Fifteen tiny behaviour shifts that will raise your mood by 80% (how I recover my happiness)

9. Do the fake “mindful” commute.

Thomas Oppong

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Photo: Unsplash

I’ve been experimenting. “All life is an experiment.” But the right ones can do wonders for your mood. Nothing huge or drastic. Little tweaks in behaviour are all you need to get started. Just small changes. And guess what? They work. Each tiny shift lifts my mood in surprising ways. I want to share a few with you — practical, easy-to-try habits that can raise your mood by 80%. Some of them are backed by science.

1. First, play with your “micro-goals.”

Set tiny, achievable goals. I drink a glass of water right after waking up. It’s simple, but I start my day with a win. Psychologists call this the “small wins” approach. Each win adds momentum. More wins follow. The best time to hydrate during the day is first thing in the morning.

2. Apply “the 5-minute rule.”

Promise yourself you’ll start something for just five minutes. Just five minutes, that’s it. I do this for chores or tasks I dread. Usually, I end up working longer. I break that inertia, and before I know it, I’m halfway done. This trick rewires procrastination into action.

3. Try “visual gratitude.”

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Thomas Oppong
Thomas Oppong

Written by Thomas Oppong

Making the wisdom of great thinkers instantly accessible. As seen on Forbes, Inc. and Business Insider. For my popular essays, go here: https://thomasoppong.com

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