With the hustle bustle of daily lives, we are chasing anything but happiness. Jobs, degrees, making a living – everything else becomes important, to the degree that we have forgotten how to find happiness back into our lives. Grechen Rubin, author of Secrets to Adulthood: Simple Truths for Our Complex Lives, shares some solid and easy to implement advice in her book that resolves common issues of day to day life. In this simple 25-point article, we explore how small steps can lead to bigger results, i.e happiness. These short, simple rules will not take much to follow, yet the results will be long-term. Let’s take a look at what Grechen Rubin suggests.
25 steps to happiness
When you are confused about yourself, either step out or go to sleep. This creates a distraction in your mind and you are no longer thinking about the confusion.
Your to-do list should have at least one item that can be done within the first five minutes.
You can get rid of an object, if you forget that you own it. This way, your mind won’t hover over what you have let go.
Sometimes last-minute plans turn out to be better than plans made in advance.
Deliberately misunderstanding a question can be a way to answer it easily.
Avoid buying things unless you actually need them: Store them at the store. Hoarding is never a good habit.
Focus on actions rather than results. Focus on how that action makes you feel, instead of obsessing over what’s yet to come.
Don’t wait for more free time to do something as you might not have more free time ever.
Warm your feet to fall asleep faster.
Make those things more convenient which you want to do and make them inconvenient which you want to avoid.
Do 10 jumping jacks to get an instant boost of energy.
Get it before it gets empty.
Try new things when you are young, maybe before you turn 25. When you are younger, you have more energy and more zeal for life.
Before accepting any future invitation, consider the present. Just imagine how you would feel if you were to show up for the invite the same evening.
Have difficult conversations while walking, if convenient.
Watch out for “procrasti-clearing”, it might lead to surpassing deadlines.
Visit local departmental stores or grocery stores to know a new city or town. It is the best way to know your way around a new place.
Don’t do something to feel better, you might end up feeling worse.
If you don’t know how to have fun, do what you would have done if you were 10 years old.
When you are not sure about using something you want to buy, borrow or buy a cheaper one, and upgrade it, if you use it regularly.
Asking for advice shows respect or affection towards the other person. Like, watching a movie that someone else recommended.
Highlight the interesting part of the story from the audience’s perspective instead of discussing what’s fun for you while telling a story or providing information.
The One-Minute rule – If you can do something within one minute, do it instantly rather than delaying it.
If you don’t know what to talk about, ask, “What are you busy with these days?”
Re-introduce yourself when someone forgets your name.
These advices might seem simple, but they can lead your way to happiness and make your life more balanced. The concrete 25 rules will help you deal with bigger issues in one’s daily life.