Reflecting and acknowledging the bad parts of life is key but do not give those emotions power to control you, instead let yourself control your emotions. By adding the points below to your daily life you can contribute towards creating a happier life, one that is as stress-free as possible.

What can you do to live a happier life?

Living a happier life is all about routine and what we can add into it so we can reach the goal of happiness. However, it’s important to note that the definition of happiness is different for everyone and as the former monk Jay Shetty says, “Being positive doesn’t mean you don’t ever have negative thoughts. It just means you don’t let those thoughts control your life.”

How can you change your routine?

Changing a routine can be difficult to start with which is why slowly adding changes to your current one is ideal; this will help you to avoid becoming overwhelmed with the one you wish to create. Below are some changes you can start to add.

Be aware of your stress levels – We all are capable of becoming stressed at any point in our lives so finding ways to reduce this is crucial. Once stressed, stress can affect every part of our lives, but it can also be resolved from almost all parts of our lives. This can include spending time with others, keeping a journal, exercising, getting better sleep, practising time management techniques, getting the right food, doing things you love and so much more.

Even simple activities such as meeting up with a friend for a coffee, having a relaxing bath or listening to your favourite song all have the power to improve your day and effectively reduce stress.

Spend time doing things you enjoy – You may find it useful to write a few activities that you enjoy down, this could include certain music you like, hobbies that you have, a sport that you play etc and depending on the length of the activity, you can include how long an activity will take and when you have the time in your day to spend time doing said activities.

Practise living a healthier lifestyle – If you feel that you don’t get enough exercise then introducing a regular exercise routine could really help you to start living happier. Exercising, sleeping, eating and staying away from too many unhealthy snacks and alcohol will all make you feel good.

Taking control of your time and what you do with it is a great habit to have when wanting to live a happier life.

Acknowledge the unhappy moments – When having a bad day or going through an unhappy moment, remember to stay present with all that you are feeling. By acknowledging the unhappy moments, you can further be there for yourself and understand the ways you react.

Practise gratitude – By being grateful you can reflect on your day in a positive light, especially if it has been a particularly bad day. To start with, write or type down three things you are grateful for each day, you can take this up to six things a day, when ready. Three things when you go to sleep, three things when you wake up.

Keep a journal – You don’t have to add a daily entry but writing down any hard emotions or situations you have been through, takes away the power that these thoughts have on you. Allowing you to remember that falling down is a part of life and we all have the power and strength to eventually overcome the difficulties of each day.

Give to others – There is nothing more rewarding than seeing the difference you have made to someone’s life. This doesn’t have to be a physical gift; a few kind words can go a long way! Or if you’re looking to give even more then check out our latest job vacancies HERE

Other steps you can take are:

• Celebrate the little victories
• Build meaningful relationships
• Spend time with people who have positive mindsets
• Spend time in nature
• Spend time reflecting on both the positive and negatives you face
• Create goals for your career and personal life and regularly look over them
• Plan your days in advance
• Consider therapy
• Declutter your spaces every once in a while
• Spend less time on devices and social medias

You can also spend some time to further understand what it means to be happier and live a happier life by reading various books, watching TED Talks or other informative talks, watching films/shows/documentaries on happiness, this can include feel good shows such as “The Kindness Diaries” on Netflix.

The most important step you can take for yourself is to live in the moment so that you can practise acceptance towards all the things that are out of your control.

Don’t forget to continue to manage your Mental Health HERE