{"id":4333,"date":"2025-09-29T19:31:07","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T19:31:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/aging\/health\/these-7-small-habits-can-have-a-big-impact-on-your-happiness\/"},"modified":"2025-09-29T19:31:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T19:31:08","slug":"these-7-small-habits-can-have-a-big-impact-on-your-happiness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/aging\/health\/these-7-small-habits-can-have-a-big-impact-on-your-happiness\/","title":{"rendered":"These 7 Small Habits Can Have a Big Impact On Your Happiness"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When you\u2019re stressed out about everything that’s happening\u2014whether it’s in your inner world or your external surroundings\u2014it’s easy to forget how to be happy. But happiness isn\u2019t a given, so you have to make an intentional choice to pursue joy. While that can feel overwhelming, new research suggests you don\u2019t need to make huge moves to infuse more happiness in your life; even seemingly tiny gestures can go a long way.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Of course, happiness and joy are an important part of your health. \u201cIt\u2019s actually vital for our well-being,\u201d says Darwin Guevarra, PhD, lead study author and an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Miami University. \u201cWhen people feel joy, they tend to manage stress better, feel more connected to others, and find more meaning in everyday life. It\u2019s one of those emotions that helps us bounce back and thrive, even when things are tough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, our brains tend to focus on the negative, says Aaron Brinen, PsyD, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. \u201cOftentimes, we are really good at remembering all of the bad things that happen in our lives\u2014every bad choice we make, we hold onto for weeks, months, and even years. But the good things float away like balloons,\u201d he notes.<\/p>\n

Given how vital happiness and joy are to your health, it\u2019s kind of important to harness that feel-good power when you can, points out Thea Gallagher, PsyD, a clinical assistant professor at NYU Langone Health and a cohost of the Mind in View<\/em> podcast. Luckily, some of that is in your control. \u201cThe lens through which we see the world is important,\u201d Gallagher says.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sure, you can\u2019t really dictate what\u2019s happening with global news or how other people interact with you at any given moment. But a new study suggests that you can make small moves to influence your own levels of joy and maybe even have a positive impact on the happiness of people around you. Here\u2019s the deal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What did the study find?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The study, which was published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research<\/em>, recruited nearly 17,600 people across 169 countries and territories from 2022 to 2024. Participants were asked to follow a web-based weeklong well-being intervention called the Big Joy Project. The project took just five to 10 minutes out of the day, and it had a big impact, as the results show.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As part of the project, participants were asked to do daily micro-acts, like asking people to share a fun, inspiring, or proud moment, making a gratitude list, or doing something kind for another person.\u00a0<\/p>\n

After seven days, the researchers discovered that participants reported having higher levels of well-being and positive emotions, along with a stronger belief that their own behavior could support happiness. The participants also reported having lower stress levels and better sleep quality after the project ended.<\/p>\n

The researchers also found that there was a clear link between how often people engaged in these acts. Turns out, people who did these microacts more often ended up having bigger gains in their overall happiness levels.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt might sound simple, but doing something kind for someone else\u2026shifts your attention away from your own stress and helps you feel more connected and purposeful. That\u2019s a powerful combination,\u201d Dr. Guevarra says.\u00a0<\/p>\n

7 habits that can boost happiness<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Dr. Guevarra stresses that there\u2019s not \u201cone big fix\u201d when it comes to increasing feelings of happiness. \u201cWhat really matters is building in small moments that bring you joy,\u201d he says. If you\u2019re uncertain where to start, experts recommend considering the following strategies to support your happiness, and who knows, maybe even help the people you interact with regularly.\u00a0<\/p>\n

1. Write someone a thank you message<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Dr. Guevarra explains that telling someone thank you<\/em> is a good place to start. It can be as quick as texting a friend to thank them for listening when you needed someone to talk to the other day, or writing your mom a thank you note out of the blue for always being there. \u201cIt can actually give you a big emotional boost,\u201d Dr. Guevarra says. \u201cIt shifts your attention away from your own stress and helps you feel more connected and purposeful.\u201d<\/p>\n