TOP TIPS FOR HAPPINESS
Increase the levels of joy in your life, using tried and tested techniques from top happiness gurus…
Happiness can be an evasive state of mind, easily knocked by stressors and the unpredictability of daily life. So how do you stay chipper when life seems dull or things aren’t going your way?
Happiness guru Peter Jones suggests drawing up a happiness plan, which is detailed in his humorous and insightful book, How To Do Ever ything And Be Happy. He recommends making lists of things you enjoy and then doing them!
He suggests a “now list” (things to do soon), and a “wish list” (things to plan ahead), so you have things to look for ward to and things to enjoy right away. Listing the things that made him unhappy – with a view to eliminating them from his life – made him miserable. So focus on the positives, he says!
Last year, psychologists from the University of Tennessee showed that smiling can make people happier. It’s long been disputed whether this ef fect is real, but the researchers behind this recent review seem to think so. Why not tr y it? According to their analysis, facial expressions have a small impact on feelings, so smiling can boost your mood. Smile when you’re not feeling ver y bright and it might lift your spirits! You’ll probably find people smile back, which is pretty cheer y too!
Be Kind sometimes trends on social media following a bad news stor y, but it’s actually good advice for ever yday living. Proactively looking for ways to be kind can be good for your own mood and wellbeing.
Pay people compliments, make them feel good, show kindness, of fer positive feedback, and their happiness or gratitude will rub off on you.
Happiness can be fleeting or prolonged. If you feel happy, tr y to savour the moment. Get into the habit of spending time fully experiencing and immersing yourself in moments of happiness when they come your way. This can help to prolong the feeling, so perhaps you’ll feel happier all day.
We all know that stress can make us unhappy. Conversely, finding ways to relax can make us happier. Whether it’s yoga, a good book, a movie, a show or a trip to the pub, it’s impor tant to schedule regular relaxation time, so you don’t feel stressed out and frazzled all the time.
A study by the University of Minnesota, published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology, found that wide goals can bring greater happiness than narrow goals, perhaps because they’re easier to achieve. Author Professor Rohini Ahluwalia said, “We predicted that people with general goals would engage a broader range of emotions and experience more happiness over time.” The study showed that par ticipants with broader happiness goals experienced more positive emotions after watching movies or listening to music. So rather than focusing on a specific goal, like excitement, we should be open to all the pleasures that a purchase or experience can bring: humour, excitement and joy, for example. This holds true for more serious goals, where small steps are seen as a measure of success, not just the final sprint past the finish line.
Another well-documented way to increase your happiness is to spend more time in a natural environment. Whether that’s doing group activities in your local park, a walk in the countr yside or spending time in the garden, anything that brings you closer to nature can help. Pay attention to the trees and flowers, immerse yourself in the beauty of the natural world.
Studies have repeatedly found that spending time in the countr yside, or a natural environment, reduces stress levels and improves your mood. In the summer time, it’ll help to boost your vitamin D levels too!