We’d all like to feel happier, but happiness can sometimes seem like an elusive emotion that only certain people can experience regularly.

Happiness is a huge topic of discussion nowadays – you can walk through any self-help section of your local bookstore and see dozens of books on the topic. Research happiness on Google and you’ll notice that thousands of entries pop up. However, as much as people talk about happiness, do we really understand how it works?

While happiness means something different for everyone, you can actually do a few things each day to make it easier to feel happy.

Here are 6 habits of consistently happy people:

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1. They get up early.

Studies have shown that people who wake up earlier not only feel happier but are more productive than their peers who sleep in. Something about seeing the sunrise while drinking a morning cup of tea or coffee allows you to reflect on life and actually have time in the morning for yourself.

Sleeping in means you’ll have to rush to make it to work on time, and also won’t have as much energy as someone who tackles tasks early in the morning before others wake up. As they say, the early bird gets the worm, and this age-old phrase obviously holds a lot of truth.

Related Article: 10 Things You Should Do Every Day Before 10 AM

2. They exercise regularly.

Happy people also make it a point to move their bodies often – a sedentary lifestyle only clouds the mind and promotes an unhealthy body. Consistently happy people know this, as we all know that exercise releases feel-good hormones and endorphins that boost your mood and give you the energy to make it through the day. Happy people care about their bodies and make sure to treat them well so that they feel their best.

3. They don’t sweat the small stuff.

The happiest people don’t let trivial matters get in the way of their mood – they simply allow the experiences to happen, whether good or bad, and learn from them. Happy people enjoy life no matter what happens because they know that the little stresses of life also hold valuable lessons and are necessary in order to enjoy the best things in life. Consistently happy people let the trivial matters in life roll off their shoulders and simply get back up again when life knocks them down.

4. They make new goals and try their hardest to achieve them.

Consistently happy people also write down their goals and go after them. They don’t allow themselves to become complacent and stagnant – they constantly want to set the bar higher for themselves and achieve things they never thought were possible. The happiest people push themselves to the limit in life and don’t allow anything to stand in the way of personal greatness, whatever that means to them.

5. They love to learn.

Also, happy people never stop learning. They have a curious mind and always want to know more than they did before about a variety of topics. They have an open mind as well. So they allow new information to pour in while making a point to go over it later. They absorb new skills quickly and consider life as a constant learning tool. Consistently happy people love to learn because they know that new information and ways of looking at something will help them grow as human beings.

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6. They help others often.

Finally, the happiest people don’t just hoard all of the good energy for themselves – they share it with others. They look out for their fellow human beings and offer a helping hand whenever possible. This might mean that they volunteer at a local animal or homeless shelter, or engage in small acts of kindness such as opening the door for others. Happy people look at humanity as a giant team and want to serve others so as to promote unity and care for other human beings.

As you can see, it doesn’t take much to become a happier person; it just takes consistency, commitment, and consideration for others to boost your mood. Happiness isn’t just meant for a certain group of people – anyone can become happier in their life if they just choose to feel happier!

Related article: 6 Key Reasons Happy People Stay Happy