Ten Quick Routes to Happiness
|
||||
GET QUOTEToday I want to be happy…
1) Laugh
Laughter has been shown to reduce levels of the stress hormore cortisol. A study published in the Oxford Hournals has also shown that laughter can be linked to a decrease in your heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure. Plus, researchers at Venderbilt University in Tennessee estimate that chuckling for 10-15 minutes a day can burn up to 50 calories. Have a daily five-minute laugh when you wake up, you will be surprised at the results. Or a great new phenomenon is laughter yoga – to find a laughter yoga club near you, visit www.laughteryoga.org.
2) Workout – in a way that suits you
Spending time on something you don’t enjoy will kill your enthusiasm so it’s not suprising people drop out of activities that they don’t like. Try finding the perfect exercise for you from the following guidelines:
LONERS: If you don’t want to compete or you feel you have to keep up with others, running, swimming, or hill walking are all solitary and allow you to focus on challenging yourself. As well as being physical, these activities can also be great stress relievers.
TEAM PLAYERS: You find it hard to get motivated alone and need a class-based activity where you get to enjoy being with others. Running clubs, marrtial arts classes, aerobic cycling and circuit-type classes are perfect.
EASILY BORED: Get to bootcamp. Variety is key and most bootcamp-style classes take place mostly outdoors. They can involve running, lifting, jumping and throwing heavy items around in “squad” teams, based upon military personal training sessions. Visit: www.britmilfit.com to find your nearest bootcamp.
3) Diet happily
A healthy, balanced diet will help keep you feeling great, but what you eat may also benefit your waistline. A diet high in fruit, veg and wholegrains and low in red and processed meat, fast food and fizzy drinks is assocated with smaller gains in waist circumference. Try this menu from dietitian Nigel Denby:
Breakfast: Porridge made with water, plus fresh strawberries
Morning Snack: Pear
Lunch: Carrot and Coriander Soup with one slice of granary bread
Afternoon Snack: Pot of natural yoghurt
Dinner: Good quality sausages with a baked sweet potato and peas
4) Snack smart
You are craving a cream cake but what you really want is a sweet treat for a little indulgence. Opt for a healthier dessert like a granola bar or yoghurt with a handful of nuts.
You are craving chewy sweets when what you really want is something to get your teeth into. Try a handful of dried fruit like Cranberries and Blueberries or Apricots.
You are craving chips when what you really want is a carb hit. Try oven-cooked potato wedges with a sprinkle of paprika as they are lower in fat.
You are craving fizzy drinks. What you really want is caffeine or a thirst quencher. Try a cup of green tea or a glass of sparkling water.
5) Spring clean your handbag
Did you know your beloved bag could be a health risk? The cold virus can live outside the body for hours and stashing a used tissue in your bag could leave the virus lurking there. The outsides of women’s bags are swarming with thousandds of germs and bacteria, some of which could cause sickness, think about the last time you put it down on the floor when you went to the loo in a bar. so, remember to clear out the inside of your bag regularly, clean the outside with antibacterial wipes and change your bag every so often.
6) Keep a diary
A daily scribble can help release pent-up emotions and have a positive effect on your overall physical and mental health. Try this exercise to get you started: For the next four days, write about an upsetting experience in your life, explore how this experience is related to you and who you have been in the past, who you are now and who you would like to become. You can write about the same issue every day or different issues. Whatever you choose to write about, it is critical that you really let go and explore your very deepest emotions and thoughts.
7) Get in touch with your body clock
People are genetically pre-determined to be either early-risers or prefer late nights. If you are following a schedule that doesn’t fit in with your natural rhythms – e.g. exercising early in the morning if you are a night owl could result in you experiencing fatigue and even depression. Night owls shoudl do demanding work in the afternoon and exercise in the evening; larks are better off doing difficult tasks and exercise in the morning.
Power up your brain
Thinking fast makes us happier. When people think quickly they feel happier and more energetic. Brainstorm with pals, pick a challenging book to read, sign up to an evening class that will have you thinking on your feet or learn a musical instrument.
9) MOT your mouth
Regular dental visits may scare the hell out of you but they can help spot more serious health issues like gum disease, which can be a sign of heart disease. Here’s how to help keep your mouth healthy:
Brushing too long and too hard can lead to tooth enamel and gum abrasion. So, use a light pressure and brush for no more than two minutes at a time.
Your toothbrush only reaches about 60 per cent of a tooth’s surface, so floss too.
Snack on sugar-free gym. It encourages saliva flow to help neutralise the bacteria in plaque.
10) Fake it to make it
Extroverted people tend to be happier, so try to be sociable, even with small groups. If something upsets you, reflect on what it can teach you about yourself and what you need to work on. Finally conscientiousness is a trait linked to happiness, so start identifying goals and working towards them.
