Thirty Ways to Live Happier and Longer


Harry Olson, Ph.D., a noted author and speaker on personal and professional excellence, recommends the following list of suggestions for making the most of your life:


1. Get and give several hugs a day.


2. Laugh heartily 15 times a day.


3. Look for the humorous side of little annoyances. (If you can say, "In 5 years this will be funny," it's funny now.)


4. Wake up in the morning to classical or soothing music, not the news and radio reports of traffic congestion.

5. Start your day with positive meditation or prayer.


6. Carve out time for yourself everyday for doing fun, interesting things, or just chilling out.


7. Develop and pursue an interest or hobby just for fun, not for professional development, social or financial gain.


8. Look for opportunities within every difficulty.


9. Focus on solutions, not problems.


10. Build positive relationships with those close to you. Remove barriers to communication.


11. Learn something new every day.


12. Set a reasonable, short term goal and start working to achieve it.


13. Use your job as an opportunity to make an important contribution.


14. Make a game out of frustrating, boring, dull or routine tasks.


15. Put your ego on the back burner. Do your best without worrying how you'll look to others or worrying whether you'll succeed or fail.


16. Develop your sense of meaning and purpose for your life.


17. Take a genuine, abiding interest in at least one other person.

18. Own and care for a pet.


19. Get past your nagging issues.


20. Manage your stress.


21. Welcome change.


22. Let go.


23. Help someone else succeed.


24. Focus your mind and energy on that which you are for, not on that which you're against.


25. Refuse to let fear, jealousy, anger or comparison drive your actions.


26. Look for the good in everyone you meet.


27. Give something to everyone you meet, if just a friendly smile or an encouraging word.


28. Get in touch with your own strengths, assets, talents - give yourself permission to recognize and enjoy your true greatness.


29. Stand up for what you believe and for what is right.


30. Take action, follow through.


31. Remember, success and happiness are not goals. They are the byproducts of the way you think, act, and live your life day by day. Success and happiness are as you perceive them to be. Define them in your own terms.