SurvivingInfidelity.com Forum Archives

phmh posted 1/15/2014 17:38 PM

I read this at work today and thought it might be helpful for some to read:

http://www.fastcompany.com/3015486/how-to-be-a-success-at-everything/10-simple-science-backed-ways-to-be-happier-today

The 10 science-backed ways to be happier today (there is more info behind each of these at the link):

1. Exercise more
2. Sleep more
3. Move closer to work
4. Spend time with friends and family

In fact, one quote from #4 really struck me, so that I wrote it in my important quotes list that I keep at my desk:

"We are happy when we have family, we are happy when we have friends and almost all the other things we think make us happy are actually just ways of getting more family and friends." Daniel Gilbert

5. Go outside
6. Help others
7. Practice smiling
8. Plan a trip
9. Meditate - rewire your brain for happiness
10. Practice gratitude

I have incorporated most of these into my NB, but I'm going to work on incorporating even more!

[This message edited by phmh at 5:39 PM, January 15th (Wednesday)]

notmeanymore posted 1/15/2014 18:13 PM

Love this.

I can't do much about number 3 right now though!

IrishLass518 posted 1/15/2014 23:01 PM

Love this list and I can say from experience that I really enjoy spending the time with my family and friends now that I have the choice.

Sad in AZ posted 1/15/2014 23:08 PM

So very true; happiness is a state of mind, not something to be quantified. You will find people who are happy because they have a cardboard box to live in. Conversely, you'll find people who are unhappy in mansions.

Rock on, phmh

Bebba1171 posted 1/16/2014 08:41 AM

Great post!

Crescita posted 1/16/2014 10:42 AM

Thanks for sharing this phmh!

I'm a bit in conflict over #3 and #4, my friends and family keep moving further from my work. I think I'm more inclined to be social when I live closer to my social circle so commuting one way or the other is inevitable unless I change careers or make new friends.

InnerLight posted 1/16/2014 22:54 PM

I think my XH was unhappy in our marriage because his commute to work was too long. He found a woman who lived near his job.

I agree with all these things mostly. I live far from some of my jobs and I'm still happy.

I really love the work of Barbara Frederikson phd which is related. She studies the effects of certain practices on happiness and health. She has 2 books out and a website where you can track your ratio of positive to negative thoughts. You aim for 3 positives to one negative. Somehow she has found some scientific way to quantify this.

I think it's positivityresonance.com

InnerLight posted 1/16/2014 22:55 PM

double post

[This message edited by InnerLight at 10:55 PM, January 16th (Thursday)]

seekingright2013 posted 1/18/2014 08:57 AM

Terrific post !!! Very inspiring. It's good for me to look at this list and think what I could be practicing on improving.

Also thanks @ IL for the positivity link :)

[This message edited by seekingright2013 at 8:58 AM, January 18th (Saturday)]