Are you happy? It’s a simple enough question, but for some it can be very difficult to answer. Although data from the Office for National Statistics shows happiness in the UK to have been rising since 2011, those everyday stresses of life – trouble at work, social media anxiety, political uncertainty – aren’t going anywhere fast.
We spoke to the team at personal development app Remente for tips on how to perk yourself up when you’re feeling down, using nothing more than the power of your mind.
1. Start with the basics
Setting yourself a goal of being happier and more positive is a great thing to do, but you don’t need to start by overhauling your entire life. While it may seem that taking on several new hobbies or attempting to master mindfulness in a day is the key to a happier you, it’s better to start small.
Simple things like getting enough sleep, exercising, and eating properly can make a big difference. You will be amazed at the impact feeling rested and healthy has upon your mood – not only will you feel happier, but your energy levels are likely to be higher and your productivity will also improve drastically.
2. Do what you’re good at
This might seem like an easy way out, but doing something that you are good at – whether it is running, drawing, writing, or making music – can actually do great things for your general state of mind and self-esteem.
Firstly, doing something you enjoy will distract you from anything that could be bringing your mood down. Secondly, doing something you are good at can leave you feeling confident and capable, banishing any thoughts of low self-esteem and encouraging you to try new things.
3. Forget the followers
With social media being as present as it is, quite often we can find ourselves scrolling through Instagram or Facebook and getting lost in all the seemingly fun things our friends (or even total strangers) are doing. It’s easy to fall into a habit of comparing ourselves to the images we see online, but this can and will leave us feeling low and unaccomplished.
Instead of comparing yourself, remember that the images you see on social media are specifically chosen and ‘filtered’ to show the best side of someone. What you are seeing is an edited version of their lives. So stop scrolling, and give yourself a conscious break from social media for at least a few hours. You will be amazed by how much better you feel.
4. Let it go
Another factor that can contribute to a bad mood is not being able to let go of things – perhaps it’s a mistake you made earlier at work, or someone was rude to you during your commute, or maybe you regret eating that bar of chocolate at lunchtime.
Whatever it is, try and move on from any negative feelings, as keeping hold of them actually marks a conscious decision to stay unhappy. Instead, try writing down the experience on a piece of paper and then tearing it apart, letting the entire negative experience slip away.
5. Think positive
This may sound obvious, but optimism goes hand in hand with being happy. If you train yourself to thinking in a positive way, you are likely to feel happier and be more productive in your day-to-day life.
However, make sure that your optimism is balanced out by realism, as hoping for the impossible can be damaging. Instead, try small things like not letting negative thoughts bring you down, or letting negative experiences shape how you think about things.
6. Spread gratitude
A study conducted by the University of California found that showing gratitude, or even thinking grateful thoughts, increased our feelings of happiness and positivity by as much as 25%.
Simply taking time out of your day to send a thank-you text to a friend, or taking a few minutes each day to reflect on the things that you are grateful for, can have a huge impact on your levels of happiness.
