Five Things to do Each Day to Live a Happy Life


It's easy to think that we'll be happier when the weekend comes, when the summer gets here, when we've done this or when we've been there. We're all guilty of wishing our lives away, waiting for the next big thing- but lets face it, it's not the weekend or events or holidays that make up the most part of your life it's all the days in between! So learning to be happy and enjoy every day is important, and while no one is 100% cheery all of the time there are a few things you can do to get the most from life and become a generally happier and more contented person. These are certainly not new or groundbreaking ideas, but when you're in a bit of a slump they're things that can be easy to overlook.

1. Get Enough Sleep
Getting eight hours sleep each night might be easier said than done, but it's one of the most important things to work towards if you want to be happier during the day. Tiredness can lead to mood swings, irritability and can make problems like depression and anxiety even worse. Even the best day ever can be spoiled if you're too tired to enjoy it, constant lack of sleep will have a dramatic impact on mood and happiness and so it's something to try and sort out if you can. It might be a case of drinking no caffeine after a certain time, creating a bedtime routine, going to bed at the same time each night or just choosing to go to sleep earlier rather than finish the end of a film in the evening. If you have serious trouble sleeping you could consider speaking to a doctor. Whatever the problem try to resolve it, you'll thank yourself for it in the morning!

2. Eat Healthily
It's such common knowledge that eating well leads to better physical and emotional wellbeing, but it's also something that's easy to overlook. I switched to a predominantly clean diet back in January and I can't believe the difference it's made to my mood and how I feel in general. Not that I ever felt in any way ill or down before, but compared with now it's like night and day. Bad food and drink choices, letting yourself become dehydrated will leave you feeling sluggish and bloated and have a massive impact on your mood and productivity levels. If you've been eating badly for a while you might not even realise how bad you feel, but make the switch to fresh foods and see what kind of positive impact it has on your happiness levels. Certain foods such as walnuts, radishes, pomegranates and apricots have been proved to contain happiness boosting chemicals- although eat a healthy balanced diet in general and you wont go far wrong.

3. Make Time For Fun
When you're busy throughout the week with a to-do list as long as your arm and not enough hours in the day, making time for fun or enjoyable activities might be low on your priority list. But it's so important to keep yourself sane and doesn't need to be anything expensive or elaborate. It could be a case of spending some time on a hobby, taking time at the weekend to visit a new place or even just putting your feet up for an hour or two in the evening and playing a game- this Australian online casino guide is great if you fancy winning a bit of money! If you spend a lot of time under pressure and stress it's important to make time for something you enjoy to let off steam.

4. Socialise
Happier people tend to report family and friendship as important factors in their lives, and for good reason. Whether you need to laugh or cry, if you need advice or just someone to listen- having a good support system around you gives a sense of belonging.  No matter how busy you are try to make time for loved ones, meeting in person is of course the best option but a phonecall, Skype call or even a text message can go a long way to socialise and keep in contact with the people that matter most to you.

5. Relax and Unwind
Finally, allow yourself time to relax. Even if you don't have time to properly do this every day, regular relaxation will mean you dont burn out and will be happier in your day to day life. It could be as simple as a hot bath, or you could go all out with a professional massage or to a spa. Relaxation increases wellbeing and so making time for it is important if you want to become a generally happier person.