EASY WAYS TO SPOIL yourself
While you may focus on giving back to mum this year, make sure you indulge in the other incredible mama in your life, too – you. There’s a guaranteed mood boost in allowing yourself ‘me time’ every day. Furthermore, taking time out will lower stress levels, help you become more productive and have more energy. Here are some things to try…
WRITE A LIST
Get out a piece of paper and pen, and write a list of what makes you happy. Place it on your fridge or next to your computer. It could be dancing, a coastal walk with the kids or going to the movies. Having trouble thinking up what makes you happy? Think back to your childhood or early adulthood and recall what you used to love, what made you carefree. It could be trying your hand at painting or playing guitar. It’s never too late to try these again, even if it’s just for 20 minutes a week. The bonus is you can get better at it and make it a hobby again.
STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES
Find joy in something by using your senses and really savouring it. See a flower you like? Take a whiff. Find a scented candle? Light it up when you have a bath. In a study published in
The Journal of Positive Psychology, 101 participants kept diaries for a month, recording positive activities they did and how much they did or didn’t savour them. Those who tended to enjoy a good thing maintained high levels of happiness, no matter what the day brought.
LIMIT TIME ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Too busy for ‘me time’? Here’s a solution. It’s easy to while away any extra time scrolling through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, but consider this – a study published in the scientific journal PLOS One found the more people went on Facebook, the more their life satisfaction levels declined. Consider taking those apps off your phone as a trial for a week, or try scheduling a certain time every day to check your social media before shutting it down to enjoy real life.
TRY NEW EXPERIENCES
Sure, retail therapy can bring about an immediate lift, but if you want longer
lasting happiness, consider a new experience. It could be setting up a book club, planting a herb garden or volunteer dog walking. Studies have shown that spending time on experiences creates contentment.
RECONNECT WITH FRIENDS
For an instant boost, have a list of your friends in your ‘favourites’ on your phone and choose one or two to call. Schedule a regular coffee meet-up in the diary. Pick trusted pals who will see the lighter side of life no matter how many dark clouds descend, and ones that can help change your frame of mind and make you laugh.
LOOK THROUGH PHOTO ALBUMS
Remember that trip to the Gold Coast with the girls, or maybe that family Christmas at the beach when you were a kid? Going down memory lane and revisiting the past can ignite feelings of happiness. Sort through your digital albums or use your old photo albums as a visual cue to meditate on some of the good times you’ve had, trying to remember the sights, smells, tastes and even what music was playing.
PERFORM A KIND GESTURE
It’s true – just by taking out the time to perform one kind gesture a day, you can increase your general level of contentment. A study published in the PNAS journal found people whose happiness was based on doing things for others were healthier than those whose happiness was based on consuming things. It’s as easy as complimenting a colleague or helping a neighbour by taking their bin out. The bonus is those on the receiving end are likely to get a happiness boost as well.
BANG A DRUM
Who cares if you don’t have any rhythm, pick up those sticks and give the whole body a workout by drumming. One study found people in a retirement community felt less depressed six weeks after a drumming class than before they started it. You don’t need to invest in a drum kit either – simply grab some chopsticks, turn up your favourite tunes and bang on the table or some pots and pans!