Easy strategies for enhancing personal happiness, as suggested by former Google expert Mo Gawdat - the one who discovered the formula for happiness

Mo Gawdat, a renowned happiness expert and former Chief Business Officer at Google X, shares his insights on how to find joy in today's fast-paced world.

In his best-selling book, "Solve for Happy: Engineer Your Path To Joy," Gawdat provides a comprehensive guide to happiness. He defines happiness as peacefulness, a calm inside you when you are ok with life as it is.

One of Gawdat's main tips for boosting happiness is to connect with humans without using technology. However, he acknowledges that this may not always be possible in today's world. In such cases, he suggests sending voice notes instead of written messages to humanize technology usage.

Gawdat also emphasizes the role of technology in happiness, urging to use it for good and drop its negative aspects. He advises unsubscribing from unnecessary emails and messages to reduce digital distractions.

Gratitude is another crucial factor in Gawdat's happiness equation. He believes that gratitude helps train the brain to focus on what's going well and find happiness more frequently. Practicing gratitude can be done through gratitude journals or by keeping a collection of photos.

Gawdat's equation for happiness is: Happiness is equal to or greater than the difference between the events of your life and your expectations of how life should behave. This equation underscores the importance of managing expectations and finding contentment in the present.

After leaving Google, Gawdat became an author and public speaker focusing on artificial intelligence, its future impact on jobs, and human happiness. He critically analyses AI development and warns about job displacement caused by AI technologies.

To start the day on a positive note, Gawdat recommends waking up 30 minutes earlier after a good night's sleep. This extra time allows you to meet yourself first and prepare for the day.

Gawdat also recommends scheduling the things on your 'happy list' into daily or weekly life. His 'happy list' involves jotting down 'I feel happy when...' five times and thinking about everyday things that bring happiness, such as having a cup of coffee in silence, going to a yoga class, or walking the dog.

In addition, Gawdat suggests choosing the 'happy way' to do things, like having meetings on a balcony or speaking properly to baristas in coffee shops, to improve mood and reduce irritation.

Finally, Gawdat recommends measuring time spent on technology, questioning its utility, and switching off notifications and phones for a few hours a day. By doing so, you can reduce digital distractions and focus on the things that truly matter - your happiness.

In conclusion, Gawdat's guide to boosting happiness offers practical, actionable steps that anyone can implement in their daily life. By focusing on gratitude, connecting with others, and managing expectations, you can find peacefulness and contentment in even the busiest of days.