Get happier, get healthier

It’s a fact: The happier you are, the more likely you are to move more, get better sleep, and choose healthy foods. It works in reverse,
too: Healthy activities that feel good and inspire you to keep going with them can also feed your happiness.

Can you get happier? Yes! While a bit more than half of your happiness depends on genetics and your life circumstances (e.g., job, relationships), 40 percent comes out of what you do. Research has shown that certain small actions, done regularly, can give a lasting sense of joy and well-being. Some are extra powerful: acts of kindness toward others, focusing on your strengths, and expressing gratitude for everyday pleasures. Each can take just a few minutes—choose one to do often or switch them up. Practice gratitude to start:

WHAT TO DO
Three good things
1. Think of three good things you’ve experienced in the last 24 hours. They can be small, like having an excellent cup of coffee, or large, like getting a new car.
2. Write down each good thing, describing it in detail: where you were, who said what, time of day, etc.
3. Note how you felt during and after your experience of this good thing.

THIS WEEK
Practice gratitude
Choose three days to do the “three good things” technique.
Set a time and a place to do it—say, after dinner or before bed. Find a place to write your action plan.