If you’re still young, you might want to invest in the things that can give you a happy life in your old age. And those habits are what I’m about to share with you today!
Some of these habits are simple and easy, but all require commitment. So, these habits include refraining from smoking and drinking alcohol, keeping a healthy weight and regular exercise, pursuing education, building relationships, having a sense of humor, developing emotional resiliency, and volunteering in the community.
Some on our list are straightforward and won’t be that hard to do if you commit. But whether it’s an easy or challenging thing, you’ll need to be consistent so you can reap real Happiness in your old age.
What You Will Learn on This Page
Let’s define Happiness!
First and foremost, let’s define the term happiness.
Happiness is a feeling-more of contentment and joy. It’s a warm feeling that comes from the inside out.
- It’s a smile on your face when you see your best friend after being apart for a while.
- It’s the satisfaction you feel when you finish something you’ve been working on for weeks, knowing that you did your absolute best.
- It’s sharing some laughs with people who love you or helping someone in need when they’re down on their luck.
It’s important to know that Happiness isn’t limited to one person or one experience. It also comes differently to everyone.
For some people, Happiness is acquiring lots of money and the most delicate things in life.
For others, it means being surrounded by friends and family who love them unconditionally. Some people like to travel or spend time alone with their thoughts; others want to be surrounded by pets or children.
Some want to be famous, some want to change the world, and some simply want to be satisfied with their lives as they are. And that’s okay!
We all define Happiness differently because we’re all different individuals living different lives with different experiences. It would be boring if everyone wanted the same thing!
Nine habits that lead to Happiness
There are a few things we can accomplish to increase our sense of Happiness, no matter how fleeting it may seem at times. Here are nine ways you can start today!
Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.
As we age, our health becomes a bigger and bigger issue. As we age, our body’s system begins to slow down, and the effects of this can be felt both physically and mentally.
This is why we should take care of ourselves as we age. One way you can do this is by avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol while young.
One of the typical side effects of aging is brain damage due to excessive drinking.
Here’s why quitting smoking and alcohol drinks can make all the difference in your Happiness in the future.
- Your health will improve dramatically.
For example, smoking has been linked to heart disease and cancer, which means that if you quit smoking now, your chances of developing these diseases are lowered significantly.
- You can breathe easier and sleep better at night, and those two things alone should make quitting worth it!
- Smoking and drinking affect your body in many ways. It slows down your metabolism and makes it hard for oxygen to reach your heart and other organs. You’ll have more energy throughout the day.
- You’ll save money on cigarettes and alcoholic drinks! That means more money for other things, like some new shoes or a trip worldwide to create memories.
- You can avoid memory loss due to excessive drinking.
Keep a healthy weight and maintain regular exercise.
Exercise is indeed a beneficial thing to do, but did you know that it can also make you happier?
There’s a lot of evidence that keeping a healthy weight and maintaining regular exercise can help boost your mood. Improve your self-esteem and even reduce your risk of depression. And if you’re already feeling down on yourself or just in a rut, it’s never too late to start turning things around.
Getting started with exercise doesn’t have to be complicated. For example, regular walking can significantly affect how you feel!
It’s important to remember that if you haven’t been active before, starting out slowly is critical. For example, aim for 10 minutes first, then gradually work up over time as your body gets used to the activity.
Purse education.
The benefits of education are not limited to the present. Studies have shown that people with higher levels of education tend to be happier, healthier, and more productive in their later years.
Here’s why pursuing education can lead to Happiness as you age.
- Education helps you make better decisions throughout your life.
- The more knowledge you have about yourself, your environment, and the world around you, the better you’ll be to make choices that lead to Happiness, fulfillment, and longevity.
- Education increases your ability to handle stress.
- Education allows you to pursue your passions throughout your life.
- Working toward goals keeps you motivated and focused.
Build relationships.
There are many reasons why building relationships can lead you to Happiness when you get old.
- It gives you a sense of purpose. When we have people we love and care about, we feel our life has value.
- It provides us with a chance to give back. When we help other people, they feel better, and we feel good about ourselves.
- Building solid relationships with other people can give you an ally in times of need.
- You’ll not feel alone.
We’ll know that our lives have meaning beyond just earning money or raising children. Instead, we’ve helped others grow emotionally and physically too! Building solid relationships takes work, but it’s worth it because when the time comes for retirement or death.
Have a sense of humor.
Happiness is something that is often sought after by people of all ages. However, it can be challenging to find and maintain when you are older. This is why having a sense of humor can be helpful in your later years.
Here are some reasons why being funny can help you stay happy as you age.
