5 ways to stay happy

Life can be stressful, and sometimes happiness can feel far from reach - but being happy is an option and believe me, you can do it!

Meditating and mindfulness

Mindfulness is key to happiness and there’re so many way to do it. Meditating comes in many different forms, so you can find the form that works best for you. Apps such as ‘Calm’ and ‘Headspace’ have brilliant guided meditation podcasts and they’re free and you can pay to unlock more. Personally, I’ve found that the breath bubble on the Calm app is really helpful at releasing stress.
Nature is also a powerful tool for mindfulness, sometimes just going outside and reflecting on the stresses and anxieties of life can make you a happier person.

Exercise and eat healthy 

A healthy amount of exercise a day can make you a happier person. It’s suggested that half an hour a day of moderate exercise is a good amount (1). There’re so many forms of exercising, but personally, I’ve found that walking is a brilliant exercise technique and also perfect for mindfulness.
Eating five a day can also make your body feel so much better, and when your body feels healthy, your mind can think more positively.

Talk to friends

Everyone needs alone time, but if you’re down, talking to friends and telling them how you feel, can make you feel so much better. Socialisation can increase happiness, and spending more time with friends can get your mind off of the general stresses in life. If meeting up isn’t an easy option, talking on call is also perfect for socialising.

Take time out of your day to do your hobbies 

Whether you’re at school, or at work, life can be busy. Making room in your schedule to carry out your hobbies is essential. Doing things that you love can make you so much happier. If you don’t have many hobbies, there’re thousands of hobbies out there, you just have to pursue one that suits you.

Thinking positively 

When life isn’t going your way, it’s normal to think negatively. Although it may seem difficult, negative thoughts can be turned into positive thoughts. For example, if you received a bad grade on an assignment, instead of feeling disheartened, learn from it. Think about how next time you know you can do so much better, or tell yourself that you worked hard and can learn from mistakes, anything that will get your brain feeling more positively about a situation.

Those are my five personal top tips on how to stay happy which have definitely helped me. Staying happy can be a challenge, but I hope these five tips gave you help in some way.

References:
1) Edward R. Laskowski, Mayo Clinic, April 2019, “How much should the average adult exercise every day.”
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/expert-answers/exercise/faq-20057916


There’s always help available. Here’s a link to the NHS website listing several numbers which you can call if you need help: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mental-health-helplines/

Sometimes reaching out for help can be scary, but it’s certainly the right option.