The Pursuit Of Happiness — My 7-Step Magical Formula For Personal Happiness

7. Disconnect.

Happiness is ephemeral. It comes, goes, and undulates up and down. We all have lows and moments that we’re suffocated by negative thoughts.

But if you can learn to recognize those moments—the ones where you overthink and doubt yourself to death—and counteract them with something productive before you fall into a depressive abyss, it’ll go a LONG way towards preserving your mental sanity.

For me, my most serene moments are the ones when I’m completely disconnected from my phone and social media.

Hiking and walking in natural environments physically changes our brains, decreases negative thoughts, and re-wires it to be happier.

If you’re stressed or drowning in a spiral of negative thoughts (aka rumination), drop your phone and go for a walk. NO INSTAGRAM. AND YES, I KNOW IT’S HARD TO GO COOL PLACES AND NOT SHOW PEOPLE.

But you can do it. Wander. Get lost. You’ll shoot yourself up with happiness and come back refreshed and refocused.

And if a zen nature excursion isn’t your first choice, go pound a weight-lifting session, get your yoga on, meditate, play a sport, cook, read, or crush an adult coloring book. Find something that distracts you and pulls you out of your own head.

Think of it as an IV of instant happiness. BOOM