10 Keys to Happier Living
Giving
Holding out a helping hand makes other people happy and will make you feel happier too.
Give it a go:
• Share your skills or offer support
• Ask friends, family or colleagues how they are and listen without judgement
Relating
People around you offer valuable support, so it’s important to put in time to strengthening those connections.
Give it a go:
• Meet up with someone you haven’t seen in a while
• Turn off distractions to chat with friends or family
Exercising
Regular activity will provide an endorphin boost and increase confidence
Give it a go:
• Find an activity that suits you and your schedule
• Swap the car on short journeys and cycle or walk to work
Trying out
Learning and trying out new things can help in stimulating and can help to lift your mood
Give it a go:
• Take on a new role at work or school
• Try out a new hobby, club or activity that interests you
Resilience
Although we can’t always choose what happens to us,
we can often choose our own response to what happens
Give it a go:
• Find an outlet such as talking to friends or writing it down
• Take action to improve your resilience skills
Direction
Working towards positive, realistic goals can provide motivation and structure
Give it a go:
• Choose a goal that is meaningful to you, not what someone else expects of you
• Remember to celebrate progress along the way
Acceptance
No one is perfect. Longing to be someone different gets in the way of making the most of our own happiness.
Give it a go:
• Be kind to yourself when things go wrong
• Shift the focus away from what you don’t have and can’t do, to what you do have and can do
Relating
People around you offer valuable support, so it’s important to put in time to strengthening those connections.
Give it a go:
• Meet up with someone you haven’t seen in a while
• Turn off distractions to chat with friends or family
Meaning
People who have meaning in their lives experience less stress, anxiety and depression
Give it a go:
• Prioritise the activities, people and beliefs that bring you the strongest sense of purpose
• Volunteer for a cause, be part of a team, notice how your actions make a difference for others
Emotions
Positive emotions can build up a buffer against stress and even lead to lasting challenges in the brain to help maintain wellbeing.
Give it a go:
• Take time to notice what you’re grateful for and focus on the good aspects of any situation
• Set aside time to have fun
Want More?
Visit our Positive Printout page to learn more about wellbeing and other subjects.
