I Tried 7 Happiness Hacks for a Week — Here’s What Happened

On my quest for happiness, I tried seven different happiness hacks for a week to see if I felt any changes. Here are the ones that worked — and the ones I'd skip.

We live in a busy society, and we’re all looking for quick fixes. Google searches like “how to make money fast” and “quick ways to lose weight” top the charts. If you haven’t figured it out by now, there are no quick fixes — the best things in life take a bit of time. To determine which changes are worth the trouble, I incorporated seven happiness hacks into my weekly routine to see if they live up to their claims. 

1. Spend More Time in the Kitchen

I often feel drained when I come home from work, so the last thing I want to do is spend hours in the kitchen. While I’m a fan of planning meals in advance, I like variety too much to meal prep — I prefer not to eat the same meal every day. According to a study published in the International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, spending time in the kitchen can be therapeutic and increase happiness. To test this happiness hack, I stocked up on ingredients and spent the week making a variety of meals. 

Did it work?

Yes! I found cooking this week therapeutic and it was a great way to relieve stress at the end of my workday. I didn’t anticipate the great sense of accomplishment I would feel when I put a delicious dinner on the table. I made things that I usually purchased, like bagels, bread, homemade pizza dough, vegan banana bread, granola bars, hummus and pasta. 

My rating: 7/10 

2. Carbs as a Midday Snack

I work a 9-5 office job, and let me tell you, the midday slump is real. One happiness hack I tried this week was having a nice carb-heavy snack with my afternoon cup of tea. Research says eating carbs can boost serotonin levels in the brain, so I figured it was worth a go. After all, I did have plenty of baked goods available after stocking up my kitchen. 

Did it work? 

Honestly? I don’t think this happiness hack worked too well. Besides feeling ready for an afternoon nap, having a carb-heavy midday snack did nothing special to my mood. I tried things like apple slices and peanut butter, trail mix, hummus and veggies, a bagel with cream cheese, and guacamole and chips, but I didn’t feel any happier as a result. The snacks were tasty, but this hack didn’t do it for me. 

My rating: 2/10

3. Happiness Hacks: Buying Flowers

Flowers are said to stimulate your brain’s happy chemicals: dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. I love flowers anyways, so I didn’t need any convincing to try this happiness hack. I firmly believe flowers have the power to brighten nearly anyone’s day. I’m fortunate to live in an area with plenty of local growers, so I can support my local economy while brightening my day — win-win! 

Did it work?

Yes. The best part about flowers is that you can enjoy them for about a week. Buying flowers this week did bring a smile to my face every time I passed my kitchen table. Being able to enjoy a bright pop of color every day definitley made me happy. One thing to note: I do always get a bit sad when they start to die off. With this in mind, I’d say houseplants are a much better bet (provided you can keep houseplants alive), as they are reported to have similar effects. 

My rating: 9/10

4. Get More Sleep

A 2018 study suggests that good sleep is the key to happiness and overall life satisfaction. I already have a pretty decent nighttime routine, and I look forward to my evening cup of herbal tea for sleep. My body clock wakes me up at the crack of dawn no matter how late I go to bed, so to try out this happiness hack, I  had to go to bed even earlier than I already do. To try this method, I headed to bed 30 minutes earlier every day this week. 

Did it work?

It’s mixed. Some days it worked, and I was able to sleep through the night without an issue, but on other days I found it difficult to fall asleep. On the days I slept more, I woke up more refreshed and ready to take on the day, which definitely made me happier. However, the change in my routine meant that sometimes I struggled to fall asleep and was grumpier the next day. This hack probably works best if you have more time to ease into a new routine.

My rating: 5/10

5. Happiness Hacks: Belting Out the Tunes

There is plenty of research on the effects of group singing on mental health, but even singing by yourself is said to release endorphins, produce serotonin, and lower cortisol levels. A tiny organ in the inner ear called the sacculus is connected to the part of your brain that registers pleasure. 

Particularly when the weather is nasty, my commute can be stressful. To test out this happiness hack, I made a playlist of my favorite sing-along songs and pressed play each morning and evening as I made my way to and from work. 

Did it work? 

It did for me! I love music, especially the way harmonies come together, so singing along to a playlist did bring me joy. If you can’t belt out your favorite tunes during your commute, set aside some time in your day just to do a bit of solo karaoke. Sing in the shower, while packing your lunch, or even randomly throughout the day if you work from home. 

My rating: 9/10

6. Cutting Out Social Media

Everyone knows that there are many negative effects of social media, including its impact on mental health and overall well-being. Nevertheless, we keep coming back for more. There is plenty of research outlining the impact of social media on mental health, so I decided to take a social media break for the week to see if this happiness hack lived up to its expectations. 

Did it work?

It certainly did. I already have limits set on social media to spend less time on my phone, but cutting it out completely for a week drastically improved my mood. It was difficult to beat the habit at first, but after the second day, it was much easier. Without the constant bombardment of negative news stories and FOMO-inducing photos, I could focus on things that made me happy and stop comparing myself to others. I’ve deleted the apps from my phone, and I’m in no rush to re-download them. 

My rating: 10/10

7. Happiness Hacks: Early Morning Walks

Exercise is something I already build into my daily routine, but there are plenty of morning workout benefits you can get by adding exercise into your morning routine. In an effort to combine this hack with happiness hack #4, I decided to get out first thing and experience the morning light. My alarm was set for 5:50am every day this week, and I got out of bed and headed straight out for a brisk 3-mile walk. 

Did it work?

For sure. Going for a walk first thing in the morning gave me more clarity for the day ahead. It’s a lovely time of day to be outdoors — I got to enjoy nature before the hustle and bustle of daily life kicked in. The sunrises this week were incredible, and seeing them did make me happier. 

On the days that stayed sunny, I also headed out on my lunch hour to get another dose of vitamin D. Not only did this make me happier, but I felt more grounded and was a whole lot more productive in the afternoon than the days I don’t get out for a walk. It was great knowing that there are a whole host of benefits of walking that I was also reaping. 

My rating: 7/10

Takeaways & Other Happiness Hacks to Try

Throughout this process, I learned that even the simplest things can spark joy. None of the happiness hacks I tried are difficult to incorporate, but many of them yielded pretty significant results. If you think you’re ready to add more happiness to your life, I’d recommend starting with one or two happiness hacks and going from there. Trying to change too much of your routine at once can throw you off, and you might not notice any difference. Encourage your friends to take part and compare your results! 

I chose happiness hacks that would be easy for me to incorporate this week, but there were several more that I was interested in trying. Try one out to start your happiness journey:

• Volunteering (online or in person)
• Donating money to a cause close to me
• Gratitude journaling
• Meditation 
• Hatha yoga

Read more: 

• Is the Joy Workout a Real Thing? What You Can Expect
• Ultimate Guide To Mindful Walking Indoors & Outdoors
• Horticultural Therapy: How Gardening Can Help You Heal

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Tags: Guide Mental Health Positive Efforts Relationships Self-Care Social