Being happy is not only a personal experience, it is also a chemical response within the body. Dopamine, Serotonin, Oxytocin and Endorphins are the quartet of feel-good chemicals produced in your brain which are responsible for your happiness. They are neurotransmitters that can be triggered by many situations. By understanding how to hack our happiness chemicals, we can take control of our mood and be happy always. In short, a happy brain = a happy life.

When we, as adults and children, engage in activities like exercise, mindfulness, self-care, gratitude and laughter with friends, we release these feel-good chemicals in our brains. Below are listed some happiness hacking strategies and activities that we can do with our children to help improve our moods and relationships.

OXYTOCIN "THE SNUGGLE HORMONE"

Holding hands

Patting your dog or cat

Holding baby

Hugging your family

Snuggling

Giving a compliment

DOPAMINE "THE REWARD CHEMICAL"

Self-care activities

Celebrating accomplishments

Eating food

Adequate sleep

Listening to music

Exercise

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ENDORPHIN "THE PAIN KILLER"

Laughter

Dark chocolate

Exercise

Performing a random act of kindness

Take a bath

SEROTONIN  "THE MOOD STABILIZER"

Take a nature walk

Run

Meditate

Fruits, vegetables and nuts

A healthy dose of sunlight

Practice gratitude

You can undertake the above strategies and activities as early as possible with your children so that they become healthy habits that can be incorporated into their lives as they grow.

As parents, we also need to practice self-care and coping skills and hack the happy chemicals. They are important for our own health and happiness too. Research proves that exercise, mindfulness, gratitude, laughter and self-care lead to increased health and happiness.

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