10 Secrets for a Happy Life, No Matter How Old You Are

Let the light in! A happy life is neither chance, nor sheer blessing, nor destiny. While it might be true that the foundation for our existence is laid in the cradle, how we play the hand that fate has dealt us is up to us alone. And there are a few tricks and shortcuts that can immediately make living easier and markedly improve your quality of life. In this article, we’d like to introduce ten of them.

1. Spend time with friends and family on a regular basis

Throughout our lives, we tend to value our inner circle far too little. Family members, in particular, often don’t get the appreciation they deserve until after they’ve passed away. We don’t have unlimited time with our loved ones; not all of us will live to a ripe old age, including perhaps ourselves. The more joyful and carefree time we make to spend with the people who love and support us unconditionally, the better our balance of happiness. There are not many people in our lives before whom we can be unfiltered and not have to check our words in advance for political correctness and social acceptability – in other words, weigh our words carefully. It’s a sad but true fact that being allowed to be who we are is a privilege and not a matter of course.

2. Say goodbye to expectations

Many things we do, we do only out of calculated effort, with a certain intention in mind. We don’t pursue most private commitments for fun or pleasure, but because we hope to get some sort of return from them at a later date. The principle of “I scratch your back, you scratch mine” may function well in the workplace, but in our personal lives we too often become begrudging and driven slaves who no longer know what selflessness is, or a genuine willingness to help. Yet doing good is kind of like a boomerang: It brings more positive energy into our lives than we invested initially. Provided, of course, that this was not precisely the intention behind our actions, that our altruism was only feigned. Karma knows the difference – we should, too.

3. Invite your inner child out to play more often

Who says playing is just for kids? When did we sign up for adult lives where we can’t have hobbies purely for enjoyment? Not every leisure activity has to have the ulterior motive of physical fitness, attitude adjustment, or an educational component. In fact we should treat ourselves to bursts of fun that catapult us right back to the carefree days of our childhood, at least for a few moments.

4. Harness the power of community

Granted, not all humans are made to live in company, although we are by nature designed to be social beings. In the modern era we can still enjoy that protection that living in a group gives us. Interaction with one another, being helpful, and the mere cultivation of interpersonal contacts are important for our emotional and psychological balance. We may not always realize it, but every conversation with another person is of value to us. Not only do we learn from these, but we also frequently come to see our own happiness from a different perspective, in the face of the misfortune of others.

5. Make lifelong learning your motto.

Our brains are eager for knowledge; in fact, they can atrophy if they are only fed the same information all the time. Stay curious and learn about new countries, languages, and cultures. Talk to the younger generations – they’re a source of new information and accompanying challenges for our minds. Visit places you’ve never been and, whenever possible, choose a dish in a restaurant you’ve never eaten before. This type of micro-level pioneering spirit goes a long way toward accumulating moments of happiness. Every time we get out of our own box, we get a sense of accomplishment in return that feels priceless and comes with an extra dose of joie de vivre. 

6. Build a profession network

There are professionals for all areas of human life. No one can do everything for their livelihood these days, and that's a good thing. If you notice yourself falling into a dark hole psychologically, seek professional counseling. Options for therapy are ubiquitous these days and accessible to everyone. If you don't want to waste any more time cleaning or tidying up, offer someone else that job. The same goes for assembling furniture, personalized fitness training, and other tasks. You're not alone! There's a solution for everything and a professional to remedy any tricky situation. The more open you are to the idea of simply delegating various areas of your life, the more free time you'll have for yourself and your interests. After all, it doesn't always have to involve money; a barter-based deal can also add a fortuitous business relationship to your everyday life.

7. Treat yourself to a volunteer job or internship

That's right, you heard correctly: Be good to yourself and work for free. This is not a contradiction in terms – on the contrary, an honorary position not only trains our social muscle and helps us develop more understanding and compassion for others, we also learn a lot in the process, which in turn projects the happiness quotient in our own lives upwards to a significant degree. And even the bad model of unpaid internships has its good side, if we look at it from the right perspective. Money is not always the best reward we can get for an activity. Gaining knowledge, making contacts and building a personal network, as described earlier, are priceless benefits. Such activities can even help you to become clearer about your purpose.

8. Exercise should be fun

Those daily 10,000 steps are essential if we want to maintain our health. Make it fun to challenge yourself or track your accomplishments via an app every day. We humans love a sense of accomplishment.

9. Unplug occasionally for time offline

As much as the Internet has changed our lives for the better, too much screen time brings with it a lot of negatives. It's been proven that scrolling meaninglessly through various social media platforms makes us more unhappy than happy. Rather go offline and out into nature more often. Connecting with the natural world invariably benefits us.

10. Practice gratitude

The value of gratitude cannot be overstated. It shows us how much good we have in our lives. This daily balance makes us content and happy, while attracting even more good.

Our conclusion

It turns out happiness is the best choice, after all. Many people realize much too late what the basics are for a happy or at least a contented life. They spend half their lives fighting against themselves and others and their expectations, following invisible dictates. But there is really only one person who holds all the cards in their hands and decides how to live and how to spend their days, and that is us.