The Surprising Secret to Happiness

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What is the secret to happiness? Would you believe it may be as simple as paying more attention to what you are doing? New research from Harvard University shows that people who are focused on the present moment and fully engaged in what they are doing at any given time are more likely to be happy than people who are distracted from the task or activity at hand.

What’s the secret to happiness? Would you believe it may be as simple
as paying more attention to what you’re doing? New research from
Harvard University shows that people who are focused on the present
moment and fully engaged in what they’re doing at any given time are
more likely to be happy than people who are distracted from the task or
activity at hand.

In the study, researchers used a smartphone app to ping 2,250 adults
at random times during the day. Each time the participants were pinged,
they took note of what they were doing and how they were feeling at that
moment. They also noted whether they were thinking about something
other than what they were doing, and if so, whether their thoughts were
positive, negative or neutral. What the researchers found: People’s
minds wander during nearly 47 percent of their waking hours — and people reported they were less happy when their minds were wandering than when they weren’t.

“We still don’t know exactly why mind-wandering is associated with
diminished happiness,” says study co-author Daniel Gilbert, who has a
doctorate in social psychology and is a professor of psychology at
Harvard University. “Even when the mind wanders to a positive topic —
an upcoming vacation or a recent wedding — people are no happier than
when they are engaged in what they are doing, and that’s true even when
what they are doing isn’t particularly fun. When it comes to happiness,
it is hard to improve on being here now.”

4 Ways to Be Happier
So the secret to happiness,
it seems, may be to stay more focused on the present moment and not let
your mind wander elsewhere. Here are four ways to do that:

1. Check in with yourself regularly. Periodically
ask yourself, “Am I on task or did I drift?” then consciously corral
your attention and bring it back to what you’re doing, recommends
psychologist Barbara Becker Holstein, who has a doctorate in education
and is the author of The Enchanted Self: A Positive Therapy.

2. Tune in to your senses. Whether
you’re writing a report or cooking a meal, if you make a conscious
effort to pay attention to the sights, sounds, smells and tactile
sensations that are involved in what you’re doing, you’ll invest more of
yourself in the project at hand — which will make your mind less
likely to wander.

3. Break the rumination cycle.
“When our minds wander, we often go to places that have charged remarks
and memories,” which can take a toll on your mood, says Holstein. So
when you catch your thoughts wandering, especially if they’re going down
a path into negative memories or worries, give yourself a cue —
whether it’s visualizing a stop sign, shrugging your shoulders or
repeating a phrase like “There I go again” — to halt the journey,
suggests Holstein. Then, bring your thoughts back to the present moment.

4. Immerse yourself in meaningful activities.
“If you recognize what makes you happy and do things that provide a
sense of purpose and meaning, you’ll make it that much easier to be in
the here and now,” says Holstein. This in turn will enhance your
enjoyment of the experience at hand and boost your overall happiness
quotient. It’s a win-win situation.

Richard JaramilloRichard “RJ” Jaramillo, is the Founder of SingleDad.com,
a website and social media resource dedicated to single parenting and specifically for the newly divorced, re-married, widowed and single Father with children.
RJ is self employed, entrepreneur living in San Diego and a father of three children. The mission of SingleDad is to help the community of Single Parents
“Make Life Happen…Again!”

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Richard “RJ” Jaramillo, is the Founder of SingleDad.com, a website and social media resource dedicated to single parenting and specifically for the newly divorced, re-married, widowed and single Father with children. RJ is self employed, entrepreneur living in San Diego and a father of three children. The mission of SingleDad is to help the community of Single Parents “Make Life Happen…Again!”