{"id":596,"date":"2011-09-14T03:18:00","date_gmt":"2011-09-14T03:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/?p=596"},"modified":"2021-03-17T03:35:21","modified_gmt":"2021-03-17T03:35:21","slug":"how-to-take-one-step-closer-to-happiness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/blog\/2011\/09\/14\/how-to-take-one-step-closer-to-happiness\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Take One Step Closer to Happiness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Recently I did something fun. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I made a list of things that make me epically, fantastically, unquestionably blissful. Then, I promised myself that I would do one thing on that list every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/happiness-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-597\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/happiness-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/nickiong.com\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/happiness-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/nickiong.com\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/happiness-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nickiong.com\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/happiness.jpg 1350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Since the day I created my list, I\u2019ve only missed maybe one day (because I was sick). But I\u2019ve noticed that instead of having any of those \u201cicky-today-was-a-waste\u201d days, I\u2019ve felt like every day\u2019s been complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<script async data-uid=\"3981d6929d\" src=\"https:\/\/nickiong.ck.page\/3981d6929d\/index.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>I am by no means suggesting you can \u2013 or should \u2013 plan out perfect moments. Instead, I\u2019m suggesting that if you feel like your day isn\u2019t complete, are feeling \u201cbleh\u201d, or are simply restless, visit your \u201chappy list\u201d and take that next step to being a happier you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For inspiration, some things on my list include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Make dinner while having a glass of wine and listening to jazz.<\/li><li>Spend a night with girlfriends playing cards, watching a movie, or just hanging out\u2026.and laughing. Lots and lots of laughing.<\/li><li>Do a solid\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/blog\/2011\/08\/11\/5-reasons-why-i-love-yoga\/\">yoga session<\/a>.<\/li><li>Get dressed up and go out with friends at a jazz bar.<\/li><li>Get dressed up and go\u2026anywhere!<\/li><li>Take a long, relaxing run.<\/li><li>Check off a ton of items off my to-do list.<\/li><li>Write something I feel good about.<\/li><li>Have a really good conversation with a friend or family member.<\/li><li>Have a kickass lifting session.<\/li><li>Make someone belly laugh.<\/li><li>Belly laugh myself.<\/li><li>Turn off the TV and read a great book.<\/li><li>Take a bubble bath.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>What about you, what\u2019s on your \u201chappy list\u201d?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group wp-block-post-footer\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column\"><div class=\"wp-block-author-meta\">\n  <div class=\"wp-block-author-meta__image-wrap\">\n    <img src=\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/068eb63be25dcd4439f8625fb15c51d7?s=96&#038;d=mm&#038;r=g\" class=\"wp-block-author-meta__image\">\n  <\/div>\n  <span class=\"wp-block-author-meta__byline\">By Nicki Ong<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column\"><div class=\"wp-block-social-share alignright\">\n  <span>Share:<\/span>\n  <a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" class=\"wp-block-social-share__link wp-block-social-share__link--facebook\" data-sharer=\"facebook\" data-hashtag=\"hashtag\" data-url=\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/blog\/2011\/09\/14\/how-to-take-one-step-closer-to-happiness\/\" data-toggle=\"tooltip\" data-placement=\"bottom\" title=\"Post to Facebook\">\n    <svg class=\"facebook\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" width=\"22.426\" height=\"22.426\" viewBox=\"0 0 22.426 22.426\"><defs><clipPath id=\"a\"><path d=\"M0,9.731H22.427V-12.695H0Z\" transform=\"translate(-0.001 12.695)\"><\/path><\/clipPath><\/defs><g transform=\"translate(1)\"><g transform=\"translate(-1 0)\" clip-path=\"url(#a)\"><g transform=\"translate(-0.001 -0.002)\"><path d=\"M9.731,4.866A11.213,11.213,0,0,0-1.482-6.348,11.213,11.213,0,0,0-12.7,4.866,11.215,11.215,0,0,0-3.235,15.943V8.107H-6.082V4.866h2.848V2.394C-3.235-.416-1.56-1.967,1-1.967a17.26,17.26,0,0,1,2.51.219V1.011H2.1A1.62,1.62,0,0,0,.27,2.762v2.1H3.379l-.5,3.242H.27v7.836A11.215,11.215,0,0,0,9.731,4.866\" transform=\"translate(12.696 6.348)\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n  <\/a>\n  <a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" class=\"wp-block-social-share__link wp-block-social-share__link--twitter\" data-sharer=\"twitter\" data-title=\"How to Take One Step Closer to