5 Unusual Habits with the Power to Make You Happier
Life is basically just a bunch of habits. While very few people have the luxury of inventing a new routine every day, you probably still have the room to get into habits that have the potential to greatly enrich your lives.
The unusual habits we’re going to propose are uncommon but easy to internalize. A good part of your routine you learned without realizing it and never objectively analyzed their value. Do they make your life better, or are you doing them simply out of habit? Today we invite you to take a closer look at your day-to-day habits. Then, if you like, try some of these unusual yet powerful habits.
“The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.”
-Samuel Johnson-
1. Sleep in an empowering position
It might seem strange, but the positions you put your body in plays into your attitude. When you walk with your head down, you might be upset or fragile. However, walking like this actually reinforces those very emotions.
Believe it or not, the same is true when you’re asleep. If you curl up in the fetal position, for example, you will wake up feeling unmotivated and overwhelmed by the day. However, if you stretch out completely, you will probably have a more positive attitude when you wake up.
2. Have 3 positive experiences for every negative one
This is one unusual habit that we should all practice every day. It’s like it says: just have three positive experiences for every negative one you have. It’s that simple. The purpose is to clear your mind and soul of anything left over from a bad experience.
Negative experiences have an echo. And that echo can ruin your mood all day — or longer. When you compensate with three positive experiences, whatever is left of your bad experience disperses. Then you can back in balance.
3. Pretending to be happy
The brain is a mysterious, wonderful organ. It is also extremely creative. Under certain circumstances, it stops making a distinction between reality and fantasy. For example, when you go to see a sad movie, you know that it isn’t real, but your brain experiences it as if it happened in real life (via mirror neurons).
You can use this extraordinary mechanism in your favor. For example, pretend to be happy even if you aren’t. Pretend you’re playing the role of someone who is happy. You’ll be surprised to see what happens after a few days of “acting” this way.
4. Send nice emails for no reason
This unusual habit is so very powerful. It’s similar to number three in that you don’t have to feel good to have a positive attitude. If you’re feeling down, the best thing to do is make others feel good. Studies show that helping others is the best way to help yourself.
Giving heartfelt gifts enriches the lives of the givers. Just get into the habit of sending warm, positive messages to people you appreciate or love. Don’t send something generic; it should be personalized. This works especially well when you’re having a bad day.
5. Spend time outdoors
Nature has a powerful influence on our emotions. The effect is almost immediate. All you have to do is be somewhere green and you’ll experience its healing power on your mind and body.
It’s even better if you can walk barefoot in the grass or spend some time in the sun. If that’s not possible, a daily walk outside is still good for you. It will help you organize your ideas, relax your mind, and find balance.
What do you think of our 5 unusual habits? Not many people practice them, but the truth is that they’re missing out. If you want to be happier, they’re worth a shot. Make your life more meaningful.
