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Habits for Happiness
How do we get happy? Listen to a positive, step-by-step guide on the building blocks for personal happiness by Dr Tim Sharp (aka Dr Happy).
Through ten daily habits, this series provides the learnings and practical strategies for creating a happier life.
Dr Tim Sharp is a clinical and consulting psychologist with three degrees in psychology and a distinguished career over several decades. He’s Australia’s very own “Dr Happy” and the founder of The Happiness Institute.
Through ten daily habits, this series provides the learnings and practical strategies for creating a happier life.
Dr Tim Sharp is a clinical and consulting psychologist with three degrees in psychology and a distinguished career over several decades. He’s Australia’s very own “Dr Happy” and the founder of The Happiness Institute.
Audible Audio
First published January 1, 2007
58 people are currently reading
383 people want to read
About the author
Timothy J. Sharp
12 books20 followersDr Tim Sharp is a highly-respected clinical psychologist at the forefront of Positive Psychology. He is a much sought after conference speaker and has a niche position in the media as the people's resource for happiness and wellbeing, going by the moniker 'Dr Happy'. Tim's broad appeal has seen him publish several books, including the best-seller 'The Good Sleep Guide', he writes a weekly column for the Sunday Telegraph (Body and Soul) and appears on ABC radio regularly. Note from the editor: Not only is positive psychology the most productive and far-reaching arm of clinical research, but Tim makes the most recent discoveries incredibly accessible for the busy person who simply wants proven techniques to improve their life today.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
December 10, 2022
(Throwback Review) The author is trying to tell us ten daily steps for living our happiest life. He tells us the importance of having realistic expectations and achieving them. He depicts the significance of developing the right attitude. He also mentions the difficulty in implementing the habits mentioned in this book. Only practice can help us to make us masters in executing these habits.
1) Create a vision board to imagine your best possible life
2) Find a way to win after setting goals.
3) Have fun and just laugh. (make fun and laughter a priority)
4) Face your fears. (accepting your negative emotions and doing those tough things that hold us back)
5) Exercise, or just dance. (in any way you enjoy)
6) Sleep your way to the top (Get in bed earlier if you are an early bird).
7) Ask for help from others if needed to solve your problems.
8) Give some help to those in need. (Happiness is not just feeling good but also doing good)
9) Focus on what’s going right than what’s going wrong. (especially when you are facing a problem like a pandemic)
10) Forgive others and yourself (practicing self-compassion and compassion for others).
These are all the ten points discussed in this book. Most of us will already be familiar with all the topics discussed here. But still, it is good to read all these points again bundled together as a compendium.
December 20, 2020
An interesting read. Though the tips here are rather simple but it is helpful especially in reminding the listeners. I like the end parts of each habit since they are the experiences of other people on how they applied the specific habit. The last episode also which is episode 12 is about Habits for Happiness in times of lockdown. I like it! 😊😊👌👌
August 25, 2020
1. Imagine your best possible self
Planing out, breaking down high goals into smaller bits or stepts makes it easy to get them done. Make it visual, write it down, draw it, place it somewhere you see it.
2. Set SMART goals
Don't make your goals sound like a fairy tale or a holyday poster. Make them Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time bound (time/cost limited).
Specific - Ex: I want to be happy. < I want stability, being able to pursue a passion, having good people around me, and that will make me happy. Even more specific if you can.
Measurable - Ex: I want money. Q: How much do you need, what do you need it for, are you going to use it for what you need, what can you do to earn that money?
Achievable - Ex: I want a well paid job but I have no skills. Chances are you won't get that anytime soon. How about to take a job to learn a skill first. That might work out and in the end you'll eventually have a well paid job.
Relevant - Don't settle for what other people might consider relevant for you but you don't. “You can fail at what you don't want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.” - Jim Carrey.
Time bound - Be careful how much time you spend on goals that are not worth it. Life is one.
