LIVE HAPPIER
Here are three ways you can live
a happier, brighter, more balanced life
starting today:
1. SPEND TIME WITH FRIENDS
AND FAMILY
Spend time with people who care about
you and lift your spirits. Sounds simple,
but it isn’t easy. We have so many things
pulling at us. We need to schedule our
personal life just like we schedule our
business life. If you are brave, track how
you are currently spending your time…
what seems to be the first thing that
is cut when you are time deprived?
Yep, friends and family. We take for
granted they will always be there as we
rush to the next pressing item.
I love spending time with my family
and friends more than anything, and
I know you do as well. Even just
hanging out with a friend you haven’t
had time for and sharing experiences
with them will make your day feel
much more meaningful. Did you know
that one of the top traits of people that
live to be 100 years old is their strong,
large network of friends? Sometimes,
you have to step back from your busy
daily schedule and think about how you
should really be spending your time.
I once saw a rusty sign nailed to a
tree on the side of the road that said,
“Rotary Club meets every Thursday
12-1.” I loved the fact that long before
social media, there was a simple
sign to inform community members
about social events. So simple, yet so
powerful. Every Thursday for decades
the community would meet at the same
location, at the same time. This sign
inspired me to set up a monthly event
with my own network of friends. At
noon on the last Friday of every month,
I now have a standing Super Friends
lunch. This lunch gives us a designated
time to connect and has evolved into
a coveted tradition. I always make
sure I’m there, no matter what the
circumstances are. A few of the Super
Friends even fly across the U.S. to
attend this lunch, which shows how
valuable it is to take time out of
our hectic lives to catch up.
2. FOCUS = HAPPINESS
When I focus on the important things
in life, I am happier. What are you
focusing on? Sometimes we need
to shift our focus to experience joy,
instead of success. Evaluate what’s
out of place in your schedule and
remove items from your to-do list that
are preventing you from working on
the important feats that matter the
most to you. Plus, feelings of control
reduce stress. Another way to help
is to move items from your to-do-list
to your not-yet-list.
3. HUG FIVE TIMES A DAY
Texting and social media can
sometimes make us antisocial.
Ironic, no? Although these tools have
made our lives more convenient,
interpersonal interactions are
important, especially with the people
we love. Did you know getting
a hug five times a day for four weeks
increases happiness? And that you're
more likely to remember a person’s
name when you shake their hand?
Touching increases your levels of
oxytocin; positive chemicals that give
us energy throughout the day. This is
why face-to-face cannot be replaced.
Also, remember to be thankful for
the people that have carried you this
far in life. A random act of kindness
can go a long way, such as a “thank
you” or a simple phone call. Gratitude
toward others increases activity in our
dopamine circuits, which makes social
interactions more enjoyable.
Maintaining relationships and
balancing different aspects of our
daily routine will lead to a less stressed,
more focused, happier life. And
remember that your goals can work in
harmony with your life. For example,
I have a goal of only being away from
my family for 52 nights during the
year. When you schedule your personal
life like your business life, you’ll soon
be living the good life. +
No. 1 Best-selling Author and
Motivational Speaker Erik Qualman
has performed in over 50 countries
and reached over 30 million people in
the last decade.
His Socialnomics work has been
featured on 60 Minutes to the Wall
Street Journal and used by the
National Guard to NASA. His book
Digital Leader propelled him to
be voted the second Most Likeable
Author in the World behind Harry
Potter’s J.K. Rowling. Qualman
was formerly a sitting professor at
Harvard and MIT’s edX labs.
Equalman.com
*Reprinted with Permission
15