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Happy Habits
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Happy Habits

50 Science-Backed Rituals to Adopt (or Stop) to Boost Health and Happiness

About the Book

50 habits to start (or stop!) right now in order to be happier, healthier, less stressed, and more productive—from the best-selling author and happiness expert behind Think Happy.

Forming new habits can improve your mood and invigorate your daily routine, but you’ve gotta figure out which ones to adopt or drop. How can you successfully create habits—and what new habits will actually increase your happiness and fulfillment?

Wellness expert Karen Salmansohn to the rescue! Happy Habits presents fifty habits that span body, mind, relationships, work, home, and play. Karen shares the tools you need to master fundamental habits (daily meditation; practicing gratitude), surprising happiness-boosting techniques (crying regularly; strategic complaining), and tips for easily incorporating new habits into your daily life. Filled with fascinating studies and simple rituals, this illustrated guide offers fun, accessible ways to uplift your life.
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Praise for Happy Habits

Praise for Karen Salmansohn

“Salmansohn reminds us that in life, we are in charge of our own destiny. We have the power to overcome through gratitude, humor and courage.”—Tony Robbins, New York Times bestselling author

“Karen is an expert on psychological research studies to help you not only recover from the tough times, but also bounce back to an even higher level than your previous bests.”—Tim Ferriss, New York Times bestselling author

“Karen packs a library’s worth of proven insights into all she does. For anyone mired in the dumps—or who just wants to live more joyfully—Karen’s for you!”—Gretchen Rubin, New York Times bestselling author

“Karen’s writing is like Paxil without the side effects.  If you’ve been sucker-punched by life (in other words, if you’re human), Karen gives you empowering, user-friendly tips to deal with it. The very act of reading her writing will make you feel happier.”—A.J. Jacobs, New York Times bestselling author

“Salmansohn’s writing is bold, playful, insightful – with powerful metaphors that provoke and inspire. Her kinetic images amplify her message and take her books to a new level of literary experience.”—Deepak Chopra, New York Times bestselling author
 
“If you’re not happy with what you’re getting, maybe you need a whole new plan. Karen Salmansohn offers you one. Start now!”—Seth Godin, New York Times bestselling author

“Karen Salmansohn is a creative force of nature. I love her insights and relentless commitment to helping people live happy and successful lives. Her smart sense of humor and unusual metaphors make changing your life not only do-able but, totally fun. I simply adore her!”—Marie Forleo, founder, The B School

“Salmansohn’s got sass and shine! Her work sparks people to wake up, and at the same time, gives the comfort of perennial wisdom—such a divine combo. Sass and shine, in the best packaging!”—Danielle LaPorte, best selling author of The Fire Starter Sessions and The Desire Map

“Life is full of surprise challenges—and Karen Salmansohn offers informative research from the world of resiliency psychology to help ensure you bounce back from tough times stronger, better, happier!”—Marci Shimoff, New York Times bestselling author

“Salmansohn’s advice for regaining your footing after a life set back is smart, do-able and even fun.” —Lucy S. Danziger, Editor-in-Chief, SELF magazine

“Karen Salmansohn is the high priestess of great attitude!”—Marshall Goldsmith, New York Times bestselling author

“Karen Salmansohn will lift your spirits at the same time, focus your path in the truths, challenges and opportunities found in everyday life.”—Sharon Salzberg, co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society

“Karen Salmansohn is a big brain in high heels.”—Goldie Hawn, actress and founder The Hawn Foundation
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Excerpt

Happy Habits

Introduction

The Psychology of Habit Formation


You might think you mindfully choose whatever you do on a given day—but think again.

Around 40 to 45 percent of your daily actions are actually preprogrammed habits.

So, doesn’t it make sense to prep your brain with really, really good habit programming?

The better these 40 to 45 percent preprogrammed daily habits are—the better your entire life will be.

So . . .

• You need to make sure you’re NOT programmed to do lots of self-sabotaging, unhealthy, unloving, negative habits.

• You need to make sure you ARE programmed to do lots of healthy, loving, successful, positive habits each day.

Because the sum of your habits has such influence on your life, in order to boost your overall happiness, you gotta tweak the habits you do most often!

No worries! I’m here to help.

The fifty habits in this book are simple, repeatable actions for you to adopt—or drop—to increase your happiness!

About the Author

Karen Salmansohn
Karen Salmansohn is the bestselling author and book packager of more than 25 books for adults and tweens with more than 1 million copies sold. She has worked as an image consultant, serving clients such as MTV, Nickelodeon, Oxygen Media, and L'Oreal. She has been a featured happiness expert on the Today show, The View, CNN, Fox News, and Real Time with Bill Maher, and has written for Psychology Today, Mind Body Green, Positively Positive, and The Huffington Post. She and her work have been covered by the New York Times, Businessweek, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Time, Marie Claire, Fast Company, InStyle, Self, ELLE, and the New Yorker. More by Karen Salmansohn
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