- [Narrator] Hello, Psych2Goers, welcome back.
Mika Beki requested a video on this topic,
so here it is.
What does happiness mean to you?
For some, happiness means achieving their goals,
or becoming wildly successful in a certain career.
However, happiness is complicated,
and can be found in small, often overlooked ways.
Finding these minuscule boosts
can help you in the short term
on your journey to a much larger goal.
With that said,
here are six small things guaranteed to brighten your day,
even just by a little.
Number one, get some hugs.
Hugs are a popular form of communicating love and trust.
However, they serve more than just saying, I care for you.
Hugging serves to reinforce bonds between two people
via the secretion of oxytocin,
which is one of the three happiness hormones,
along with dopamine and endorphins.
Oxytocin also has other benefits, lowering blood pressure,
and reducing the stress hormone cortisol.
If hugging is not your thing,
there are other ways to boost your oxytocin levels,
such as playing with your pet, or getting a massage.
Number two, help others out.
Have you ever experienced that warm, fuzzy feeling
after you've done something nice for a person?
Oxytocin is not only released when you hug.
It's also released when you do something kind for someone.
The great thing about it is that it's contagious.
Not only do you get a surge of oxytocin
whenever you do something kind,
but so does the person on the receiving end.
A 2009 study published the results of an experiment
designed to measure the correlation
between acts of kindness and life satisfaction.
They found that participants
who practiced random acts of kindness
reported higher levels of life satisfaction.
Acts of kindness do not need to be large.
Being kind can be as simple as holding the door for someone,
donating clothes,
or saying thank you when you get your food order.
Number three, get some sun.
Summer is finally here,
which means that sun bathing
might help you feel a bit happier.
Vitamin D plays a role in the synthesis
and creation of serotonin, another happiness hormone.
A 2018 study concluded that an increase in vitamin D
helped maintain the concentration
of extra cellular fluid serotonin in the brain.
This was shown to improve neuropsychiatric disorders
like depression.
So get out there, just don't forget your sunscreen.
Number four, laugh out loud.
Have you ever been in a bad mood,
but had that one silly friend make it all better?
Laughing is another great way to increase your happiness.
It not only involves your face, but also your whole body.
The most interesting thing that happens
is that your pain tolerance goes up.
This is due to a spike in endorphins,
another happiness hormone,
commonly released during exercise.
Laughter is miraculous in the sense
that you also get a dose of dopamine whenever you laugh.
Dopamine is the reward hormone.
When we laugh, dopamine creates a euphoric feeling,
which encourages us to laugh again and again.
And number five, go out and exercise.
Another great way to make yourself feel happier
is through exercise.
Not only does it increase your level of endorphins,
but it also increases your dopamine.
Both help reduce cortisol,
and allow you to feel more at ease,
which can consequently make you feel better.
This doesn't need to be a huge workout.
As something as short as a 20 minute walk
can make a difference in your mood.
If you're suffering from an injury,
some other great options are yoga or meditation,
since these two activities
also increase your dopamine levels.
Finding small moments of happiness in your life
does not have to be difficult.
Even the little things can brighten your day,
even if it's just a tiny amount.
Please note that none of these strategies
are a replacement for psychiatric help.
Reach out to a qualified mental health professional
if you feel that you have a condition.
Leave a comment below letting us know
what other things make you feel happy.
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Thanks for watching, and take care.