Habits of Happy People

8 Keys to a Happier, More Fulfilled Life in 2025

We’ve all had those days: days that feel like hell. You’re in a bad mood, and bam—that’s the perfect time for that ever-smiling person to stop by your desk to check in. You can’t help but wonder, why is this person always so spirited?

It’s time to flip that frown over, sir. Especially since science and positive psychology research show that happy people are more successful and live longer. While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to finding happiness, certain habits and psychological strategies are sure to boost endorphins and put you in a better mood. Here, the experts weigh in on eight daily habits of happy people:

Eight Habits Happy People Should Adopt in 2025

1. Make a Schedule

“When we have a relatively structured schedule, life becomes less stressful and easier to manage,” says Sherri Campbell, Ph.D., psychologist and author of But This Is Your Family: Cutting Ties with Toxic Family Members. “In that schedule, we can free up time to do the things we want to do. When we prioritize dealing with stressors, we leave free time to not be bothered by the stressors we didn’t deal with.”

2. Set SMART Goals

You want your goals to be SMART, meaning specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. “Happier people tend to set more specific, measurable goals, such as; ‘I’m going to walk 30 minutes a day, or something to that effect,’” says Carrie Krawiec, a licensed marriage and family therapist at Birmingham Maple Leaf Clinic in Troy, Michigan. “Sad people tend to set vague, unattainable goals and become even sadder when they can’t achieve them. Example: Want to lose weight? Setting a realistic, smaller goal like ‘I’m going to walk 30 minutes a day,’ will help you get to where you want to be.

3. Give Regularly

“When you give to others, you show compassion, which leads to happiness,” says Caleb Backe, a certified life coach and wellness expert at Maple Leaf Holistic. Research shows that giving — even if it lacks logic and you’re better off keeping these things to yourself — activates parts of the brain associated with happiness. “Your brain responds the same way it would if you were the receiver instead of the giver,” Backe says.

4. Get Comfortable Saying “No”

Feeling pressured to participate in activities or help others out of guilt can quickly lead to resentment toward those who impose their desires on you, says Shelley Meche’tte, a certified life purpose coach and author of 70 Days of Happiness: A Smile That Makes Life Better. “Happier people understand the beauty of setting boundaries and the freedom that the little word ‘no’ really gives.”

5. Be Flexible

Learning to bounce back and give in instead of crumbling when things don’t go your way can reduce stress and increase happiness, Backe says. “Flexibility allows you to have an open mind and be open to new opportunities and perspectives that may differ from your regular way of thinking.”

6. Travel More Often

As if you needed another excuse to get out of town for a break. “We don’t die wishing we had worked more,” Campbell says. "Take a vacation, even if it's just a few long weekends to rest and rejuvenate. Look at the world, and it will change your perspective on all the things you have to be grateful for."

7. Spend Time with Family and Friends

Barbecues. Weekends out. Lunch parties. No matter how you look at it, spending time with family is probably one of the simplest forms of happiness we can engage in. "Happy people understand this concept. Work and responsibilities are always around," Meche'tte says. "When you understand the true value of family and the brevity of time, everything else in life pales in comparison to its importance."

8. Talk to Yourself

In general, unhappy people tend to have low self-esteem and a fairly negative inner dialogue. "Happy people learn to love and value themselves," says Benson Simmonds, an energy healer and author of Soul Power: Eight Doors to Happiness and Abundance. Simmonds recommends asking yourself positive questions every day and reflecting on the good parts of your personality, such as, "What are 25 things I like about myself?" "Make positive self-talk a habit, and everything else will fall into place," he says.

While there is no one secret to happiness, research and experience have proven that practicing certain happiness habits, such as those shared above, can help put you on the right path to living a happier life.