Happiness\" data-via=\"\" data-hashtags=\"\" data-url=\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/blog\/2011\/09\/14\/how-to-take-one-step-closer-to-happiness\/\" data-toggle=\"tooltip\" data-placement=\"bottom\" title=\"Post to Twitter\">\n    <svg class=\"twitter\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"20.823\" height=\"18.599\" viewBox=\"0 0 20.823 18.599\"><path d=\"M.017,16.542A8.149,8.149,0,0,0,6.264,14.6,4.385,4.385,0,0,1,2.3,11.354a4.616,4.616,0,0,0,1.853-.106A4.668,4.668,0,0,1,.779,6.62a4.463,4.463,0,0,0,1.87.523A5.1,5.1,0,0,1,1.361.872,11.97,11.97,0,0,0,10.224,5.8c-.027-.3-.064-.571-.077-.841A4.729,4.729,0,0,1,11.5,1.293,3.948,3.948,0,0,1,15.314.137a3.855,3.855,0,0,1,2.114,1.248.261.261,0,0,0,.294.091,8.327,8.327,0,0,0,2.395-1c.037-.022.077-.04.154-.077a4.664,4.664,0,0,1-1.779,2.506c0,.015.01.033.013.048.258-.051.515-.1.766-.157s.518-.143.773-.23.5-.194.779-.263c-.191.267-.375.541-.575.8a9.21,9.21,0,0,1-1.428,1.478.392.392,0,0,0-.1.263,14.265,14.265,0,0,1-.3,3.355,14.637,14.637,0,0,1-2.294,5.349,11.948,11.948,0,0,1-3.833,3.575,11.008,11.008,0,0,1-3.86,1.357,11.86,11.86,0,0,1-3.615.022,10.933,10.933,0,0,1-3.7-1.251C.746,17.047.375,16.813,0,16.59.007,16.575.01,16.56.017,16.542Z\" transform=\"translate(0 -0.035)\" fill=\"#1a1818\"><\/path><\/svg>\n  <\/a>\n  <a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" class=\"wp-block-social-share__link wp-block-social-share__link--pinterest\" data-sharer=\"pinterest\" data-description=\"\" data-url=\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/blog\/2011\/09\/14\/how-to-take-one-step-closer-to-happiness\/\" data-toggle=\"tooltip\" data-placement=\"bottom\" title=\"Post to Pinterest\">\n    <svg class=\"pinterest\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"20.436\" height=\"20.453\" viewBox=\"0 0 20.436 20.453\"><circle cx=\"10.218\" cy=\"10.218\" r=\"10.218\" fill=\"#fff\"><\/circle><path d=\"M10.218,0A10.221,10.221,0,0,0,6.492,19.738,9.837,9.837,0,0,1,6.526,16.8c.185-.8,1.194-5.08,1.194-5.08a3.722,3.722,0,0,1-.3-1.514c0-1.421.824-2.481,1.85-2.481a1.284,1.284,0,0,1,1.3,1.438,20.2,20.2,0,0,1-.849,3.406,1.486,1.486,0,0,0,1.514,1.85c1.817,0,3.213-1.917,3.213-4.676a4.032,4.032,0,0,0-4.272-4.154A4.422,4.422,0,0,0,5.55,10.024a3.989,3.989,0,0,0,.757,2.33.3.3,0,0,1,.067.294c-.076.32-.252,1.018-.286,1.161-.042.185-.151.227-.345.135-1.278-.6-2.077-2.456-2.077-3.961C3.667,6.761,6,3.8,10.42,3.8a6,6,0,0,1,6.3,5.9c0,3.524-2.22,6.358-5.3,6.358a2.715,2.715,0,0,1-2.338-1.177l-.639,2.43A11.132,11.132,0,0,1,7.174,20,10.227,10.227,0,1,0,10.218,0Z\" fill=\"#1a1818\"><\/path><\/svg>\n  <\/a>\n  <a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" class=\"wp-block-social-share__link wp-block-social-share__link--email\" data-sharer=\"email\" data-title=\"How to Take One Step Closer to Happiness\" data-url=\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/blog\/2011\/09\/14\/how-to-take-one-step-closer-to-happiness\/\" data-toggle=\"tooltip\" data-placement=\"bottom\" title=\"Send via Email\">\n    <svg class=\"email\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"22.532\" height=\"15.772\" viewBox=\"0 0 22.532 15.772\"><path d=\"M226.532,522.563a.565.565,0,0,0-.563-.563H204.563a.565.565,0,0,0-.563.563v1.557l11.266,5.633,11.266-5.633Z\" transform=\"translate(-204 -522)\" fill=\"#343232\"><\/path><path d=\"M226.532,530.236l-11.266,5.633L204,530.236v10.57a.565.565,0,0,0,.563.563h21.405a.565.565,0,0,0,.563-.563Z\" transform=\"translate(-204 -525.597)\" fill=\"#1a1818\"><\/path><\/svg>\n  <\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group wp-block-cta\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-cta__heading\">Want more posts like this?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons wp-block-cta__buttons alignright\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\" href=\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/blog\/category\/life\/\">read more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Recently I did something fun. I made a list of things that make me epically, fantastically, unquestionably blissful. Then, I promised myself that I would do one thing on that list every single day. Since the day I created my&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":597,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v15.9.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Take One Step Closer to Happiness - Nicki Ong<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/blog\/2011\/09\/14\/how-to-take-one-step-closer-to-happiness\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Take One Step Closer to Happiness - Nicki Ong\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Recently I did something fun. I made a list of things that make me epically, fantastically, unquestionably blissful. Then, I promised myself that I would do one thing on that list every single day. Since the day I created my...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/blog\/2011\/09\/14\/how-to-take-one-step-closer-to-happiness\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Nicki Ong\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nickiongcom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nickiongcom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2011-09-14T03:18:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-03-17T03:35:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/happiness.