Most people equate money with happiness. In fact, if you were to ask people what one thing would make them happier, more than half would say earning more money. Is this really the case? If we just make more money, we would be happier?

According to a study published in the Review of General Psychology more money does not make us happier. In fact, they argue that the events that take place in our lives, whether they’re related to money or not, make up just 10 percent of our happiness. And Australian researchers have found that people in Sydney, who tend to be well-off, are among the most miserable in the country while some in the poorest areas are much more satisfied overall.

So why is this and what does it take to be happy? Experts say that once people get what they want, they tend to increase their expectations, thus being no happier than they were before.

If you want to experience happiness in your life, here are some tips to start following now:

• Show gratitude – Be thankful everyday for the little things
• Do something new
• Do something for others – volunteer your time or donate money or resources to a good cause
• Find work you love
• Exercise regularly – you’ll relax your muscles, increase your pulse, and release endorphins