Happiness: How to increase happiness.

1.     Nurture your relationships. Having close relationships and showing gratitude is what gives lasting happiness to people. Winning the lottery doesn't help your happiness in the long run. It’s about people and love, and love can take work. Tell people you care about them; it will make you and them both feel better.

2.     Shorten your commute. Choose homes and jobs that are closer together. Studies show that people who have shorter commutes feel happier. Perhaps this is because they can focus on the things that matter most: more time with friends and family. If you can’t shorten your commute, make it more enjoyable – a good book on tape, or your favorite music.

3.     Volunteer to help those less fortunate. Studies show that people who give back to their community feel better about themselves and live longer. Again, it’s about connections between people, not between you and material possessions. Get involved!

4.     Have more sex. When you are more frequently intimate with the person you love, you’ll both feel better.

5.     Write a letter of gratitude. Send an old fashioned letter or an email to someone who has helped you. If you make a habit of letting people know that you appreciate what they have done for you, you’ll feel better and they’ll feel better.