definition of hypomania?

I was reading this over:
Hypomanic Episode Symptoms | Psych Central

What I've been calling hypomania is much less severe than this. I get hypomanic - in my definition - for a little bit each day. Maybe there's a page about that vs. "episodes"?

My experiences:
-Smiling a little to myself while listening to a song I like. Music tends to make me "feel" hypomanic.
-Thinking about something funny I want to say or someone else said and laughing to myself (if I'm alone).
-Feeling a little bit more energetic but not losing sleep, I especially don't like to fall asleep until 12-1AM vs. 10PM if I am depressed.
-Also, as for grandiosity - I very seldom am unless I'm really sick (in that case, I'm jesus or a genius or whatever) but I can get that way for a few minutes, eg thinking "when I did that, I was really smart..." and then I feel that my daydream had a grandiose tone to it.

If I exhibited 3 or more of the symptoms of that hypomania page for more than an hour, I'd consider myself manic.

My questions:
-Are there words then for things that are demi-hypomania? Or is that page too restrictive?
-I did something a week back and it started making me feel "happy" to see the result and I got excited about it and my first thought was that it was making me hypo. Do you guys still have a separate category for "happy" or does that emotion just blend into hypo?

First, I wouldn't put too much energy into understanding a survey.
What you're describing sounds like normal stable behavior.
Do you work or go to school?- How do you manage those stresses?

I agree with ocean. What you've described sounds like just normal thinking.

When I get hypo, I clean and clean and clean. I start numerous projects, I cook more, I feel euphoric, I don't want to sleep. Just some of what I do when hypo.

You don't want to be bp, trust me....

It can be hard to know what 'normal' or baseline is for me especially when my hypomanic is less than usual.I know my signs -- cleaning, trying to tell everyone how wonderful they are, wanting to call my landlord to tell him what a wonderful landlord he is, wanting to spread the word that life is SO AMAZING. I once told my therapist I felt like there were rainbows coming out of my butt, but I said another word for butt. I may not feel as extreme as deciding to write a novel but it's enough to make me embarrassed.

Umm, and I write very long posts.

My definition would be mania (intensities vary), your "max" in symptomatology, but a severity which makes it (just) possible to suppress it enough to function, provided (momentary) suppression doesn't lead to escalation into mania. So, basically, you know you are at your max and suppressing it doesn't cause you anxiety (so severity is mild).

I'd say for those with mania, a better word for it would pre-mania, as it is sometimes less stable and so qualitatively (sometimes more than at other times) different.

Basically, if you can stay relaxed, you're fine. No break on your behaviour at all or no strange, concerned, surprised looks sounds like normal behaviour to me.

"Actual" definition is symptoms of mania but without causing severe, functional impairment.

The word hypomania is badly chosen: could be anything (except mania).

That's is generally also a good measure (for how anxious you are and escalating things or not): don't you wanna sleep and that for 1 or two days or can't you sleep (either because you desperately want to or despite you know your breaking down rapidly, you just can't because the world needs you; not because you think just your at your best but not for the world can you leave people to their own devices and you have to finish things or all goes to certain damnation).

You also never need a heater.

Not as long as mine!

You've clearly put a lot of thought into this - I like your sig's scale.

I rated what I was calling hypomania on the young mania scale and it seemed to score around an 8 or less so I suppose I'll just call it 'elevated mood not otherwise specified'

Hypomania often involves rapid speech, a flood of ideas, creativity, activity, and a feeling of invincibility (which often leads to poor decisions). For me, it is often followed by a crash of anger, paranoia, and ranting.

However, like other posters have suggested, it presents differently in different patients.