Ask people what makes them feel happy, and you are bound to get a lot of different answers.
In fairness, the majority of us agree on the bigger picture; family, friends, love and health all matter the most when it comes to happiness, but what about the smaller things?
Like; I feel incredibly happy when the house in clean on a Friday. Or when I get a blow dry and my hair looks on point. More? The perfect frothy latte. A new bottle of Chanel nail polish. A really well made margarita.
These might not be your happiness boosters, but they sure are mine – along with a whole long list of other things that might seem insignificant to some, but, that to me, hold the power to give my day a little lift.
The thing is, though, according to a study done by the British health insurance provider, BUPA, many of us share the same views on what makes us feel happy.
Having asked around, here are their list of the top 50 things that make us all feel great. See how your happiness boosters measure up:
1. Sleeping in a freshly made bed
2. Feeling the sun on your face
3. People saying ‘thank you’ or a random act of kindness from a stranger
4. Finding money in unexpected places
5. Having time to myself
6. Laughing so hard it hurts
7. Snuggling on the sofa with a loved one
8. Freshly made bread
9. Doing something for others
10. The clean feeling after a shower
11. When your favourite song comes on the radio
12. Finding a bargain in the sales
13. Listening to the rainfall/thunderstorms when you’re inside
14. Freshly brewed tea / coffee
15. The thrill of personal achievement
16. Having a long hot bath
17. Seeing a fresh coating of snow
18. Freshly cut grass
19. Chocolate melting in your mouth
20. Doing something active outdoors
21. Bacon cooking in the morning
22. Talking to or playing with your pet
23. A soothing massage
24. That ‘Friday feeling’
25. A perfectly cooked steak
26. Waking up before the alarm and realising there’s more time to sleep
27. Doing exercise
28. Rainbows
29. Remembering the name of something/someone you thought you’d forgotten
30. Making a perfectly baked cake/pie
31. Stepping on crunchy autumn leaves
32. Popping bubble wrap
33. Swimming in the sea
34. New car smell
35. Dancing like no-one is watching
36. The smell of new books/magazines
37. Smell of a fine wine
38. Putting your Out of Office on before going on holiday
39. Putting on a brand new pair of socks
40. Watching your breath float away in cold air
41. Getting new stationery
42. Singing in the shower
43. Getting a seat on the bus / train / tube
44. Picking an easy peel orange from the fruit bowl
45. Loosening your jeans after you’ve eaten
46. The ‘pop’ when you open a new jar of jam
47. Squeezing a spot
48. Cleaning the wax from your ears
49. Cleaning the bathroom
50. The Royal Family
