Add Happiness to Your Day!

Here are some quick ways you can add happiness to your life each day:

• Each night as you go to bed, list the 6 things you are most grateful for that day. If you’re having trouble counting to six, remember the little things such as having a roof over your head, food to eat, eyes to read this with and friends who care.
• Read positive quotes and stories. A quote takes only seconds or a minute to read so even the busiest of people can fit this in.
• Stop what you are dong and stretch your arms and legs. Feel the sensations of stretching and the pleasure of using muscles.
• Go out of your way to thank someone for what they are doing. It doesn’t have to be something they do for you – maybe thanks the lollipop lady for helping children stay safe, a stacker for keeping supermarket shelves full or a recycler for saving resources.
• Smile. Yep, that’s all it takes – just smile occasionally even if no one is there to see it!
• Have a cuddle. Find a child, lover, pet, teddy bear or friend and cuddle them often.
• Wear things you like – perfume, after shave lotion, jewellery, favourite clothes. Wear them and enjoy wearing them rather than leaving them stored for rare ‘special occasions’.
• Contact a friend or relative and chat about unimportant things – use email if you haven’t got time for a long phone call or visit.
• Eat and drink slowly – it is less stressful on your body and mind and gives you time to actually taste it. Experience the textures on your tongue, too.
• Take notice of nature. Watch a sunrise or sunset, literally smell a flower, listen to the rain on a roof, walk on some autumn leaves and breathe in some fresh air. Taking a few seconds to appreciate beauty and nature is a great way to forget your worries and bring a smile to your face.
• Indulge in a hobby. If you can’t actually do it every day, read, talk or daydream about it instead.