S MAGAZINE ★ 28 JULY 2019 37
HEALTH
remedies for improving our mental and physical wellbeing? Words by Fiona Duffy
your happiness
MAKE “RIGHT NOW” AMAZING
Don’t defer happiness, says
“doctor of happiness” Dr Andy
Cope (artofbrilliance.co.uk). “So
many of us think, ‘I’ll be happy
at the weekend/on holiday/when
I find a partner...,’” he says. “But
getting stuck in a rut of wishing
your life away is a terrible waste.
Life is nothing more than a series
of moments – a chain
of ‘nows’. How many
‘nows’ have passed
you by because you
have been so busy
looking for happinesssomewhere else? The secret
of happiness is to make
‘now’ amazing.”KEEP MOVING
“Find something you enjoy and
move that body,” says personal
trainer Charlie Smith (charlie
smithlondon.co.uk). “Not only
does movement boost our physical
health but also our mental
wellbeing. It has so many
awesome benefits, including
alleviating stress, enhancing
cognitive function and boosting
self-esteem and confidence.”HAVE A DIGITAL DECLUTTER
“Virtual clutter can be just as
overwhelming as physical clutter,
leading to anxiety and an inability
to ‘switch off,’” says organisational
expert Jo Cooke (tapiocatidy.co.uk).
“Unsubscribe from distracting
blogs and inbox-clogging emails
and switch off notifications. Spend
time with friends physically rather
than virtually.”CHOOSE EXPERIENCES
OVER “STUFF”
“The general rule is that
happiness comes from doing
stuff rather than accumulating
stuff,” adds Dr Cope. “The top
10 happiest moments of your life
are almost certainly experiences
rather than products. Spend time
and money on weekends away and
days out.”COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
Gratitude puts the brake on
negative thinking, Dr Cope insists.
“List 20 things you really
appreciate in life but take for
granted. The first few are easy.
As you widen your thinking more
unusual gratitudes will creep in.
Every day practise gratitude from
waking up (‘woo-hoo, I’m alive’) to
falling asleep (‘fresh sheets and
a comfy bed’). Learning to live
with a sense of appreciation
means you create a better world
for yourself.”CEASE THE CHUNTER
Dr Cope continues, “Ninety five
per cent of what we grumble about
is low-level habitual chuntering- weather, news, politics, rubbish
TV... Every grumble depletes your
energy and happiness levels. Next
time you catch yourself mid
grumble, stop, smile and change
the subject to something sunnier.”
GO-SLOW YOGA
Yin, or restorative yoga, is growing
in popularity as more people seek
higher levels of happiness and
fulfilment, says Fi Clark, head of
yoga at Fly (flyldn.co.uk). “Unlike
more dynamic practices, this
slow-paced yoga consists of long
holds in seated or supine
postures which releases tension
build up in muscles and joints,
reduces stress levels and restores
internal peace,” she says.SING, SING, SING...
“Evidence shows that choral
singing reduces stress, improves
positive mood and releases
feel-good hormones,” says music
psychology expert Dr Jacques
Launay. Try a free taster session
with Rock Choir at rockchoir.com.GET MORE ZZZS
Sleep has numerous effects
on physical and mental health,
including improving mood, says
NHS health consultant Dr Sally
Norton (vavistalife.com). “Ensure
you’re getting at least seven hours
each night,” she suggests.INVITE FRIENDS ROUND
“Our homes are happier when we
invite people to share them with
us,” says The Happiness Research
Institute’s Meik Wiking. “Socialising
increases both pride in our homes
and the emotional connection we
feel with where we live. Both of
these factors are important
drivers of home happiness.”ZEST FOR LIFE
Orange oil uplifts and soothes, says
Suzy Glaskie. “As little as five
minutes of exposure to diffused
orange oil has been shown to alter
mood and boost motivation,
relaxation and clarity.” ●S