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1350\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"900\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@nicki_ong\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@nicki_ong\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\">\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"2 minutes\">\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/\",\"name\":\"Nicki Ong\",\"description\":\"You want it all, mama...and you get to have it all.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/#\/schema\/person\/4a76bb8c831c145fce98d93c7de96dce\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/?s={search_term_string}\",\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/blog\/2011\/09\/14\/how-to-take-one-step-closer-to-happiness\/#primaryimage\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/app\/uploads\/2021\/03\/happiness.jpg\",\"width\":1350,\"height\":900},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/blog\/2011\/09\/14\/how-to-take-one-step-closer-to-happiness\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/blog\/2011\/09\/14\/how-to-take-one-step-closer-to-happiness\/\",\"name\":\"How to Take One Step Closer to Happiness - Nicki Ong\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/blog\/2011\/09\/14\/how-to-take-one-step-closer-to-happiness\/#primaryimage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2011-09-14T03:18:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-03-17T03:35:21+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/blog\/2011\/09\/14\/how-to-take-one-step-closer-to-happiness\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/blog\/2011\/09\/14\/how-to-take-one-step-closer-to-happiness\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/blog\/2011\/09\/14\/how-to-take-one-step-closer-to-happiness\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"item\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/blog\/2011\/09\/14\/how-to-take-one-step-closer-to-happiness\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/blog\/2011\/09\/14\/how-to-take-one-step-closer-to-happiness\/\",\"name\":\"How to Take One Step Closer to Happiness\"}}]},{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/blog\/2011\/09\/14\/how-to-take-one-step-closer-to-happiness\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/blog\/2011\/09\/14\/how-to-take-one-step-closer-to-happiness\/#webpage\"},\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/#\/schema\/person\/4a76bb8c831c145fce98d93c7de96dce\"},\"headline\":\"How to Take One Step Closer to Happiness\",\"datePublished\":\"2011-09-14T03:18:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-03-17T03:35:21+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/blog\/2011\/09\/14\/how-to-take-one-step-closer-to-happiness\/#webpage\"},\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/#\/schema\/person\/4a76bb8c831c145fce98d93c7de96dce\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/blog\/2011\/09\/14\/how-to-take-one-step-closer-to-happiness\/#primaryimage\"},\"articleSection\":\"Life\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/blog\/2011\/09\/14\/how-to-take-one-step-closer-to-happiness\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":[\"Person\",\"Organization\"],\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/#\/schema\/person\/4a76bb8c831c145fce98d93c7de96dce\",\"name\":\"Nicki Ong\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/#personlogo\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/app\/uploads\/2021\/04\/NO-headshot.jpg\",\"width\":958,\"height\":950,\"caption\":\"Nicki Ong\"},\"logo\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/#personlogo\"},\"description\":\"Founder\/marketing therapist at simple sprout studio, SEO + blog copywriter, mama, wife, fitness\/nutrition enthusiast, forever optimist\",\"sameAs\":[\"http:\/\/nickiong.com\/\",\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nickiongcom\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/nickiongcom\/\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/nickiong\/\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/nickiongcom\",\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/nicki_ong\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCl0ZF7s_Mr0VjF51m-Pqhow\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/596"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=596"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/596\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":598,"href":"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/596\/revisions\/598"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/597"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=596"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=596"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nickiong.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=596"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}