3. Make fun and laughter a priority
We often feel guilty of having had fun activities, leaving them at the end, or skip them considering they are uninportant. Dr. Tim Sharp said something like... remember the things you did that made you happy as a child (a walk, a sport, a book, a game), you need to prioritize doing things that makes you feel how those things did.
4. Embrace your fears
You sould put yourself into situations that you fear but you know you must overcome. Do it voluntarely and gradualy. Dr. Tim explains how jumping out of an airplane was the scariest things he did and helped him engage in other scary situations but without fear afterwards.
5. Exercise and move any way you can
Our body did not evolve to sit all day.
6. Importance of sleep and rest
7 to 8 hours of sleep a night keeps you healty and well rested.
7. Asking for Help
We should not fear asking for help. You don't mind going to mechanic to repair your car, you go to the doctor when you have health issues. It should apply for other aspects of life aswell. You are not ment to always struggle by yourself.
8. Giving Help
In link with the previous habit, helping people overcome a problem usually comes back with a sense of gratitude and being useful.
9. Focus on the Good
Can you write down one thing you are greatful for each day? Yes, you can. And you should. Bringing the good into focus is important. We tend to focus on the bad things, and when you cannot see good or joy in anything that's when you fall in the pit of depression.
10. Forgive others and own self
We cannot change everything and a better strategy sometime is not to hold on to what consumes us and cannot be changed about other people, the world, or ourselves. We have to let it go.
Planing out, breaking down high goals into smaller bits or stepts makes it easy to get them done. Make it visual, write it down, draw it, place it somewhere you see it.
2. Set SMART goals
Don't make your goals sound like a fairy tale or a holyday poster. Make them Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time bound (time/cost limited).
Specific - Ex: I want to be happy. < I want stability, being able to pursue a passion, having good people around me, and that will make me happy. Even more specific if you can.
Measurable - Ex: I want money. Q: How much do you need, what do you need it for, are you going to use it for what you need, what can you do to earn that money?
Achievable - Ex: I want a well paid job but I have no skills. Chances are you won't get that anytime soon. How about to take a job to learn a skill first. That might work out and in the end you'll eventually have a well paid job.
Relevant - Don't settle for what other people might consider relevant for you but you don't. “You can fail at what you don't want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.” - Jim Carrey.
Time bound - Be careful how much time you spend on goals that are not worth it. Life is one.
3. Make fun and laughter a priority
We often feel guilty of having had fun activities, leaving them at the end, or skip them considering they are uninportant. Dr. Tim Sharp said something like... remember the things you did that made you happy as a child (a walk, a sport, a book, a game), you need to prioritize doing things that makes you feel how those things did.
4. Embrace your fears
You sould put yourself into situations that you fear but you know you must overcome. Do it voluntarely and gradualy. Dr. Tim explains how jumping out of an airplane was the scariest things he did and helped him engage in other scary situations but without fear afterwards.
5. Exercise and move any way you can
Our body did not evolve to sit all day.
6. Importance of sleep and rest
7 to 8 hours of sleep a night keeps you healty and well rested.
7. Asking for Help
We should not fear asking for help. You don't mind going to mechanic to repair your car, you go to the doctor when you have health issues. It should apply for other aspects of life aswell. You are not ment to always struggle by yourself.
8. Giving Help
In link with the previous habit, helping people overcome a problem usually comes back with a sense of gratitude and being useful.
9. Focus on the Good
Can you write down one thing you are greatful for each day? Yes, you can. And you should. Bringing the good into focus is important. We tend to focus on the bad things, and when you cannot see good or joy in anything that's when you fall in the pit of depression.
10. Forgive others and own self
We cannot change everything and a better strategy sometime is not to hold on to what consumes us and cannot be changed about other people, the world, or ourselves. We have to let it go.
October 13, 2020
Listened to this one (+ its follow-up, "Habits for Happiness at work") for free through Audible.
