15 ways to make life more fun

Hacks to make you happy

1

Go for a walk followed by a sprint

A brisk 10-minute walk can increase self-esteem while reducing anxiety and stress, according to the Mental Health Foundation. Exercise decreases stress hormones while increasing mood-enhancing ones. And, if you add a 30-second sprint at the end, this doubles the endorphins and improves your mood for up to 90 minutes. Mow the lawn

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Chemicals released by a freshly mowed lawn enhance happiness and could even fight cognitive decline, according to researchers from the University of Queensland. Spending at least 15 minutes a day in the open air will also help you to keep vitamin D levels topped up, lowering your risk of depression.

3

Do something spontaneous

Book a last-minute holiday or head for an unplanned night out. Changing our normal routine reminds us to be happy and that we’ve the freedom and power to do whatever we like.

4

Pucker up

Apart from being good for your relationship, kissing your other half can make you feel happier. It releases the feel-good hormones dopamine and serotonin – the latter helps regulate our emotions.

5

Take a sniff

Vanilla is anything but bland when it comes to boosting your mood. Studies have revealed that breathing in its scent can elevate feelings of joy and relaxation. Choose candles and diffusers with essential oils and breathe in deeply.

6

Savour some chocolate

You may already reach for a bar of Green & Black’s when you’re feeling low, but there is some science behind it. The feel-good sensation of chocolate is due to a natural chemical found in cocoa called phenylethylamine, which researchers believe can create a feeling of mild euphoria, similar to the experience of being in love.

7

Go on a day trip

According to psychologists at San Francisco

State University, experiences make us happier than new objects, because the excitement of buying something new fades faster than memories. So skip the shopping and go on a short break instead.

8

Get appy

Taking note of how you feel daily can give you a more positive frame of mind. The Daylio Journal app (free with in-app purchases, iOS and Android) lets you track your mood using emojis. You can also match your mood to daily activities and with the ‘Statistics and Calendar’ you can spot patterns in your moods and behaviour.

9

Fake a smile

Flashing your gnashers could help lift your mood. Experts say how we act physically can affect how we feel emotionally. The act of smiling can tilt your emotions towards being happy and is likely to prompt a smile in return.

10

Achieve a goal

Whether it’s submitting that work on time or simply getting that scrunched-up piece of paper into the bin, successes have a big impact on your mood. Set yourself a realistic and specific goal to help give you a boost.

Express yourself

‘Self-expression involves engaging in an activity that allows us to transfer the energy harboured in our thoughts and feelings into that practice, such as through words by

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writing journals, poems or stories,’ says neuroscientist, Dr Lynda Shaw. ‘Self-expression can also be depicted in the clothes we wear or the music we choose to listen to.’

12

Connect with others

After the last year, we’re more aware about the importance of staying connected. ‘And not only can lack of socialising affect our mental health but scientists using brain imaging also found that when people experience social exclusion and social distress, some areas of the brain are similarly activated as if they were experiencing physical pain,’ says Dr Shaw.

13

Laugh out loud

Many studies have proved that laughing can improve our mental health. ‘According to an article in the Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine,

dopamine and serotonin levels can be altered by laughter,’ says mental health therapist, Miyume McKinley. ‘They directly impact our mood and it’s believed that these levels are correlated with depression.’

14

Take a selfie

A study by researchers at the University of California asked students involved to take a smiling selfie every day for four weeks and found they enjoyed a surge in happiness, and became more confident on camera. Don’t worry, you don’t have to show them to anybody!

15

Dance with abandon

Put on your favourite song and dance like nobody’s watching. Research at Australia’s University of New England found that participants who learnt to tango reported lower levels of anxiety, stress, and depression.

Stick your favourite chocolate bar in the freezer. Frozen squares melt more slowly and you won’t be tempted to eat the whole

thing.