Being happy on International Day of Happiness

SUNDAY is International Day of Happiness, so go out, do what you love to do, be happy but be good. While we all know what we enjoy doing, here are five things that will genuinely make us feel happy.

1. Pets

Whether canine or feline, having pets around the house has been proven to make people happy. There are many studies linking pet ownership or interaction with animals to happiness, so, if you could do with another furry friend, why not consider adopting or rescuing one desperately in need of a loving home.

2.  Sundays

According to a study by mathematicians, Sunday is the happiest day of the week. So if we take the time to do something that is designed to make us happy, we should get a double dose of happiness on this year’s International Day of Happiness.

3. Hugging

Embracing someone increases levels of oxytocin, the ‘love hormone’, and lowers levels of cortisol, the ‘stress hormone’. Additional studies have shown that hugging for 20 seconds and holding hands for 10 minutes lowers the blood pressure and heart rate.

4. Eating bananas

Spinach, bananas and turkey allegedly boost production of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which regulates moods. Spinach is high in folate, a B-vitamin used in the creation of serotinin, while bananas and turkey contain tryptophan, an amino acid which is converted to serotonin in the brain.

5. Exercising

Why not start your Sunday off with a brisk stroll around the park or block? After all, exercising has been proven to boost your mood. Studies have shown that exercise mimics the effects of anti-depressants on the brain, resulting in better sleep, lower anxiety and better learning and memory.

Source: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/mindandbody/25-things-that-make-us-happy/ar-BBitPwN#page=6