What if happiness is a habit?

My goal is to give you useful snippets of information to sustain your healthy habits and maybe even spark new ones. As the title suggests, nothing too heavy, digestible morsels related to the foundations of our wellbeing. If you have specific questions or topics you want me to include, don’t hesitate to let me know. And please do share with anyone who could do with a little extra nurturing.

Let’s get to the heart of things and contemplate happiness…

Happiness is a state of mind. Specifically, a state of “well-being and contentment.” And there is a definite link between feeling happy and being physically healthy. Many studies have researched this link: Are you happy because you’re healthy, or does being healthy make you happy? Either way, happiness and health are intertwined and researchers are continuously trying to untangle this relationship.

So it feels like exploring how to be happy is a lovely place to also get healthy. And however you define true happiness, it is possible to be intentional about creating more of it. Here are 5 tweaks you could make to your regular routine to boost your own happiness:

1. Eat for your mind

Remember to avoid those processed starchy carbohydrates like white pasta, bread and cereal that typically cause your blood sugar to crash, leaving you tired, irritable, anxious or moody (i.e. not happy!). Replace them with complex carbohydrates – wholegrains, beans and vegetables - which provide a slower release of energy. For most of us this will mean feeling steady throughout the day, nourishing our mood as well as our brain and our gut with important nutrients.

2. Take time to reflect

Often, time whizzes by without us tuning in to how we actually feel. How would it be to set up time for this once a month? Imagine you are having a catch-up with a dear friend. Ask yourself the questions you’d ask your friend…

“What have you been up to lately?”

“How are you?” “Are you happy?”

“How are you feeling about work/life/relationships?”

“What is really important for you right now?”

Be honest but don’t be harsh on yourself. If you do this regularly your questioning will help you reassess and reprioritize, and ultimately lead to a happier life. Consider doing this at the beginning of every month. My challenge to you is to send yourself a meeting invitation right now 😊

3. Detach from your phone

Take stock of how tied you are to your phone. Cell phone usage has been linked to sleep problems, anxiety, stress, and depression. Can you designate time slots for checking messages? What about switching your phone to “do not disturb” early in the evening? Or even putting it out of sight? Involve people who live with you and create a phone station where you put your phones to bed at the same time! If the thought is making you feel anxious, rather build up slowly. Try one change on one day of the week to begin with and increase from there. What could you do with that extra time?

4. See friends and family more regularly and connect

We are social creatures. (Think back to the “lockdowns”!) That’s why it’s important to schedule time with people you love. Making new friends is not just for children either. As we get older it may seem less important or harder to make new friends, but widening your circle can open up different opportunities and help you stay connected for a long time to come.

Furry friends count too. Animals can show us lots of affection and make us very happy. If you don’t have a pet but love animals, you could try a trip to an animal shelter.

5. Get into nature

Contact with nature is associated with an increase in happiness, subjective well-being, positive social interactions and a sense of meaning and purpose in life - as well as a decrease in mental distress. One study suggests that spending 30 minutes or more a week in green spaces can help lower blood pressure and the chances of developing depression. Your green space can be barefoot in your garden, a local park or any area with some trees and nature that is easy for you to access.

What has helped me the most this month

Taking time to reflect, plan and prioritise for the rest of the year! How liberating to stand back, reflect, narrow down and write down what is important. It was a much-needed spring clean of my mind and I feel energised by the decluttering. I am happier and less stressed because I have a clear focus and with it a sense of control… and as a health coach a solid reminder of interconnections and positive spirals: what we do influences how we feel, how we feel impacts our physical wellbeing, feeling physically well makes us more optimistic… and so we can go in an ongoing cycle. Our habits matter 😊

Please do share what helps you. Did any of these tweaks work for you? What other habits do you practise for lifting your mood?

Wishing you much happiness and health,