There's the usual suspects - getting enough sleep, getting enough exercise. Tim Sharp also recommends creating a vision board for what happiness would look like for you, and then setting SMART goals to work towards achieving them.
One highlight for me was the mention of the "tyranny of when" (which after Googling looks like is a phrase he coined himself). i.e. we shouldn't be falling into the trap of "When X happens I will be happy". I'm definitely guilty of this one!
Might be worth a listen if you've used up your credits on your Audible account but I wouldn't go out of your way to listen to it otherwise.
There's the usual suspects - getting enough sleep, getting enough exercise. Tim Sharp also recommends creating a vision board for what happiness would look like for you, and then setting SMART goals to work towards achieving them.
One highlight for me was the mention of the "tyranny of when" (which after Googling looks like is a phrase he coined himself). i.e. we shouldn't be falling into the trap of "When X happens I will be happy". I'm definitely guilty of this one!
Might be worth a listen if you've used up your credits on your Audible account but I wouldn't go out of your way to listen to it otherwise.
January 29, 2020
As lame as the author’s name “Dr. Happy.”
December 19, 2024
Dr Tim Sharp's Habits for Happiness is interesting, helpful, informative, and inspiring.
May 22, 2025
I think that this was a really simple to follow and implement set of practices aimed at enhancing your levels of happiness. Well worth listening to.
December 12, 2020
There's (almost) nothing in this book you wouldn't already know, or have heard from another source or "expert". But I liked it for its simplicity and easy language. The narrator, who is also the writer, sounds very unassuming and genuinely kind. It is also available for free on Audible.
April 14, 2020
Really good book. Very simple bullet points to understand the concept. Good for people who are looking for practical solutions to find or bring happiness in their lives.
July 29, 2021
Hooter: 10 habits to focus on your happiness
Nothing brand new here but a good reiteration on things one can do to focus on being happy. He explains the reasons behind each of the habit and the effect they can have, share experiences of folks who he has worked with.
From creating a vision board to exercise, setting goals , facing fears, sleep and most importantly having fun. A quick breezy run through and very light.
Nothing brand new here but a good reiteration on things one can do to focus on being happy. He explains the reasons behind each of the habit and the effect they can have, share experiences of folks who he has worked with.
From creating a vision board to exercise, setting goals , facing fears, sleep and most importantly having fun. A quick breezy run through and very light.
June 16, 2021
Good, thoughtful book to help self awareness and some good tips to consider when trying to make yourself happier.
October 13, 2020
Some very good tips, though the episodes were increasingly shorter and it took away from the flow of it.
February 28, 2020
Let me first start by saying that in general I am a happy person. I look at my glass as half full and will generally work through anything bad in my life and overcome it. So why am I getting tips for a happier life? In all honesty it’s because it was free on Audible and I thought what have I got to lose by listening to it? Why not break out of my reading comfort zone and see if I learn something from a different genre? I’m pleased to say that I did.
Dr Happy has got the perfect voice for an audiobook. He is really easy to listen to and he puts his own personality into what he is saying. I didn’t find him patronising or boring at any stage I actually found him motivating.
Habits for Happiness is 10 daily steps to lead happier life. Each episode goes through these steps in detail and Dr Happy gives you several ways to integrate them into your life. You also hear from other people who have followed through with these steps. I found this quite helpful as I often related to one of those people so it enabled me to see where I could make a change in my life.
At first glance the steps all seemed straight forward and none of them were things I hadn’t thought of before but the way they were explained gave them a whole new meaning. I actually realised that whilst I am happy most of the time there are things I can do to make my life even more fulfilling.
Dr Happy has got the perfect voice for an audiobook. He is really easy to listen to and he puts his own personality into what he is saying. I didn’t find him patronising or boring at any stage I actually found him motivating.
Habits for Happiness is 10 daily steps to lead happier life. Each episode goes through these steps in detail and Dr Happy gives you several ways to integrate them into your life. You also hear from other people who have followed through with these steps. I found this quite helpful as I often related to one of those people so it enabled me to see where I could make a change in my life.
