20 Jun 20 quick and easy tips for happiness
A brisk 10-minute walk can boost your mood and self-esteem while reducing anxiety and stress, according to a new report by the Mental Health Foundation.
Beat the blues and boost your happiness quota with these other simple tips and tricks.
1 Buy theatre tickets, not shoes
Psychologists at San Francisco State University, US, discovered experiences make us happier than objects because the excitement of buying something new fades faster than great memories.
So use your savings to snap up a holiday or theatre tickets, not a designer handbag – or visit www.wherecanwego.com to find out what’s happening in your area.
2 Read Cider with Rosie
The book, which chronicles the childhood of author Laurie Lee, is one of a new list of “mood-boosting” books, which experts hope will help those with depression, anxiety and stress.
The 27-title reading list is advertised on leaflets distributed by GPs last month, as part of the Books on Prescription scheme, supported by the Department of Health.
3 Arrange a regular night out with your friends
The happiest 10% of people prioritise relationships with friends and family, researchers at the University of Illinois, US, say. Instead of going out for drinks or a meal, try something different such as mastering the art of bridge or poker. The website www.the-playing-card.com has some useful tips on lots of card games to help you get started.
4 Add a 30-second sprint to the end of your walk or bike ride
This doubles your endorphins and increases levels of noradrenaline, boosting your mood for up to 90 minutes afterwards, say sports psychologists at the University of Essex.
5 Drink a cup of banana tea
Simply boil the skin in water for around 15 minutes, let it cool and then sip the water. After a two-year study, researchers from Taiwan found banana peel contains several ingredients that increase levels of serotonin, the happy hormone.
6 Switch off the box
Unhappy people watch 20% more television than self-described happy people, according to scientists from The University of Maryland, US. But reading was an activity linked to happier folk in the study.
7 Check your bank statement
Money can’t buy you happiness but, according to a survey by insurer Aviva, being in control of your finances most certainly makes you feel better.
The Feel-Good Insight study, produced with input from a leading psychologist at London’s City University, revealed that happiness, wellbeing and self-esteem are influenced by our sense of financial control and not by how much we deposit in the bank every month.
8 Buy flowers
A study at Rutgers University in New Jersey, US, showed people became less depressed, agitated and anxious after receiving flowers and also had a higher sense of enjoyment and satisfaction in their lives.
9 Take cod liver oil
Norwegian scientists have found that a spoonful a day can reduce the risk of depression by 30%. The study of 22,000 people over 40, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, believe the omega-3 fatty acids it contains are responsible.
10 Do a good deed
Lending a hand, volunteering or doing something nice for free can increase your self-esteem and wellbeing, according to a study that was published in the Journal of Social Service Research…
…keep reading the remaining 10 happiness tips and the full & original article HERE