Simple things make people happy

Finding a 200,000 VND coin in your pocket, being complimented by strangers and receiving free things are among the small, simple things in life that make us feel happy and fulfilled, according to new research.

Finding money that you forgot or didn't know you had is one of the best mood-boosters. Photo: AP

A survey sponsored by the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel chain (USA) conducted in the UK revealed that finding money that you forgot or didn't know you had is the best thing to improve your mood.

Rounding out the top five simple things that make people happy are a sunny day, going to the supermarket checkout and finding an item you picked up on sale, a freebie, and sleeping in a bed with brand new sheets.

Doing a good deed yourself can also bring a burst of joy. In addition, nearly two-thirds of respondents (62%) have a sweet tooth, and four in 10 say a treat of chocolates, cakes and biscuits would make them feel better.

A sunny day is also something that makes people feel excited. Photo: Word Press

Nearly a third of survey respondents admitted to becoming irritable when hungry. In addition, more than half (52%) of respondents claimed to have an optimistic outlook on life, and 56% described themselves as exceptionally happy.

In a typical week, one-third of people said they were “really happy” 75% of the time, while 27% said there were three to four things that made them happier.

Pleasant surprises always bring the greatest moments of happiness, with 82% of people claiming the best things in life are the ones they don't expect.

Dr Glenn Williams, lecturer in psychology at Nottingham Trent University (UK), explains: "Experiencing positive emotions regularly is essential for our health and happiness.

As the research shows, a powerful path to happiness doesn’t have to involve big, planned events like getting married, moving to a new home, getting a promotion, or even going on a vacation. Instead, it’s the small, often unexpected things that add joy to life that can make us laugh each and every day and help us build happier, more meaningful lives for ourselves and others.”

According to vietnamnet