore those that are compelling.
If you can go somewhere or do something you’ve always wanted to do, seize it. Life, as you know, will always be there when you return.
However, the opportunity to do the thing may not come until much later, if at all. Life is all about chance and risk, and sometimes pursuing these things is a good thing.
#20. Learn How To Become More Self-Reliant
These days there’s a subscription or service for everything. If you want food, you can have it shipped to your door. You can get a bespoke fashion box if you don’t want to shop for clothes.
The problem? These types of services are often quite expensive.
You’re missing out on many opportunities to save money and develop skills that will be helpful to you throughout your life. Of course, self-reliance can look like any number of things.
Some people will learn how to cook, while others will learn how to grow their own fruit and vegetables. Whatever it may be, look for ways to learn how to support yourself better.
#21. Go To Therapy If You Can Afford It
Talking about mental health has become more widely accepted. However, some may believe that mental illness doesn’t exist or that it’s a weakness in character.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of a mental health issue, do what you must and seek help.
Even if you do not have a mental illness, therapy can provide insights into your mind and help you navigate life more easily. Overall, therapy can be helpful for a wide range of people in their formative years.
Learn When Life Gives You Lemons
Nothing in life always works out perfectly.
Many times we hit rough patches where everything goes wrong. Learn how to handle these situations and come out better on the other side.
10 Choices You Will Regret In 10 Years
We all make choices in life. Some turn out to be smart ones, and others, well, not so much.
Here are 10 bad choices that if you make them today, you will regret them in 10 years.
10 CHOICES YOU WILL REGRET IN 10 YEARS
Easy Self Improvement Tips
Self improvement can be overwhelming, but it is possible with the right tips to get you started.
27 SELF IMPROVEMENT TIPS TO HELP YOU BE BETTER
Discover How To Jumpstart Your Life
Are you at a point in life where you are in a funk? You just can’t seem to catch a break or take that next step to greater success and jumpstart your life?
Here are the questions to ask yourself to flip the switch on life and get more out of it.
10 QUESTIONS TO JUMPSTART YOUR LIFE
Become A Better Person
Are you looking to make positive changes in your life, but feeling unsure where to start? Becoming a better version of yourself is not only possible, it’s also a much more attainable goal than you might think.
It’s all about learning from your mistakes, allowing yourself space for self-reflection, and making positive changes to help you reach your potential.
LEARN HOW TO BECOME A BETTER PERSON
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Jon Dulin is the passionate leader of Unfinished Success, a personal development website that inspires people to take control of their own lives and reach their full potential. His commitment to helping others achieve greatness shines through in everything he does. He’s an unstoppable force with lots of wisdom, creativity, and enthusiasm – all focused on helping others build a better future. Jon enjoys writing articles about productivity, goal setting, self-development, and mindset. He also uses quotes and affirmations to help motivate and inspire himself. You can learn more about him on his About page.