Happiness is within reach! LEARN how to be happy in 7 simple, science-backed steps

BEING happy is something most of us assume is out of our control over.

Our mental state can hinge on how things are going at work and in our personal life, whether we've had a good nights sleep and even the weather.

But scientists argue that we can actually teach ourselves to be content, simply by implementing seven simple "happiness hacks".

A new study by the University of Bristol claims that personal happiness can be achieved by implementing certain evidence-informed habits.

This sense of well-being can be long-lasting, as long as we continue practising these habits, the research team added.

The study - published in  the journal  - questioned 228 undergraduates before and after they took the university's positive psychology course.

The students reported that their emotional well-being had improved by 10 to 15 per cent after taking the course.

Researchers also found that 115 of those students - accounting for 51 per cent of the group - held onto their more positive outlook by continuing to practice the tools they had picked up in class.

Dr Bruce Hood, senior author of the study, and author of The Science of Happiness: Seven Lessons for Living Well, shared seven “happiness hacks” that he taught in the “Science of Happiness” course.

He told : "The intention was that by the end of the course, students have a well-rounded understanding of various factors that can contribute toward their own well-being, rather than a ‘to-do’ list of activities.”

He said the hacks mostly have to do with altering people's perspective.

“They alter the sense of self from one that is overly egocentric, focusing and ruminating on our problems and position in life, to one that is more allocentric - as part of a connected, interrelated network of others and the world at large,” he explained.

Making this kind of shift can render our own problems less overwhelming.

The hacks also encourage seeking out "support and connection with others", Dr Hood added.

From making an effort to be more social to practising gratitude and being kind to others, here Dr Hood's seven "happiness hacks".

1. Perform acts of kindness

Acts of kindness, or doing good, often involve putting other people’s needs before our own.

In giving up our seat on a bus to someone who might need it more, making tea for a coworker or doing charity or volunteer work, you could be making more than those around you happy.

Studies have found that have found that acts of kindness are linked to increased feelings of well-being, with published in 2018 showing that being 'happy to help' increased peoples' personal contentment.