9. Express more gratitude. My friend and keynote speaker/neurohumorist, Karyn Buxman, recommends sending “grati-texts” like the one she recently received from her sister, which said, “I just wanted to remind you how amazing you are and how grateful I am that you’re in my life.” Buxman writes, “My eyes got teary and my heart swelled. My sister, a busy physician three time zones away, had taken 30 seconds out of her busy schedule and had changed the course of my entire day. Studies have shown that one way of increasing your happiness set point is to practice being grateful. Studies vary slightly in their findings, but in a nutshell, writing down three things daily will raise your level of happiness more than writing down a list of items you’re grateful for weekly. Sharing your gratitude or appreciation with another person boosts your happiness level even more. In one study, people who focused on gratitude rather than hassles felt more optimistic about their future, felt better about their lives and even did an average of 1.5 more hours of exercise a week. In this fast-paced, high-tech world, it may seem unrealistic to try to squeeze in one more task on your to-do list. Instead of switching from high-tech to high-touch, you can be high-tech AND high-touch! Take 30 seconds to practice ‘Grati-text.’ Think of someone who has made a real difference in your life, and shoot them a text telling them so.”

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