I saw an article titled “75 Ways to Boost Your Mood Right This Very Second”, which caught my eye.  That title alone gave me a tiny mood boost—something to look forward to. But as I read through the list, I realized that I already do most of these things every day. So, I have been living in a state of peak happiness without even realizing it.   

The first suggestion is to text an old friend about one of your favorite activities. Lucky for me, my good friend and I already do this regularly as a survival tactic for when our everyday conversations get dull. 

“Hey, remember that time we went on a group trip to New York City and laughed so hard in the Empire State Building that it carried through all 100 floors?”

The second suggestion is to smile. Apparently, even forcing a smile can trick your brain into releasing happy chemicals. My smiles are naturally occurring, like a mood-boosting reflex. Honestly, it doesn’t take much… a cute dog, a toddler waddling along, an elderly couple holding hands, or even a nicely gardened patch of flowers in full bloom.    

 The third suggestion is to watch an episode of your favorite television show.  I love how Judge Judy puts scoundrels in their place, and how humorous the new George and Mandy’s First marriage is.    

The fourth suggestion is basically my life mantra: give someone a compliment. The article claims that the person I compliment might return the favor and compliment me.  Although this is cute in theory, it rarely happens, which is fine because I am not fishing for praise. Besides, if they did try to compliment me back, they’d probably have to get really creative. “Gee, your hair is extra curly today,” or “Your lips are very pink.”     

 Another happiness recommendation is to pay it forward by covering the meal of the person behind me in a fast-food drive-thru. While it sounds nice in theory, I have never done it.  With my luck, I would pick a car filled with a ravenous basketball team that just ordered 27 Whoppers, a truckload of fries, and 22 vanilla milkshakes. Suddenly, my small act of kindness would turn into a financial investment.

One suggestion is to video chat with a loved one. Supposedly, this will make me happier, but in my case, it won’t.  My on-camera persona is not my best look. My eyes glaze over like I am on drugs, my hairdo is a tragic tribute to last night’s sleep, my forehead suddenly develops a mysterious slope, and my smile somehow comes out crooked, like I am in the middle of a dental emergency. I will stick to good old-fashioned texting, where my personality shines and my face remains mercifully unseen.

Another method to supposedly boost happiness is to put on calming nature sounds. I have tried the whole soothing ocean waves thing, but instead of feeling peaceful, I just get annoyed because the waves refuse to crash in a predictable rhythm. Don’t get me started on birds chirping. They never do it in unison or in some type of pattern. It is just random tweets.  Unpredictable.  Frustrating.

 Taking a power nap is suggested, and I am on board with that. There’s nothing better than curling up on clean sheets under a fluffy, warm comforter. It’s basically the closest thing to a hug from heaven, and I sleep like a baby.     

 Playing with pets is also suggested as a mood booster. Apparently, petting, snuggling, and playing with a furry friend can trigger endorphins. We do not have any pets, but I do seem to get happier when snuggling with Hubby. He is my emotional support person, plus he goes grocery shopping and cooks the meals, which makes me very happy.

The fact is, we each have to figure out what makes us happy.  Hopefully, other people will get as lucky as I am with their choices.