At first glance the steps all seemed straight forward and none of them were things I hadn’t thought of before but the way they were explained gave them a whole new meaning. I actually realised that whilst I am happy most of the time there are things I can do to make my life even more fulfilling.
September 4, 2020
I saw a comment by someone saying it's nothing new to him. I wonder if Dr. Tim said anything as such to give an impression that its new ideas to practice to be happier. I loved the book. Easy to listen and easy to understand. This book surely helped me to learn to learn.
January 16, 2021
I really enjoyed listening to this short audiobook, although I already knew most of the tips, that Tim Sharp recommends. And yet - I needed to hear them once again and to realize it's not that hard to be happy. I could be. I just need to focus on it. Forgive myself. Ask more for help and enjoy things. I tend to stress myself with unimportant things a lot and I know it should stop, otherwise I'll be crazy in five years or so.
+ This audiobook is free on Audible, also give it a try!
+ This audiobook is free on Audible, also give it a try!
May 5, 2021
Listened to the audiobook, here are the 10 habits to add happiness to your life. Good thoughts, nothing special though.
1- create a vision board that outlines your best life
2- set goals and find a way to accomplish them
3- add fun to your daily life
4- face your fears
5- exercise - good for body and mind
6-sleep
7- ask for help
8- help others
9- focus on the positive
10- forgive others and yourself
1- create a vision board that outlines your best life
2- set goals and find a way to accomplish them
3- add fun to your daily life
4- face your fears
5- exercise - good for body and mind
6-sleep
7- ask for help
8- help others
9- focus on the positive
10- forgive others and yourself
April 11, 2020
Nothing that I haven't heard before...
June 13, 2023
Dr Timothy J. Sharp's (Or Dr. Happy's) _Habits for Happiness_ receives four stars from me. I'm not really sure if five wouldn't be more accurate. I think this is one I'll have to revisit a few times before I can make a real and true judgment.
Why?
This is a podcast (and I'm not sure if it isn't a book) that really requires action on the part of the listener in order to get the full weight of the material.
Some points I agreed with as I had experience with that: helping others and we help ourselves, for example. All of his points make sense, and I think he explains the effectively.
Recommended: if you feel that you are not as happy as you feel you should be, or if you are like me and just realized that you are not really happy, that there is something bothering you about you, then I think this podcast will be helpful and recommended.
Why?
This is a podcast (and I'm not sure if it isn't a book) that really requires action on the part of the listener in order to get the full weight of the material.
Some points I agreed with as I had experience with that: helping others and we help ourselves, for example. All of his points make sense, and I think he explains the effectively.
Recommended: if you feel that you are not as happy as you feel you should be, or if you are like me and just realized that you are not really happy, that there is something bothering you about you, then I think this podcast will be helpful and recommended.
September 12, 2020
Most of the tips in this book we all do anyway. However, listening to the book on Audible has encouraged me to notice that I am doing these things. It also has helped me understand how exercise, doing things for others and letting them do things for me, can boost happiness.
The book is full of loads of useful tips to help lighten anyones day and make them a little happier. The world can be a very dark place, especially at the moment with the covid situation. This book will help you shine a light into this gloom so the world is a little brighter for us all. Well recommended.
The book is full of loads of useful tips to help lighten anyones day and make them a little happier. The world can be a very dark place, especially at the moment with the covid situation. This book will help you shine a light into this gloom so the world is a little brighter for us all. Well recommended.
February 16, 2021
Three and a half stars.
A series of podcasts on Audible, they give actionable advice on how to live a happier life--from eating well, exercise, sleep, forgiving people, accepting help, giving help to others, scheduling time for fun, practicing gratefulness, and more. I liked that each podcast gives a lot of tips on how to make these things happen in your own life, with tons of examples at the end of each ep. The final episode is all about using the tips in a pandemic.
