Everyone wants to be the happiest they can possibly be, and a doctor has shared one simple trick to increase your happiness.
It involves doing one easy thing every day before bed that only takes a few minutes – and it’s something we can all implement in life.
Easiest way to increase your happiness
Every night before going to sleep, you need to stop and think to yourself “What went well today?” Dr. Daniel Amen explained on Steven Bartlett’s Diary Of A CEO podcast.
“I’ve been doing this for a decade and it’s a treasure hunt now. I’m on a mission to find what I liked about my day,” he said.
The doctor thinks back to when he woke up and goes through the day hour by hour looking for what he liked about the day.
This one simple activity helps you realize that every day is full of happy moments, you usually just gloss over them because you’re so busy.
It’s a time to consolidate and focus on the positive things, and doing this will make your entire life happier.
“People who do that for just three weeks increase their level of happiness,” the medical professional claimed.
The power of positive thinking on health
Research has shown that having a positive outlook on life can not only increase your happiness but your physical health too.
One report found that optimism can result in better stress management and coping skills, improved psychological health, increased physical wellbeing and longer lifespan.
It was also linked to lower rates of depression, reduced risk of cardiovascular disease-related death and even greater resistance to the common cold.
Another 2018 study in the Journal of Ageing found that having a positive mental attitude was linked to decreased mortality over a 35-year period.
Positive people were also more likely to engage in regular exercise, avoid smoking, eat a healthier diet, and get better quality sleep.
A great way to practice optimism is by writing in a gratitude journal, which will make you aware of all the positive things you are grateful for.
You should also make a conscious effort to talk to yourself and others around you in a positive way, and you will soon begin radiating optimism.
Dr. Daniel Amen is an American celerity doctor and certified psychiatrist who founded Amen Clinics, a group of mental and physical health clinics that work on the treatment of mood and behavior disorders.
