Top Tips for Happiness
Here are a few tips to promote self-acceptance, resilience, and psychological flexibility:
- Stop the comparisons!
When we take the time to stop and appreciate the people around us, and all the things we have already achieved, we open ourselves up to experiencing something wonderful. All too often, this wonder can be rapidly eroded when we compare ourselves to others who appear to be richer, stronger, faster, and more beautiful (and the list goes on and on and on). So stop comparing! There will always be people who appear to have more “things” than we do. Constantly trying to catch up to them prevents us from living our own life to its fullest.
- Commit to seeing life in a positive way.
Focusing on developing an optimistic outlook not only helps to elevate mood by changing the way we feel – for the better - but when practiced often, cultivating an optimistic outlook protects against problems such as depression, anxiety and stress. Thinking optimistically is a skill that can be learned, and this type of thinking helps to improve our experience of happiness.
- Move that body.
The link between our mind and body is clear. When we exercise regularly the benefits become obvious, though please remember, training like an elite athlete is not required! To get the benefit that exercise brings we need to find what suits our lifestyle and daily routine. Walking, swimming and yoga are great when it comes to relieving stress.
- Laugh in the face of stress.
Stress is inevitable in today’s world and happiness does not mean we eliminate stress in our lives – in fact, some stress is actually beneficial. Firstly, we need to take an inventory and identify the things that make us stress out. Then, we need to make plans which allow us to neutralise the impact of this stress. Some ideas to manage stress include:
- getting the challenging stuff done first instead of putting it off and dragging out the pressure;
- stimulating our senses with music, pleasurable scents (like aromatherapies), or getting a massage, on a regular basis;
- spending time with people who make us laugh
- spending time in the outdoors;
- reading great books;
- enjoying time with pets.
- Improve your relationship with sleep.
Some of our best growth and learning is done while we sleep – and it is important to note that it’s all about quality, not quantity. Understanding our sleep-wake cycles and optimising our sleep environment can help us to get a better quality of sleep. When we feel well rested, we promote a state of openness that allows us to appreciate more fully, our work, our home, and our hobbies. So turn off screens before bed, minimise caffeine intake a few hours before sleep, and make your bedroom a warm and cosy place that entices rest.
- Get an app to help boost happiness.
There are many apps which are designed to keep us calm, train ourselves to be mindful and help us to appreciate the life we have. Finding the app, or apps, you feel most comfortable with may be found through reading reviews and trial and error.
- Pay it forward.
One of the easiest ways to “live happiness” rather than chase it, is to pay it forward. Ever noticed how a smile from a stranger can change your day? Ever noticed how helping someone in need helps you feel on top of the world? Acts of kindness and generosity can do so much more for the giver than the receiver, so if someone reminds you how kind people can be – pay it forward and spread it to someone else.
