“Now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.” – Guillaume Apollinaire

A simple life is a happy life. Here are a five ways to unlock the secrets to living simply and happily.

Enjoy the outdoors – The peace and beauty of nature is a divine experience. The fresh air will clear your mind, and the sunlight will give your mood a boost. Getting back to basics by spending time outdoors will remind you of those simple, beautiful things about life.

Use your creative side often – We’re happier when we’re expressing ourselves. Unleash your creative power on a canvas, piece of notebook paper, or in a scrapbook. Create a funny video message or video blog; collage a vision board of images that inspire you; start a blog for your poetry. There are numerous fun, easy, and enriching ways to express creativity and live a happier life.

Laugh – Maybe the simplest way of all to a happy life is laughter. It requires the least effort with the most reward. You feel better physically and emotionally when you laugh. It’s a shortcut to health and happiness.

Embrace the positive – Make it a key part of your day to focus on the positive. It’s as easy as recognizing the people and things in your life that make you happy. It’s taking a moment to be thankful for the car you have, the place you work, the family you’ve got at home. Despite the struggles and stress, there is something positive you can embrace that will simplify your life by helping you focus on what makes you happy.

Peace in the moment – Learning to be calm in the middle of the storm is vital to long-term happiness. We let go of what you cannot change because worry and stress only make things worse physically and emotionally. Push negative thoughts out of your mind when stress and catastrophe strike. This doesn’t mean you’ll immediately ignore every invasive, bad thought in favor of sounding like Ghandi. But with practice, you will be able to enjoy peace in the moment, no matter what life dishes out at you.

About Alex Blackwell
Alex Blackwell is a father, husband and writer.