by Lachlan Brown

Want to be happier?

Then you’re in the right place because today I’m going to show you 5 proven strategies that will lift your mood and improve your wellbeing.

The best part?

All of these strategies are backed by science.

Let’s dive right in.

Mood lifting strategy #1: Be optimistic

Attitude is perhaps the most important step in making yourself happy.

According to this scientific study, you can literally think yourself to happiness.

Of course, a change in attitude isn’t exactly easy. If your mind is trained to respond to life pessimistically, then it won’t be exactly quick, or easy, to change that to be optimistic.

So what can you do?

Author Tony Wilkinson argues that happiness is about your reactions to events.

The best way to change your attitude is to mindfully watch your reactions to events and circumstances and adjust them to be more optimistic.

There’s a reason why people tell you to consider how you’re viewing the glass.

Seeing the world with a half-full attitude doesn’t mean you’re blinding yourself to the realities of life, either.

It just means you’re accepting reality as it is and adopting an optimistic view of that reality.

Mood lifting strategy #2: Be happy with what you have

Another important aspect of happiness is appreciating what you have right now.

So many of us desire more money, better relationships or more materials.

But by doing so, we fail to appreciate what we have right now.

This leaves us in a never-ending loop of desiring and constantly feeling disappointed when we don’t fulfill those desires.

An easy way to rectify this is to write down 3 things you’re grateful for each day.

By doing so, you’ll become more aware of how great your life is and that you don’t need more to be happy.

Mood lifting strategy #3: Exercise

Exercise has been proven to have a powerful effect on our mental states when we’re in a bad mood.

Research has shown that physically active people live happier lives.

Here’s what happens when you exercise: It increases endorphins and other feel-good brain chemicals.

It reduces stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline in the body. In fact, several studies have found that it’s even a proven remedy for both depression and anxiety.

So, what’s the best duration to workout for? According to research, people who exercise for 30 to 60 minutes 3 to 5 days a week get mental health benefits.

Research shows that even a short stroll can improve your mood.

Mood lifting strategy #4: Spend money on others

When you’re feeling down, we all have that urge of buying our favorite things to make us feel better.

But according to research, spending money on others actually makes you happier.

A 2008 study found that when they told participants to spend money on themselves compared to others, they were actually less happy.

However, when participants were instructed to spend money on others, they experienced a boost in their wellbeing.

In fact, according to Buddhism, one of the best personal development practices is helping others.

It helps you forget about your own problems and connect the powerful force of compassion.

Mood lifting strategy #5: Relationships

While many people say that money is a key to happiness, an intriguing Harvard study that ran for 75 years found something different.

By following 268 male Harvard undergraduates for 75 years, they found 2 pillars of happiness:

One is love. The other is finding a way of coping with life that does not push love away.

The study’s most important finding was that relationships are the only things that matter in life.

You could make lots of money, be successful, have good health, but without supportive, loving relationships, you’d be unhappy.

The ability to love truly is human’s greatest skill.

What do you do to lift your mood? Let us know in the comments!

Photos: Pexels