- Suppose you can see the humor in everyday situations. In that case, you’ll be able to notice the beauty around you, even if it isn’t apparent at first glance. It helps you appreciate the most minor things in life.
- Humor requires good skill and quick thinking. It keeps your mind sharp. So, if you have these qualities, they will have been developed over time as part of your personality.
- Humor helps people to maintain their mental health. It can help you feel less stressed and more positive about your life.
Humor plays a vital role in social interaction among adults. In fact, it’s often said that the best way to make friends with someone is through jokes and laughter!
Develop emotional resiliency.
What is emotional resiliency?
Emotional resiliency is the ability to bounce back from adversity. Being resilient means:
- You can handle challenging situations and not get knocked down for long periods.
- It’s about enduring hardship, stress, and disappointment without falling apart.
- Overcomes challenges easily without wasting time on problems.
- It’s the ability to stay positive when life doesn’t turn out exactly how you want it to or when you’re faced with a challenge that seems impossible.
- It’s about getting yourself up and keeping going, no matter what happens.
People with high levels of emotional resiliency are more likely to be successful in many areas. They’re better at handling stress, building relationships, and overcoming challenges. They’re also more likely to be happy in their daily lives.
But how do you develop emotional resiliency and make it a habit?
Here are some of the ways.
Give yourself a break.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your responsibilities or just need a little time away from people who stress you out, do something low-key by yourself for an hour or two.
Call some friends over for dinner or go for a long walk with your dog, whatever works best for you!
Change how you see the situation.
Sometimes it’s challenging to see the situation from another angle when we’re so wrapped up in our own feelings about it! Try thinking about what someone else might say if they were looking at this situation from an outside perspective.
- What advice would they give?
- How would they handle it?
This can help remind us that other people have been through similar situations before and survived, so we can do that too!
Do volunteer work in your community.
Volunteering in your community can lead to Happiness because it’s a way of contributing to the world and feeling like your life has meaning.
But aside from that, here are the reasons why giving back to the community can cause Happiness in your old age.
It helps you feel like you’re making a difference in the world.
It gives you a sense of purpose and fulfillment, which can help you feel happier as an older person.
Volunteering can help you stay socially connected, which is essential as you age.
It’s a way of staying mentally active and engaged.
Volunteering allows you to give back while also getting some exercise and making new friends!
Some volunteer works you can join are;
- Group discussions or facilitating workshops on topics related to specific issues impacting communities at large such as poverty reduction strategies
- Climate change awareness
- Bullying prevention strategies
- Suicide awareness training programs
Why take action as early as today?
Being young is such a lucky moment for you to do all the things you want to do. And that includes preparing for your future.
While most people are busy securing their financial resources or saving properties, why not focus on investing in your Happiness in the future?
Oh wait, Happiness is something that I can invest with?
Yes, it is!
Developing simple habits that could contribute to your life can also make or break your Happiness when you get older.
But why as early as today? Because you need to learn how to commit and be consistent. Besides, there’s no perfect timing in investing in Happiness. It’s always today!
So as long as you’re strong, you’re able, you’re fully energized, train yourself to develop these habits that can make your life easier and better.
As heard in the song Happiness by Taylor Swift…
Taylor Swift once wrote and sang a song entitled Happiness.
Here are some of the lines that struck me the most and got me thinking.
There'll be Happiness after you But there was Happiness because of you Both of these things can be true There is Happiness Past the blood and bruise Past the curses and cries Beyond the terror in the nightfall There'll be Happiness after me But there was Happiness because of me Both of these things, I believe There is Happiness In our history, across our great divide There is a glorious sunrise
This song is supposedly about a relationship. It’s about a couple who are parting ways.
But what I love the most about this is that there is still Happiness after hardship, such as blood, bruise, curses, and terror.
This song also reminds us that Happiness can also be a person. But if there’s one thing this song taught me. It’s the lesson that you shouldn’t depend your Happiness on someone.
Invest your time and effort today in something that can give you genuine Happiness in your old age. Some good examples are the habits we mentioned above.
Commit to Happiness while you’re still young!
We all have to begin at some point, and it’s never too early or too late to start making little changes that will lead to a happier life.
The next time you find yourself in a bad mood, think about what small change could improve your day.
Maybe it’s as simple as walking outside, calling an old friend, or perhaps something more significant, like changing careers or even moving to another city.
Remember that Happiness is a choice. It’s not something you’re born with, but it’s something you can learn to do. You can make Happiness a priority in your life today and reap the benefits for the rest of your life.
We hope this guide has successfully walked you through helping you take the first steps toward becoming happier. The time for Happiness is now.
