Happiness

EIGHT STEPS TO FEELING HAPPIER RIGHT NOW

Declutter: Give stuff away, donate possessions to charity or pass them on to someone who could use them. This can relieve stress and create a sense of lightness and unburdening. A less cluttered bedroom can also bring the added bonus of better sleep.

Hang washing up outdoors: Getting some fresh air and creating an orderly line of washing will give you a relaxing break and a reason to get outside in the garden.

Invite a lonely person to tea: Or offer to help your neighbour with their garden, leaking pipe, shopping, etc. Feeling needed and having a sense of belonging to a community are important factors for a sense of wellbeing.

Go for a walk: Time spent in green surroundings has shown time and time again to be calming and restorative. Even a green view is beneficial, so try and buy some indoor plants too: geraniums for a window sill, ivy for a dark corner, and herbs for the kitchen.

Stand up straight, and smile: The way we hold ourselves and our facial expression affects the way we feel. Adopt a confident posture and you will feel more confident; look calmly on the world and it will seem a friendlier place.

Visit an empty beach or hilltop: Being a tiny part of an immense landscape can reassuringly put worries into perspective.

Get moving: Physical activity gets us out of our heads and generates endorphins, the hormone which makes us feel good; dig the garden, cycle, walk, dance, make pastry, or even mow the lawn.

Appreciate the little things: From a spider spinning a web, to a bird singing: these are just a few of the endless everyday details which we often overlook or take for granted, yet which can delight us if we let them.

TERESA'S EIGHT STEPS TO INVESTING IN HAPPINESS

List five things for which you are grateful: Whether they are big or small. Research has shown that doing this every week for ten weeks can result in lasting increases in wellbeing, as it gets us into the habit of seeing our life through a positive lens.

Join a community choir: Singing regularly with other people is rewarding not only because of the pleasure derived from the music itself, but also because it is sociable and it demands effort, commitment and attention.

Take up regular voluntary work: Social connectedness, as well as freely giving your time, attention and energy, and making a positive difference all contributes to our own satisfaction with life.

Get stuck in: Active engagement is a big aspect of personal wellbeing. If you really enjoy your chosen activity, you will lose yourself in it and experience a wonderful sense of 'flow'.

Think about your place in the scheme of things: Having a sense of meaning or purpose in life, whether it is religious, political, social, artistic or any other framework, is known to be important for wellbeing.

Take up mindfulness meditation: Regular practice of mindfulness meditation decreases anxiety and increases calmness, working memory and flexibility of thought.

Take charge: Start a petition, write to your MP or local councillor, or join a campaign about an issue that concerns you. We are happier if we are proactive and feel like we have a say in things.

Value relationships over material objects: Levels of wellbeing have not risen in the UK since the 1970's despite an increase in affluence. It's relationships and social networks that contribute towards enduring happiness.