CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOR A TOP 2018
Losing weight, giving up smoking and exercising usually top the list on people’s New Year’s resolutions, but instead of going for tangible changes why not opt for happiness instead?
ITV This Morning’s experts Eva and Nik Speakman believe they have found the path to happiness and encourage Sunday Mirror readers follow it in 2018.
“The great thing about New Year is that it’s a new start,” said Eva. “It’s a great motivator because it’s a boost thinking: ‘It’s a whole new year ahead’ and realising that it’s yours. The first step to happiness is to please yourself, and then the people around you will feel that happiness, too.” Appreciate what you have got
meetings Communication is key to a happy family. A monthly family meeting to discuss achievement, worries and responsibilities around home is important. Good news jar This is a great way to capture, appreciate and relive your happy achievements, fun times and amazing experiences. Write the It’s really important to realise how much you have and how much you are capable of. Conscious gratitude can cover anything from friends and family, to gadgets making life easier. The person you believe yourself to be, good or bad, is the person you tell the world, family and friends you are. Love and respect yourself so you can be loved and respected in return. Studies show we become like the five people we spend most time with. It’s imperative to surround yourself with kind, positive people. Your experience is based entirely on the words you use to describe it. Upgrade your life by being cross instead of furious, or instead of being OK be fantastic. Having goals will give you direction, purpose and a sense of achievement. If your home and work space are in order, this gives you a feeling of power, focus and achievement. You spend most of your day with your colleagues, so try and find commonalities and opportunities to team build. Having ambitions, goals and plans within your work will help to keep you engaged and enthusiastic, and give you a sense of purpose. Poor time management will make you feel overwhelmed which creates added stress. Try arriving 15 minutes earlier to allow time to reflect on the day ahead and list what you would like to achieve. Lights lift mood. Remove light absorbing clutter from window sills and use lights, lamps and mirrors to brighten your home and help you feel happier. The home is a place to relax, switch off and recharge so to lift your mood and create a happy environment, display happy pictures and photographs. Smell has a strong impact on your mood so use candles, oils or scents.
date and achievement on a paper and you can reflect on them in your family meetings. At the end of the year you have a whole jar of memories. It’s also great to help positive thinking. Quality time together We often take for granted those from whom we know we receive unconditional love. It is vital to spend time together as a family doing things everyone can enjoy.
■ The Speakmans cover happiness and more in their new book Your Key To Upgrading Your Life, available on QVC on January 3, and from Amazon from January 10.