“Happy girls are the prettiest girls.” — Audrey Hepburn

Hepburn was right, and that loveliness has little to do with shape, size or appearance. In a world where negative terms like “bikini body” run rampant, summer isn’t often the easiest time to nurture your physical and emotional wellbeing—particularly when you have an eating disorder. If you could wave a magic wand and embrace your body and self in a snap, summertime enjoyment might seem a given, but we all know it’s not nearly that simple. You can, however, take steps to shift your focus away from the season’s stressors, making self-care and high spirits more feasible.

In addition to seeking and maintaining any necessary treatment and avoiding negative influences, the following proven habits can help keep your mind on more positive ventures, lifting your spirits in the process.

5 Ways to Cultivate Happiness

1. Focus on proactivity. It may sound contradictory, but fixating on the pursuit of happiness can keep it from flourishing, according to Stanford research, while bringing light to any lack thereof. Keep a list of feasible activities you enjoy in a visible place. Whenever you could use an emotional lift, glance at the list and choose an item to engage in. Send a greeting card to a loved one, for example, or play with your pet.
2. Set healthy, concrete goals. A study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology Showed that setting concrete goals, such as making at least one person smile or planting a flower, versus broad aspirations, like saving the environment or finding your life’s purpose, increase success and happiness—all of which makes larger feats in life more attainable. For ensured wellness, avoid diet or fitness related goals without your treatment professional’s approval.
3. Surround yourself with positive people. Psychologist James H. Fowler analyzed 20 years of data involving 5,000 people and found that happiness is exponentially contagious. In other words, your happiness positively influences not only your friends, but your friends’ friends’ friends’ happiness. So spend time with happy others, recognizing that the joy experienced will reach far. Positive people are also most likely to value you for who you are.
4. Nurture close relationships. While you’re mingling with positive folks, invest extra time and energy into relationships with your nearest and dearest. Unlike material goods, which may bring temporary glee, research shows that people reap mood benefits and gratification from close relationships well after the start. Having a close friend or two in your corner also provides a valuable means of support when you most need it.
5. Schedule joyous events in advance. A study that followed 974 Dutch vacationers showed that pleasure trips don’t boost overall happiness, but anticipating vacations two months in advance does. Whether it’s a weekend getaway or a simple gathering with friends, make sure you always have an uplifting event to look forward to. Add it to your calendar. Heck, add stickers and glitter. Highlighting the good in your life increases your odds of delight.

How do you cultivate happiness? What’s your favorite tip? Tweet us at @NEDAStaff and/or @AugstMcLaughlin. We love hearing from you!