Easy ways to happiness

Turn negatives into positives

The more positive you are, the more you attract positive people and events. If you find it hard to be optimistic, try and be aware of your negative thoughts and instead of dwelling on them, challenge them.

Recognise that these thoughts aren’t facts, question them and you may find that they are incorrect. If there is a negative feeling that you can’t shake, breathe in and accept the thought. When breathing out, find a positive way to look at it.

Look for good things

When you are winding down and getting ready for bed, take a moment to think of three positive things that happened earlier in the day. Try to be specific and remember every detail. Reflect on each one and how each event made you feel.

Keep perspective

Even if the people around you are getting stressed, stay calm. It is important to stay in a relaxed state and not get carried away with the surrounding sense of alarm. Instead of panicking when something goes wrong, don’t let it ruin your day. Recognise it for what it is, a small hiccup.

Brighten your home

Despite spending an average of eight hours per day in our homes, many of us don’t find it a restful place to be. Use plants and flowers to bring the calming sense of nature to your home. Filling your home with colourful artwork can promote imagination and photos of loved ones can also help evoke happy memories.

Find an exercise you enjoy

You can feel much more alive when you live in your body as well as your mind. Instead of focusing on exercising to lose weight or get fit, stop saying you “should” exercise and find something you really enjoy. Dancing, swimming, yoga or cycling may be something you enjoy; yet you may not consider it exercise.

Embrace the morning

Whether you are a morning person or you like to lie-in, it is important to start the day feeling positive. When you wake up, breathe deeply and reflect how you are feeling. Practise some yoga to stretch your body, go into the garden and feel the fresh air on your skin.