Although genes have a lot to do with our personal happiness, life circumstances and our own choices seem to play a part.
Identifying what makes people "feel good" is difficult not only because happiness is subjective and it fluctuates, but also because it's not clear if certain activities make people happy or if happier people are more likely to engage in these activities.
Despite these complications, the following list of ideas for being happier provides something for everyone (which is why some suggestions may appear contradictory).
Quick fixes
1. Draw pictures of unhealthy food, like cupcakes and pizza.
3. Write your worries on a piece of paper and seal them in an envelope.
4. Focus exactly on what you're doing right now.
5. Have more sex.
6. Having sex with one partner delivers even more happiness.
7. Volunteer for religious groups and organizations.
9. Identify a creative moment— like playing chess or skiing — that provides an effortless state of enjoyment.
10. Smile more.
11. Faking a smile also works.
12. Exercise.
13. Give more hugs.
14. Write notes of gratitude.
15. Listen to upbeat music.
16. Take a yoga class.
17. Join a religious congregation.
18. Laugh more.
19. Visualize your best possible future self.
20. Expose yourself to more of the color blue.
21. Meditate.
22. Hold hands.
23. Watch a tragic movie, like "Titanic."
24. Finish a crossword puzzle in less than 10 minutes.
25. Breath in the smell of dirt.
26. Drink a cup of coffee.
28. Take a 30-minute walk.
29. Plan a getaway.
30. Then, enjoy your vacation.
31. Yawn.
32. Get a massage.
33. Get outdoors.
34. Eat more shrimp and salmon.
36. Stop compulsively checking your phone.
37. Watch a funny television show in fast-forward.
38. Try not to think about hell.
40. Take in the smell of fresh-baked bread.
41. Ski, instead of snowboarding.
42. Go shopping.
Develop better daily habits
43. Get a good night's sleep.
44. But wake up early.
45. Make your bed in the morning.
46. Eat breakfast.
47. Make sure to get in seven servings of fruit and vegetables a day.
48. Eat lunch on the beach.
49. Or, spend lunch working out.
50. Limit how much time you spend on Facebook.
51. Everyday, make a list of three good things that happened.
52. Squeeze in 20 minutes of physical activity.
53. Document daily accomplishments.
54. Limit how much overall time you spend in front of the television.
55. Sit up straight.
Longer-term lifestyle decisions and changes
56. Be both an optimist and realist.