It's good.
A series of podcasts on Audible, they give actionable advice on how to live a happier life--from eating well, exercise, sleep, forgiving people, accepting help, giving help to others, scheduling time for fun, practicing gratefulness, and more. I liked that each podcast gives a lot of tips on how to make these things happen in your own life, with tons of examples at the end of each ep. The final episode is all about using the tips in a pandemic.
It's good.
March 30, 2021
I have listened to this book on the podcast. Though the tips and the suggestions here are rather simple I found these are helpful as we need to remind these on a regular basis. I liked the session as the words are simple and helpful. The last episode also which is episode 12 is about Habits for Happiness in times of lockdown. I like it!
If you want to read or listen to something short, crisp and positive then give it a try.
If you want to read or listen to something short, crisp and positive then give it a try.
May 12, 2021
Nice and easy listen finished in a day. Good examples from people and Dr Tim Sharp narrates this well although a lot of what is in this book is from many other self-development books. Don't get me wrong many self-development books repeat the same things from others but usually, the ones that get a 4 or 5 star from me have started something new that I didn't know before or something that I can learn that's out of the ordinary. Nevertheless, it's still a good listen on audible. 🙂👍🏼
October 28, 2021
3.5*
This was very educative on what we can do to feel happy even when usually we would not find happiness in certain circumstances.
We know that we should forgive others for their mistakes, we should control our anger etc. But this book helps us understand the 'Why' for all the questions. Why should we control our anger and what is in it for us if we forgive others for their mistakes etc.
A wonderful read. Recommend it highly.
This was very educative on what we can do to feel happy even when usually we would not find happiness in certain circumstances.
We know that we should forgive others for their mistakes, we should control our anger etc. But this book helps us understand the 'Why' for all the questions. Why should we control our anger and what is in it for us if we forgive others for their mistakes etc.
A wonderful read. Recommend it highly.
January 21, 2020
Super interesting series, with a habit for each chapter.
We are starting to realise that happiness affects pretty much everything.
As Dr Sharp says: People who are already happy are 78% more likely to succeed in life than people who are not.
Ouch…
A lot of it seems like common sense, but sometimes it helps to have someone just lay it all out for you.
4 stars
We are starting to realise that happiness affects pretty much everything.
As Dr Sharp says: People who are already happy are 78% more likely to succeed in life than people who are not.
Ouch…
A lot of it seems like common sense, but sometimes it helps to have someone just lay it all out for you.
4 stars
January 8, 2024
Habits for Happiness by Dr. Tim Sharp was great, I loved listening to scientific and practical tips on how to increase happiness. I'd recommend this to anyone, because he's not into toxic positivity, he says we need to feel all of our emotions, but this is a guide on how to be happier and to face difficulties in life.
February 16, 2020
Short and easy to listen and follow. I didn't find anything surprisingly new in this book. Nevertheless, it was nice repetition of what I have already learned from other books. It is well structured set of advices. Recommend.
January 21, 2021
Awful. It really only serves as author's own ego stroking.
Advices are supeeer basic. You probably already do most of those.
Now it really makes sense why it is free on audible.
Dropped it halfway trough because I can't quite take it anymore.
Advices are supeeer basic. You probably already do most of those.
Now it really makes sense why it is free on audible.
Dropped it halfway trough because I can't quite take it anymore.
August 22, 2021
I've listened to this Audible Audio several times and I think it has great information for incorporating habits for happiness. His 10 habits are meaningful and helpful, and his Australian accent is fun to listen to.
December 26, 2022
It was free and it covered the basics- I've always thought Nike covered happiness best. Just Do It_No Fear. That's basically it - face your fears, sleep, exercise, ask for and give help, forgive yourself and persevere.
February 10, 2024
While a majority of his points seem to be common sense, or at least common advice, it’s still helpful to have reminders of how to take control of your mood and focus on what brings you joy by adding self care habits into your daily routine.
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