By
A lot of the time, “do this and you’ll be happy” lists read like directions on how to make ice cubes. Like, duh, you should exercise and eat vegetables. But what else? A recent AskReddit thread prompted users to reveal the little things they do to make themselves happy every day. While they might not all be mind-blowing revelations, if even one of these tips helps make your day better, it was totally worth reading. These are the things happy people try to do every day:
1. If possible, don’t hold on to problems you can’t do anything about. “I don’t worry about things, don’t hold grudges, always look forward with an eye on solving problems rather than dwelling on them. It took me a long time to understand that for some people they don’t have that choice, that their anxieties don’t allow them to just let things go and move on.” —RyanLReviews
2. Wake up a few hours before you need to get ready for work so you can chill. “I work at 1 p.m. and always get up around 11–11:30 a.m.. I can’t even remember the last time I had to wake up to an alarm clock. I wake up feeling rested, take a shower, make breakfast, and dick around on the internet before work. I never feel rushed.” —beerfan1212
3. Keep track of all of the things you’re grateful for during your day. “Every night before going to sleep, I write a single thing that I was grateful for/happy about that happened that day. Ex: ‘Thank you for making the perfect bagel this morning’ or ‘Thank you for the strength to get out of bed today.’ Appreciating very little things on a day-to-day basis helps you see how many sources of happiness you can have.” —gabzilla325
4. Try to accept both the good and less good parts of yourself. “Yes, of course there are probably things about yourself that you can improve upon, but I think one of the most important aspects of being happy is recognizing your strengths/weaknesses, likes/dislikes, and being OK with all that.” —PM_ME_YOUR_KALE
5. Be honest about how you really feel as often as possible. “If I have a crush on someone, I tell them. If someone is making me uncomfortable, I tell them. If I love hanging out with someone, I tell them.” —DevOnDemand
6. Take a break from social media if it’s making you feel like garbage. “I stopped going on Facebook. Looking at the News Feed is so toxic. I went through some really crappy stuff a few months ago and looking at my feed just made me even more sad. I was basically comparing myself to my friends’ highlight reels. It’s a sure-fire way to get you down.” —shibbles_
7. Have faith that all the awful stuff that’s happening right now means something better will happen soon. “I’ve always learned that when shitty things are happening and continue to happen that something good is going to come my way soon and it usually does. So just keep your head up. Things can’t stay terrible forever.” —socal_girl13
8. Remember to celebrate the little things in life as much as the bigger things. “People often wait and expect for amazing things to happen and ignore all those small things. My cat looking at me relaxed and happy, or having a nice bubble bath. That is what makes me happy.” —Klavierente
9. Tell everyone around you how awesome you think they are. “When you think of something nice about someone, tell them! They feel loved and appreciated, and it gives you a sense of purpose and accomplishment.” —emgeeee
10. Laugh (and fart, apparently) as much as you can. “Laugh at as many things as you can, and fart proudly when you are alone.” —InvisibleInkling