HEALTH + FITNESS
Five Things to Give Up to Live a Happier Life
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If you ask most people what they want from life, many will answer “I just want to be happy.” But sometimes happiness can seem elusive, however there are steps we can take to start on a happiness journey. Here are five things you can give up today to help you lead a happier life.
Not Being Ourselves
Living in-authentically can lead to unhappiness and trying to be someone you’re not isn’t going to make you happy. You can’t fully change who you are, so forget trying to create an outside image that isn’t really you and just be yourself.
Living in the Past, Worrying About the Future
Spending too much time living and focusing on the past can make us miss out on the present. While it’s ok to look back on happy memories, it’s important to let go of any baggage from the past we are holding on to. Same goes for looking too far ahead into the future. Constantly worrying about what the future holds can lead to anxiety and stress, so try to live for the present and focus on the here and now. Practicing meditation can help with developing mindfulness.
Comparing Ourselves to Others
There are always going to be people who smarter, better looking, richer and more successful than we are so quit comparing yourself to others. While it’s great to want to be a better person, focus instead on setting goals to help you achieve what you want to achieve instead of comparing yourself to others, which only helps in lowering self-esteem.
Spending Too Much Time on Social Media
Spending too much time on social media can lead to depression and unhappiness. While part of it goes along with comparing our lives to the unrealistic portrayals on Facebook and Instagram, the constant barrage of news, posts, negative content and vitriolic comments can play havoc with happiness. So take time to take a break from social media throughout the week. This is especially important in the morning, which is when we should be setting our mind-set for the day. Immediately jumping on social media first thing when we wake up can set us up for feeling unhappy.
Spending Money on Material Objects
Instead of ploughing money into unnecessary material objects, spend those funds on experiences with loved ones, which studies show have a more profound effect on our happiness. While buying that new pair of shoes may give us an instant jolt of euphoria, that feeling won’t last, whereas the memory of sharing experiences with friends and family will. Materialism not only has a negative effect on our finances, studies show that living with too much clutter can be physically draining and even lead to depression and anxiety.
