Guidance for happiness tracker
We all have ups and downs and we all feel a range of emotions every single day. It’s not possible to feel happy all of the time. Research shows however that it is possible to take some steps that will allow us to have more good days than bad. We summarise this evidence below into six broad categories.
The outlook
Our outlook is all about how we approach things. This means accepting what we can’t control and focussing in on what we can. This means we worry less and enjoy our ride a little more. Practising being more mindful can help us achieve this. In addition, being more open to new ideas, talking about how we’re feeling and learning new things will help to present an array of opportunities that we often don’t realise are there.
Resilience
Resilience relates to the ability to cope well and recover quickly during difficult times. It’s important because it’s inevitable at some point during each of our lives we will experience challenges. Our daily lives can be stressful and building skills to respond better to these stresses can really help. Being resilient doesn’t mean being happy all the time and importantly, everyone can learn to be more resilient, it’s no different to training a muscle.
Give, take, relate
Our relationships and interactions with others play a major role in determining how happy we are. Helping others has been shown to boost wellbeing so consider giving where you can. It is also important to ask for help when you need it and to have a good support network around you.
Health is wealth
Being healthy not only helps with the longevity of our lives but it also increases our quality of lives. Our guidance focuses on three main dimensions of this which are exercise, sleep and food.
What’s the point?
We need to feel needed and that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. This gives our lives purpose and meaning. It gives us a reason to get up in the morning and offers structure to our lives. In addition, setting goals for ourselves can be a greater motivator but it’s more important to enjoy the journey to reaching the goal.
Leisure and pleasure
As countries become wealthier, on average, its citizens tend to be able to work less and have more leisure time. How we choose to spend this time is a unique decision for us; choosing wisely should make us happier.