Happiness & Mental Well-Being: 6 Daily Habits for a Better Life

What Does Happiness Mean to You?
Is it a destination, or is it a continuous chase?

Many see happiness as a destination—something we reach by making the right choices, learning from mistakes, and saying, ‘I’ll be happy when…’ But once we get the dream job, house, or partner, is life truly complete?

What happens after?

Are we left satisfied with what we have achieved, or does it leave us chasing the next big thing?

Happiness isn’t about endlessly chasing new goals because it only leaves you wanting more, but never feeling satisfied.

Instead, take a moment to look around—you may already be finding joy in small daily habits without even realizing it. Often, it’s the simplest actions that make the biggest difference.

No matter what happiness looks like for you, there’s always room for small changes that can make a big difference in how you feel.

What happiness can look like

Happiness looks different for everyone.

Often created in the smallest and most unexpected ways. While some people believe happiness comes from achieving big goals, the truth is that it’s more about how you live your day-to-day life.

Here are a few ways people cultivate it:

• Surrounding yourself with people you love
• Doing activities that bring you joy
• Practicing self-care
• Showing kindness
• Eating your favourite foods
• Being creative
• Decluttering your bedroom after weeks of not doing so ( admit it, we have all been there)

According to Healthline, we feel joy in our bodies because of the release of dopamine and serotonin, which are both heavily associated with happiness (in fact, people with clinical depression often have lower levels of serotonin).

The good news?

You don’t need a drastic lifestyle change for these feel-good neurotransmitters to do their job. By incorporating small, simple, yet effective habits into your daily routine, you’re already on your way to experiencing more joy in everyday life.

Here are 20 easy small habits that will make you happier every day.

6 Simple Daily Habits

1. Why sleep is important for happiness

Waking up on the right side of the bed

This isn’t just a saying—it’s a fact.

Did you know that getting at least seven hours of sleep is key to feeling your best? If you find yourself sluggish throughout the day, fighting the urge to nap, that’s your body’s way of telling you it needs more rest.

But sleep does more than recharge your energy. Not getting enough sleep increases your risk of developing depression by up to five times.

Your brain uses this time to process emotions and thoughts. When you don’t get enough rest, your mind struggles to react in a balanced way, leading to heightened negative emotions, stress, and irritability.

Not sure how much sleep you need? Healthline offers a helpful sleep calculator to guide you.

Struggle with falling asleep? Check out my blog: 7 Most Beneficial Secrets for Better Rest.

2. Why self-care is essential for a happier life

Taking time to look after yourself is often neglected.

Many, including myself, even feel guilty for prioritizing self-care, as if loving ourselves is somehow selfish.

Self-love is not selfish; you cannot truly love another until you know how to love yourself

Rupi Kaur

But self-care goes beyond appearances. It’s about nurturing a deeper connection with yourself and understanding your needs.

Self-care doesn’t require expensive products.

Simple actions and routines like:

• having a hot shower/bath at the end of the day
• messaging your head with one of those amazing head massages (love those!)
• Moisturizing your skin
• Strolling through nature
• catching up on lost sleep

can be the perfect start.

Whatever makes you feel more at one with yourself is what you should prioritize. Plan some time in the day when you only focus solely on me, myself, and I. This is your time.

This is your time. The world can wait

Do you have any self-care practices that help you reconnect with yourself? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!

3. How daily Affirmations are mood boosters

Be yourself; everyone else is already taken

Oscar Wilde

Many of us start the day scrolling through social media, checking emails, and replying to messages—before even getting out of bed! But this habit exposes us to stress right away.

Instead of wasting time comparing your life to the filtered ‘perfect’ lives online, try something different.

Get up, get ready, walk over to the mirror, and look yourself in the eyes. Say one (or more) affirmations out loud. Yes out loud. This way it becomes ‘real’ and more meaningful.

Affirmations have been shown to boost self-esteem and increase feelings of harmony, happiness, and optimism. It may feel a little strange at first, but over time, these simple words can have a powerful impact on how you see yourself and the world around you.

4. Can Smiling Trick Your Brain Into Happiness?

It might feel odd to look at yourself in the mirror and say affirmations. But instead of letting that discomfort show, try this:

Fake it till you make it.

Mentalbeings

Smiling is a small but powerful act that can shift your mindset. Even if it feels forced at first, studies show that smiling—whether genuine or not—can boost your mood by triggering the release of feel-good hormones like dopamine and serotonin.

Think of it as a trick for your brain.

The more you practice, the more natural it becomes. Over time, a forced smile can become genuine, and those affirmations you once doubted feel believable.

5. Acknowledge the unhappy moments

Life isn’t linear. There will also be roadblocks along the way. But that’s part of living.

No one can be happy 100% of the time, and trying to force constant positivity can be exhausting. Don’t push away difficult emotions—let yourself feel them.

Sadness, frustration, or overwhelm don’t mean failure; they mean you’re human.

Try acknowledging them without judgment. Let yourself sit with your emotions, knowing they will pass.

Growth doesn’t just happen in the good times; it happens in the tough ones too.

6. Surround yourself with nature

Research shows that people who feel more connected to nature tend to live happier lives. Spending time outdoors helps clear your mind, and allows you to be vulnerable, and just be.

Whenever I feel stressed, tired, or simply need some ‘me time,’ I take a long, mindful walk through nature—it never fails to reset my mood.

It also has a powerful effect on anxiety and depression, thanks to sunlight exposure. Sunlight helps your brain release serotonin, the hormone that boosts mood and promotes calmness and focus.

So, get your butt moving!

Go for a walk in nature, and if you live in a city, even a stroll through the streets can do the trick. The key is to step outside and reconnect with the world around you. (not the world of your phone)

What small daily habit makes you happiest? Share your thoughts in the comments!