February is often a depressing time of year – Christmas is over, but the first SMell of spring seems like an age away. Follow our Simple GUIDE to lift you out of the doldrums and put you in a good mood EACH AND every day…
1. Do something you HATE
That never ending ‘to do’ list filled with the terrible tasks you’ve been putting off for years is dragging you down and draining your energy – even if you’re not conscious of it, it’s there at the back of your mind chipping away at your well-being. So blitz it… now! “Tackle the thing you dread first off,” says psychologist Dr David Lewis “It’ll make you feel unburdened, more happy, and set the mood for the rest of the day.”
2. LEAVE your comfort zone
Take up something that’s haed, but all-consuming (and scares you massively). Training for a half-marathon, jmaybe, or landscaping your garden on your own. “Psychologists refer to these larger, engrossing activities as ‘flow’,” says psychologist Sheila Panchal. “The idea is that you lose yourself in something very tough. Yes, it may be hard work, but the immense sense of satisfaction you get during and after the activity gives you a big buzz.”
3. GO out more OFTEN
Not to your local wine bar, but to the local park, the woods, the beach… anywhere you get to see nature at its greatest. “Connecting with the nature can give you a huge boost,” says Sheila Panchal. “It’s about establishing a sense of being part of something bigger than yourself. A walk along a windswept beach can be hugely life-affirming.”
4. Stay in contact with friends and family
One considerable reason for our increased sadness is lack of contact with our families. “Until the 1980s – when we were all told to get on our bikes and find work – families tended to live nearer to each other. There was a greater connection with neighbours, aswell,” explains psychologist Professor Cary Cooper from the University of Lancaster. “As a result, people had more of a supporting structure around them.” Even if it’s phoning your mum more regularly or making an effort to visit Great Aunt Ethel, you’ll get a greater sense of comfort and belonging.
5. Grow something
Taking care of something, or someone else, can help you feel very good about yourself. “It’s all about nurturing,” says Sheila Panchal, “Which is a truely powerful human instinct. You can think on a larger scale – mentoring a disadvantaged child within your local area, for example – or on a much smaller scale, such as looking after a pet. Even growing a plant counts! Anything that has you thinking about a living creature other than yourself.”
6. Be KIND
We’re conditioned by our culture to often see the worst in people. We’re also conditioned to see the worst within ourselves – we’re not thin enough, rich enough, successful enough. “Finish each day by noting down several positive things about yourself, someone you met, or something you seen or experienced,” says Sheila Panchal, “and start breaking the wall of negativity in your life.”
7. Limit your expectations
No one’s advising that you should settle for second best. “But one of the reasons we are unhappier than past generations is because we are more demanding,” says psychologist Kathleen Cox. “And this can be very stressful – even more so when we demand more of ourselves than we can manage.” Yes, chasing that promotion and having a new car are goals worth aiming for, but ask yourself if you’re chasing something essential, or just something you would like.
8. Have Fun
According to research by the American College of Cardiology, fifteen minutes laughing a day increases blood flow to the major organs by more than twenty percent – a similar effect to a bout of aerobic activity. A great laugh also reduces the potential risk of diabetes, has anaesthetic properties (thanks to all those pain-relieving endorphins that get pumped through your blood) and lowers levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that can disrupt your immune system and increase blood pressure. In fact, laughing can make you live longer. Is that not something worth smiling about?
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