Whilst on holiday in Scotland recently, I picked the weekend Guardian, and having time to sit down and read the supplement all about happiness (being on holiday and chilled…and it was raining…), I liked a lot of the principles.
The various articles outline the fact that happiness research has come a long way. Research has hit upon a list of principles and activities that can have a lasting effect:
- Express gratitude every day (sounds cliched, but “attitude diaries” where you list 3-5 things regularly for which you are currently thankful seem to work even for the most cynical!)
- Cultivate optimism; visualise a future in which everything has tuned out the way you want it
- Regular exercise
- Avoid obsessing over things or paying too much attention to what others are doing
- Practice acts of kindness; more than you are used to
- Make time for friends; be supportive and loyal
- Develop coping strategies; write down your feelings when you are feeling upset and try to see that traumatic evenets often make us stronger
- Learn to forgive
- Immerse yourself in activities and be open to new people and new places
- Savour life’s joys; linger over a sandwich rather than just mindlessly consuming it
- Work towards meaningful works/goals
- Practice religion and/or spirituality
- Spend time in nature
- Spend your money on experiences, not objects
