3 New Year’s Goals that Will Increase Your Happiness

Do you hit the snooze button multiple times because you dread going to work, or do you jump up every morning screaming, “Woohoo! I look forward to the beautiful surprises that will increase my happiness today!”

If you are like most Americans, you’re hitting the snooze button at least once before getting up–and this is delaying your happiness. According to The Harris Poll Happiness Index, a series of questions used to calculate the overall happiness of adults aged 18+ in America, 31% of Americans were very happy in 2016 compared to 34% in 2015 .” Additionally, a study by French tech-firm Withings revealed that 58% of Americans confess that they stay in bed for more than five minutes every morning. Those are five important minutes that could be used to jumpstart your day.

If you revise your goals for the New Year, you could actually increase your happiness. Next time you think about hitting the snooze button, consider taking advantage of these New Year goals instead:

1. Exercise Your Way to Happiness

Let’s face it. You don’t wake up early enough to do your Focus T25 Workout or P90X Power 90 Extreme exercise regimen. When you go home, your list of to-do’s are so long that all you can think about is sleeping. How do you expect to get that fit and fabulous body if you are always busy and tired?

Don’t worry. There are quick exercises you can do throughout your day. In less than 10 minutes, you can take advantage of the 10- minute calorie-burning workouts or the Squat and Push-Up 31-Day Bootcamp.

Don’t be tempted to walk this fitness journey alone. You can hire a personal trainer, find an accountability partner, or you can participate in step challenges with your friends if you purchase a Fitbit.

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2. Develop Habits that Increase Happiness

Do something that will boost your happiness before you leave the house in the morning.

Meditation is the perfect way to prepare your mind for success before starting your day. If you are new to meditation, Davidji has tons of resources that will get you started. You can also download the Insight Timer app to gain access to over 3,000 free meditations.

You can wake up to motivational messages by signing up for the notes from the universe. These notes are brief reminders that we all have been given dominion over all things. As a bonus, some days you’ll receive a customized message that includes your unique goals. Reading your goal as if it was already accomplished can set the tone for an incredible day.

If you don’t want to sign up for external motivation, you can always start your day with affirmations. Affirmations keep you focused on your goals and force you to speak what you seek.

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3. Make Your Happiness a Priority

Some people may be frustrated and depressed because they are doing the same thing everyday – and it’s not what they want to do. What’s worse is they are still wondering why they haven’t achieved different results. Does that even make sense? One wise soul by the name of Albert Einstein classified these actions as “insanity”.

You have to be willing to do something different to spice up your relationship with life. That means making your happiness a priority.

Maybe you want to be more like those dreamy-eyed 20- year olds who travel the world at least once a month. Don’t worry about what others think about your nontraditional goals. Just do it! If you are a creative entrepreneur seeking to connect, create, and collaborate in world-renowned destinations, check out Unsettled. You can learn a new language by participating in a short term program with Don Quijote.

If you have the urge to prove to yourself that you have the courage to try new things, consider signing up for for the Ms. Corporate America (MCA) pageant? It’s a pageant that celebrates the accomplishments of outstanding businesswomen between the ages of 21 and 55. Who you become on this journey to the crown far exceeds any material possession that you can win from this competition. That’s not to say that taking home the coveted prize of the crown and sash won’t leave you on stage in a frozen state of bliss!

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Image credits.

Main.  Happiness.   Goals.

Charlene Rhinehart

After being the first Certified Public Accountant (CPA) to win the title of Ms. Corporate America 2015 in a pageant held in Orlando, Fl, Charlene Rhinehart created www.careergoddessacademy.com to help female millennials attract career success and a lifestyle they love. She is also the Managing Director of CEO Unlimited LLC - a professional training consulting firm designed to help small business entrepreneurs and career driven employees create endless opportunities through online professional branding, career advancement resources, diversity & inclusion consulting, and workplace solutions. Charlene has been featured as a contributor for The Huffington Post, Your Coffee Break, Addicted2Success, and other publications on the web. Connect with Charlene on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

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