DOES YOUR LIFE NEED A LIFT?
With the nights drawing in, gloomy economic forecasts and work stress to negotiate, you’d be forgiven for feeling less than buzzing. Our quiz offers the knowledge you need to put some pep in your step
Q1 WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WILL GIVE YOUR JOB THE MOST MEANING?
Answer: C. The journal Frontiers In
Psychology found that having control over your routine offers a deeper sense of satisfaction than success. Don’t focus on what you can’t control, such as a long commute, but on what you can, like ditching the car to cycle, which the University of East Anglia revealed is the most stress-free mode of transport. It’s the route to contentment.
Q2 WILL REACHING YOUR BODY GOALS REALLY MAKE YOU HAPPY?
Answer: A. But it’s not because of vanity. A study published in the International Journal Of Obesity revealed that losing body fat can reduce symptoms of depression, particularly in those who are overweight. Take up skill-based workouts that challenge your mind as well as your muscles – think rock-climbing, for example, or tennis – both to elevate your mood and to ground your chances of boredom.
Q3 WHAT MAKES YOUR SPORTS TEAM’S VICTORIES MOST SATISFYING?
Answer: B. Uncertainty over the outcome is the key to enjoying a game, according to Ohio State University. The negative emotions you experience during a tense match, such as fear, unease and anxiety, amplify your feelings of joy when (or if) your team finally prevails. Root for the plucky underdog, basically.
Q4 WHICH IS BETTER: £8,000 OR EIGHT HOURS’ SLEEP?
Answer: B. Let’s put this one to bed. While a bonus will make you feel good, the happiness boost is short-lived. Sleep quality is a far stronger predictor of ultimate wellbeing, according to the National Centre for Social Research. Best reschedule that ebay selling sesh and hit the snooze button.
Q5 A CALM LIFE IS A HAPPIER ONE
Answer: time a glance B. Bring at your this study mountainous to mind to-do next list leaves your eyes watering. The Journal Of Cross-cultural Psychology found that countries with a faster pace of life had citizens with a greater subjective sense of wellbeing. Learn to interpret your hammering heart as excitement, not anxiety, to instantly reframe your fight-or-flight responses.
Q6 HOW MUCH OF YOUR HAPPINESS IS GENETIC?
Answer: C. When it comes to your state of mind, the University of Zurich found that up to half of it is inherited. Beyond this, 10% is circumstantial, while 40% is down to your habits – such as drinking two cups of coffee a day, which can reduce your depression risk by 77%, according to Finnish research.
Q7 WHAT SHOULD YOU SPLURGE ON COME PAYDAY?
Answer: B & C. The drinks are on you. Treating others makes you feel better about yourself, according to the University of British Columbia – especially if someone else offers to get the next round, we imagine. But researchers found treating yourself also does the trick, so long as you invest in an experience, rather than on material items.
Q8 WHICH OF THESE IS THE MOST REWARDING?
Answer: B. Take a day off the free weights and tackle a fresh challenge. Research in the
Journal Of Happiness Studies found that the frustration of struggling with a new skill is outweighed by the long-lasting mental lift felt when you finally succeed. #Nailedit
Q9 WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS THE KEY TO A GOOD RELATIONSHIP?
Answer: C. While we recommend all three, a study by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology found that couples who shared positive details about their day experienced closer bonding, less anxiety and even better sleep, compared with less keen sharers. Talk it out, people.
Q10 WHICH OF THESE DISHES WILL CHEER YOU UP MOST?
Answer: A & C. And it’s not because of the health-boosting nutrients. A study by The Happy Egg Company found that yellow foods make you feel good, most likely as a result of your childhood when you were taught to associate the colour with sunshine and positivity. Meanwhile, your brain tends to link blue foods with sadness, ultimately sinking your mood. Blue cheese presumably confuses.
Q11 WHICH IS THE HAPPIEST DAY OF THE YEAR IN THE UK?
Answer: C. This is thanks in part to the good weather and longer days, according to Dr Cliff Arnall, the man who identified the third Monday in January as Blue Monday. Tied to your desk? Exposing your arms, hands and face to 15 minutes of sunlight twice a week is enough to raise your levels of mood-lifting vitamin D. That’ll brighten your outlook.
Q12 HAPPY HOUR LOOKS LIKE...
Answer: A. An Oxford study found that a bev at the local boosts your wellbeing due to its role in strengthening social bonds. But Harvard rated harmful drinking as the biggest risk factor for unhappiness – even higher than loneliness. So drink with care.
Q13 HOW MANY HOURS A DAY SHOULD YOU SPEND KEEPING GOOD COMPANY?
Answer: C. Bailing on lunch with colleagues to tackle your inbox could leave you more stressed in the long run. A US poll* found that those who spend six hours a day around friends or family are 12 times more likely to report feeling happy than anxious.
Q14 PEOPLE ARE HAPPIEST IN WHICH AGE GROUP?
Answer: C. The Office for National Statistics found that the over-60s have greater life satisfaction and, according to one study*, are better able to regulate their emotions and prioritise wellbeing than younger people. Take comfort in the fact that a little stress actually keeps your brain sharp as you age.
Q15 RUNNING IS THE ONLY WAY TO ACHIEVE THE FAMED EXERCISE ‘HIGH’
Answer: B. It’s not the method of exercise – it’s how hard you push yourself. According to the University of Turku in Finland, an hour of interval training releases significantly more endorphins than steady-state cardio. But, it’s worth bearing in mind that if you struggle too much, it can have the opposite effect. Find your limit and work up to it.
Q16 YOU’RE FEELING DOWN AND HAVE YOUR PHONE IN YOUR HAND. WHAT DO YOU DO?
Answer: A. While we’re not telling you to seek social-media validation, you could learn something from those fitspo stars you follow. According to the University of California, Irvine, the simple act of smiling for a photograph – as well as the feedback you’ll receive from sharing it – has considerable mood-improving effects.
Q17 A BAD MOOD AFFECTS YOUR HEALTH
Answer: A. Scientists at Erasmus University Rotterdam say contentment can protect you from illness, claiming that unhappiness is as bad for you as smoking. For a boost, take your training outside. The American Chemical Society found that just five minutes of ‘green’ exercise a day boosts mental health.
Q18 WHICH OF THESE TIPPLES WILL PERK YOU UP THE MOST?
Answer: B. That beer makes you feel good is hardly headline news – but it’s not just for the reasons you’d think. A German study published in the journal Scientific Reports found that malted barley stimulates the brain’s reward centre, inducing a rush of pleasure chemicals. That’s one way to drown a bad mood we can get on board with.