10 Keys to Happier Living

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Our body and our mind are connected so being active benefits both our physical and mental health. It can improve mood and can lift our spirits. We can also boost our well-being by unplugging from technology, getting outside and making sure we get enough sleep. AWARENESS: Live life mindfully Today the skill and practice of mindfulness matters more than ever. As a result of our devices and social media, there’s a lot more competing for our attention than ever before. More than the human brain evolved for. As useful as this technology is, it’s designed to capture and keep hold of our attention. We can lose hours scrolling on our phone without realising it. It can also create information overload and fuel social comparison, adding to our stress levels or even causing distress. Dr Ryan Neimeic, one of the leading experts in VIA character strengths, defines these as ways of behaving, thinking or feeling that we have a natural capacity for, enjoy doing, and which enable us to perform well [22]. Our character strengths can be the driving force behind making the most of our talents, passions and other resources. For example, we may have a naturally good singing voice, but applying the character strength of perseverance will help us make the most of that talent and develop the skills we need to become a great singer. Orth, U., & Robins, R. W. (2014). The development of self-esteem. Current directions in psychological science, 23(5), 381-387.

Think about why– for each thing you are grateful for, write down why it happened and why you feel good about it Sleeping well is essential for our bodies, mood and mind [8]. Getting enough sleep helps us think better, enables us to more easily manage our emotions and supports our physical health including our immunity, but it’s not always easy [9]. Human beings are the only creatures to have electric light so it’s easy for us to stay awake and of course our devices can keep our minds whirring late into the night. As a result, many of us are chronically sleep-deprived and need an alarm to wake up. Feel part of something bigger. Spend time with children, visit an inspiring location, gaze at the stars or join a club. Huppert, F.A. (2008) Psychological wellbeing: Evidence regarding its causes and consequences. State of the Science Review: SR-X2, UK Government Foresight Project, Mental Capital and Wellbeing. Emotions are more than feelings. They include momentary physiological changes which influence our actions and add up. Whilst unpleasant emotions like fear evolved to help us survive by avoiding danger, for example, by triggering a ‘fight, flight or freeze response, it wasn’t until relatively recently that the power of pleasant emotional experiences was also recognised.Resilience – although we can’t always choose what happens to us, we can often choose our own response to what happens Sometimes it can take a little while for us to fully understand or even accept our signature strengths. They can be so natural to us we don't even realise we are using them! It’s also ok to fine-tune your list as you build your awareness of your strengths, put them into action in new ways, and as you grow and your life evolves. Common humanity – when we feel inadequate or ashamed, it can be very isolating. It can feel like we’re the only one that messes up. This can cause us to want to hide all or part of ourselves or disconnect from others. An important part of self-compassion is recognising that ALL human beings make mistakes, fail sometimes and are imperfect. It’s normal! Reminding ourselves of this can help to reduce difficult emotions and enables us to feel part of a shared human experience rather than alone [14].

Character, 10(4) in Niemiec, R. M. (2019). Finding the golden mean: the overuse, underuse, and optimal Govindji, R., & Linley, P. A. (2007). Strengths use, self-concordance and well-being: Implications for Reflect on the types of tasks on your to-do lists that you typically get done most readily and those that often don’t! To what extent do different tasks enable you to play to your signature strengths?I thought it would be interesting to explore the 10 Keys for Happier Living and see how we can apply them in our current climate after previously writing about the positive impact that the Five Ways to Wellbeing had upon my mental health recovery. Be comfortable with who you are No one is perfect, yet we often expect ourselves to be! When we learn to accept ourselves we are likely to be happier and better at learning and growing!