54 Easy Ways to Be Happy, According to Science

If you’re looking for ways to be happy that are backed by experts and verified by science, you’ve come to the right place. Because the search for happiness isn’t as complicated as it seems—it’s about being grateful, staying connected, feeling the whole range of your emotions (even the less-than-positive ones), and sometimes not being happy at all. It’s about finding and celebrating the small things that bring you joy every day. Like that first sip of coffee. Or, if you’re anything like us, the 179th sip of coffee. (All coffee = good coffee, right?)

54 Science-Backed Ways to Be Happy

To help you cut through the BS, and to get you on your way to feeling good right now, we’ve put together our best resources on happiness-boosting. Here are 54 ways to be happy, according to science.

What is Happiness + 1 Simple Way to Expand Your Joy

Let’s kick it off with an article that digs into what happiness actually means, according to research in the field dedicated to studying it. (Positive psychology, for the newcomers.) Once you’ve mastered the basics, we’ll give you one simple, science-backed way to be happier right now. It only takes 15 minutes and the research shows that it pays off. Big time.

How to Increase Happiness with 4 Science-Backed Strategies

For four more ways to be happy, check out our research-backed guide to boosting your mood. We break down the science behind these joy-increasing strategies and show you easy ways to apply them to your life. And just in case you’re feeling a little overwhelmed with positivity, one of the science-based ways to be happy is actually about …not always being happy. High five for keeping it real.

How to Be Happy: 23 Ways to Be Happier

Using robust research and straightforward descriptions, this comprehensive guide to being happier has something for everyone—from those of us looking to use our money better to those needing a flashing sign telling them to go easy on the social media scrolling. (Guilty. And even guiltier.) Some of these strategies will work better for you than others, but you never know until you dive in.

The Science of Happiness: 3 Ways to Focus on Friendship

One of the best ways to be happy? Keep your friends a priority. We talk the science of connection in this how-to for forming (and keeping) the bonds that make our lives meaningful.

A Science-Backed Happiness Secret for Hectic Times + 5 Ways to Try It

When life gets a little chaotic (which might be all of the time), we might not even know how to hold onto our happiness. That’s where science steps in. We share one happiness tip backed by research, break down why it works, and give you five easy ways to try it. And don’t let the holiday angle fool you here—this happiness strategy works anytime, all of the time.

7 Ways to Boost Your Happiness Right Now

Looking for an immediate boost? These seven strategies from The Institute for Global Happiness can be done in as little as two minutes and can have a huge effect on your day. Neil Pasricha, bestselling author and Director of The Institute for Global Happiness, uses simple images and serious science to make these happy strategies stick.

11 Quotes about Being Happy from Actual Experts

What better way to learn about happiness than going straight to the source? These positive psychology experts and researchers share their insights into how and why building your bliss is worth it.

Your turn: What are your best ways to be happy? Tell us in the comments.

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Author: Chelsey Taylor

Chelsey likes words, especially adjectives, and has been perfecting her perfectionism since infancy. She’s an endorphin-gatherer, top-knot connoisseur, and content manager at Panda Planner.