10 scientifically proven ways to become a happier person

1. Go OutsideWe all know that spending too much time in the sun is bad for your health. From sunburns to skin cancer and immune system problems, obsessive tanning is not a good idea.

This fear of UV exposure, combined with increased use of technology, has driven people indoors. Instead of following guidelines to be careful in the sun at times of peak UV radiation, we’re opting out of direct sunlight altogether.

2. Spend money….on other people‘Tis the season for giving. If you keep that mantra all year round, you’re likely to be happier than those who don’t give to others. According to researchers from the University of British Columbia and Harvard University, money can buy happiness—but only when you are buying things for other people. The researchers found that households who had yearly incomes of less than $50,000 were less happy than people who earned between $50,000 and $75,000, but a bigger factor for happiness than income was giving to others. Money only affects happiness to a certain degree and only if spent right.

3. Give It A ShotAnyone who has suffered from bouts of sadness knows what it is like to be told to just try harder. This can be frustrating advice, especially if it comes from someone who doesn’t understand what you’re going through.

It is never good to tell someone to “get over it” when they can’t shake the blues. Whether that person is suffering from clinical depression or mourning the loss of a beloved family pet, there are countless reasons why it can be difficult to get over feeling down.

Belittling someone’s emotions is not going to help anyone feel any better. While getting over it may not be an option, focusing on your own feelings and just trying to feel happier can actually elevate your mood.

4. Become a master of somethingWhether it's playing an instrument or learning chess, mastering a skill can be stressful -- and stress and happiness just don't get along too well. But a 2009 study showed that over the long term, mastery is linked with happiness. Plus, you'll have cool bragging rights.

5. Go with the flowWe all know the saying “Time flies when you’re having fun.” Scientists have a word for that feeling when you’re so engaged in an activity that you stop noticing the passage of time: “flow.”

Flow happens when we are completely immersed and committed in an activity that we can do well but that also challenges us.

What is unique about flow versus ordinary happiness is that flow is an active experience that you create, not one that was created by outside influences.

6. Smile like you mean itBefore you say no one likes a fake who is smiling when they’re actually miserable, hear these researchers out. Smiling is not just a response to feeling happy—it can also make us happy.

Our physical response to our feelings in turn affects our emotional states, and for many of us, it is easier to control our facial muscles than it is to control our minds.

This theory was originally named the “facial feedback hypothesis” and many studies have been undertaken to test the reality behind the façade.

..they found that when people used Facebook more, the less happy they were. Their satisfaction levels continued to decrease over the two weeks of the study. When people interacted with others in real life or even over the phone, they felt much better than they did when using Facebook.

7. Reach out and touch someoneFacebook gives people a sense of connectivity, but it doesn’t bring satisfaction or happiness. Researchers at the University of Michigan tracked the Facebook use of young adults along with their emotional state..

8. ExerciseExercise has long been linked to a happier disposition and medical experts extoll the health benefits of regular workouts. That heaping dose of endorphins gives you an immediate boost following a good workout, but what about long-term happiness? Can regular exercise make you happy beyond the initial rush?

In early 2013, Canadian scientists found that people who were less physically active were twice as unlikely to be happy compared to those who were continuously active. Similarly, Penn State University researchers found that people who were more physically active felt higher levels of enjoyment than those who were more sedentary.

9. UnplugIn today’s technology-filled world, people spend more time than ever on their gadgets. Research presented by academics from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden showed that people who are fiddling with electronic devices all the time are more likely to suffer from physical and mental problems such as stress, depression, and sleeping issues. It wasn’t just looking at the screens which caused the problems—stress was often the product of being constantly available. People reported feeling guilty because they felt like it was their responsibility to reply to texts and answer calls right away.

10. Don’t make it your goal to be happySmiling when you don’t feel like it and trying to be happy when you’re down are good ways to improve your mood, but do not make it your goal to be happy. Happiness is not a permanent state and setting a goal to be happy is unfulfilling because happiness is an emotion, not an end point that you can know you’ve reached.

Realizing that happiness is a part of life and working to reduce negative emotional reactions by training your mind and body are more achievable goals. Researchers from the University of Denver have been studying how having a goal of happiness affects our emotional well-being. The results of their studies showed that people who were not stressed but put more value on happiness were less happy than those who didn’t value happiness as much.