Do you have a happy place? Perhaps you have several. A happy place is one where we feel good, inspired, comforted, and, well, happy. I love being outdoors in beautiful settings, but only when the weather isn’t too warm or too cold. I also love being snuggled under a blanket with a warm puppy curled up next to me and a good book in my hands. Unfortunately, I can’t always be at the beach or hiking in the woods or curled up with my dogs and my books. But I can create happy spaces in my every day life.
I started thinking about this topic as I was contemplating returning to work full-time. What work setting would be ideal for me? I’ve worked in classrooms for the last 18 years (first as a volunteer and then as a teacher). I love classroom environments. But I also love educational environments in general. Trip to a museum? I’m there. Hanging out at the library? I’m coming! Visiting a college campus? Please take me with you. There is something about educational environments that make my heart happier. So I’m looking for work in an educational setting because I want to spend more time in one of my happy places.
How to Find Your Happy Place
Chances are you already have a pretty good idea of where your happy place is. It’s where you feel peaceful, supported, inspired and revived. These spots are as varied as the people who love them. Some people love being at the seashore dipping their toes into warm sand and smelling the fresh ocean air. Others prefer mountain or forest scenery and the sound of wind through the trees. Some people are happiest indoors in quiet places or with certain people.
There is some evidence that happy places are tied to our personalities. Check out this article from Psychology Today to see how being an introvert or extrovert can affect where you find your happy place. I like both spots equally well and am an ambivert, so they may be on to something here.
I think it is important to find a happy place closer to home. Most of us aren’t lucky enough to live close to the beach or a forest. We need to find a spot that we can retreat to on a regular basis. If you are still trying to find that kind of happy place for yourself, consider the following questions.
- Do you enjoy being in nature and, if so, what kind of natural setting do you prefer?
- Can you create a natural setting in your home or yard?
- What kind of lighting and sounds make you feel good?
- Is there a type or types of music that soothe or energize you?
- What do you consider to be beautiful?
- Do certain colors make you happier?
- What makes you feel the most at peace?
- What inspires you the most?
- Is it possible to make your home or work environment more of a happy place for yourself?
- When you visit someplace new, what do you search out? What do you really want to see and do?
How to Create a Happy Place
There are several ways to create a happy place for yourself that doesn’t require a complete overhaul of your life. Begin where you are at now. The first step is recognizing what makes you happy and then finding ways to add more of that into your life.
If your happy place is in nature, determine how you can add time in nature to your schedule. Perhaps it’s adding more plants to your home, garden or patio and spending more time caring for them and simply being around them. Maybe you can schedule in a weekly hike near your home that gets you out into nature.
If your happy place is with family and friends, make time in your schedule to be with them. Organize a family game night or a family reunion. Try to have family dinners on a regular basis. Dedicate part of your free time as “family time” and make that sacred. Nothing should come before it.
As I’ve explained, some of my happiest places are educational. I love the library. Museums also rank high on my happy place list. I even find pleasure walking on a college campus or watching a good documentary. Education spaces are my happy places. I can’t really hang out on campus as there is not university in my town and it might be creepy for a non-student to hang out there anyway. But I can spend time in my local library and I can get to museums as frequently as my schedule and budget allow.
Your Home As a Happy Place
Can you find ways of making your home a happy place? After all, it is the place you spend a lot of your time. Perhaps you could add color that soothes you by painting walls or adding accessories. You can play music that refreshes you and enjoy food that revives you. Food can definitely be a part of happy spaces. Are there traditions you can create in your home that will contribute to making it a happier space?
Of course, most of us live with other people. Sometimes this increases our happiness at home and sometimes it doesn’t. If your home is a less happy space because of who you share it with, consider talking through what is causing those conflicts. Is it simply a lack of communication? Or maybe some professional advice from a counselor could help work through the issues and make home a happier place for everyone.
Your Job As a Happy Place
If you’re not at home, you’re probably at work (or school). We spend an awful lot of time working and we can make our work places happy spaces too.
Once you have a good idea of what makes your place a happy one, search for a job that lets you spend some time in it. My daughter loves being outdoors and is studying Environmental Science at her university. She is hoping to have a career that lets he spend time outside in nature. I love educational spaces and I work as an educator. My dream job would probably be in a museum working with educational outreach. Sigh, what a happy place that would be for me!
I know that many people do not have the luxury to work in their happy place. In my 20s, I had a job in a toxic environment. I needed to job to pay my bills so I stayed when all I wanted to do was quit and never go back. Unfortunately, many people face this situation in their place of employment. If this is the situation you find yourself in, there will never be a better time than now to look for your next job. Plan your escape. No one should have to be bullied or mistreated for a paycheck. You deserve to work in an environment that you feel safe and secure in.
Other Happy Places, Spaces, and Ideas
One of the first things I do when visiting a new place is look up two things: bakeries and bookstores. Two of the happiest places on the planet, if you ask me. But I have a friend who looks up where to get the best milkshakes in town and another who is all about hiking trails. Ask yourself what you like to look for most and you’ll find one (or more) of your happy places.
Last summer, I read The Little Book of Lykke: Secrets of the World’s Happiest People (The Happiness Institute Series)
Happiness is a common topic here at My Cup of Cocoa. There is more than enough unhappiness in the world. The goal here is to help find more happy things and share them with our readers. For more ideas, check out Three Proven Ways to Improve Happiness and 10 Best Ted Talks About Happiness.
As always, thank you for reading and sharing your ideas in the comment section below. I’d love to know about your happy places. And please use the social media buttons to share.
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