When wondering why happy people are more productive, flexible, and energetic, I thought about my friend that I nicknamed “Little Miss Sunshine.” (Yes, she knows.)
Little Miss Sunshine and I have been friends for about 10 years. And, on occasion, I have wanted to punch her for being so happy.
Except, I’m not jealous of her happiness. I am incredibly envious of her high levels of productivity and energy.
Countless times I have asked her if she sleeps, ever procrastinates, or even just forgets to do something.
Overall, I would say I’m an optimistic, happy human being. Like everyone else I have good days and bad days, but I’m no Little Miss Sunshine. Seriously, her happiness level is amazing and genuine.
Why Are Happy People More Productive?
Happy people are more productive because of the dopamine hit they get when completing a task or reaching a goal.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in your brain that is responsible for your feelings of accomplishment and satisfaction. When you feel good, you are motivated to continue working and reaching your goals. To be clear, it can’t be busy work or just any kind work that produces dopamine. It is work that has personal meaning, interest, and goals that are of interest to you that give you these hits of happiness.
Happiness is derived from meaning, rather than pleasure-seeking.
When you are burned out and/or exhausted, you aren’t very productive. Burnout is associated with negative emotions like resentment, anger, and frustration. All very unproductive emotions, as well as, energy depleting.
Stress – the core of burnout – is also a happiness and productivity killer. When you become stressed, you become less happy, as well as, disengaged from your work and relationships.
Hang Around Happy People
It’s a good thing I keep Little Miss Sunshine in my life because happiness is contagious. Thinking back to many of our interactions and various projects we have worked on, I am more productive when we work together. (No wonder she is the first person I think of when I am thinking I need a boost of motivation.)
Here is what Little Miss Sunshine brings to the table:
- Her happiness boosts energy, confidence, and excitement.
- She encourages teamwork and social encounters.
- Her joy reduces stress levels and depression.
What Do Happy People Do Differently?
Research has shown that happy people have five common beliefs, habits, and motivation. They:
- Have A Sense of Purpose: First, don’t confuse being busy with fulfilling your purpose. Busy work usually doesn’t address your internal why or feed its needs. A sense of purpose is less of a goal, and more of your internal “why” for doing something. Your sense of purpose brings you stability and direction when you are experiencing setbacks and challenges.
- Make To-Do Lists: Want to know why you get such a rush from checking things off of your To-Do List? You get a hit of dopamine – a natural mood enhancer – that makes you feel like you are accomplishing something in life. The more you accomplish, the better you will feel.
- Set Goals: Achieving personal goals based on your interests increases your emotional well-being. So, you will be happier when you achieve your goals. There is also a dopamine release when you reach your goals. In turn, this motivates you to work towards more goals.
- Declutter: Clutter interferes with productivity. And, as we have been talking about, you are happier when you are productive. Clutter is distracting and interferes with concentration. For many, cleaning creates an adrenaline and excitement. In a study, more than 80% of participants reported feeling accomplished and in control after cleaning. After spending the weekend cleaning out my closet, I can verify this is true.
- Exercise: Moving your body releases endorphins (also a happy chemical), lowers your stress, and relieves anxiety. It also helps you focus and concentrate on the positive.
Consistently doing a few of these five things will increase your level of happiness and boost your productivity.
Other Things You Can Do To Boost Your Happiness
Happy people don’t necessarily do all five of the activities listed above and running to complete your To Do List won’t automatically give you a rush of dopamine.
You also need to be doing things will support completing a To-Do List, reaching a goal, and maintaining a positive mindset. Some examples of these activities:
- Start each morning on your own terms. Start with an intention instead of diving into emails or social media.
- Each day, journal about your day – both good and bad.
- Since you have the most energy in the morning, do your hardest task first.
- Plan regular get-togethers with family and friends. Also, set reminders for checking in on them.
- Spend more time outside.
- Take micro-breaks throughout the day.
- Learn something new.
- Help someone else.
Please don’t tell Little Miss Sunshine I gave away her secrets…
