Print this off and keep it. Review and update it regularly!
These suggestions for being happy are from various sources. I believe that doing something different or extra will help.
Please spend some time working through it and – if you can – discussing possibilities with someone supportive: friend, family, counsellor, colleague, cat, dog.
Before you tick the NEVER box, think carefully whether that could be a MAYBE. Or even a YES. I know depression causes so many mental and physical problems. I know because I have lived through it. But I also know that choosing just ONE of these and giving it a chance will give your brain something new to focus on.
They are in no particular order. All my life, I thought I could not paint, people laughed at my sense of colour, “Are you colour blind?!” Invited to a group painting session, I loved it and went again and again because the right teacher always “makes anybody feel like a somebody”.
I don’t like dogs. I dislike them for so many reasons, someone (me!) should really have said “Don’t marry her! She likes dogs. You will never survive.” I didn’t. So, don’t try things you know, deep down, will not work.
Finally, don’t beat yourself up about the things that you’d like to do but know you realistically can’t. Just tick the right box and move on.
This works. Give it a try. Just try one new thing. See what happens.
Things to try | NEVER !! | Maybe | YES !! | Successful 1 – 10 |
(Add anything else you think of) | (Sure??) | (Try one!) | (Tried this!) | (How well did it work?) |
Work to develop friendships | ||||
Work to improve family relationships | ||||
Join a club | ||||
Do regular physical activity | ||||
Do daily mental activity | ||||
Follow your religion | ||||
Be kind to yourself | ||||
Be generous to yourself | ||||
Monitor your health | ||||
Be actively kind to others | ||||
Spend time in nature | ||||
Socialise with colleagues | ||||
Keep learning new skills and knowledge | ||||
Focus on other people’s happiness | ||||
Volunteer | ||||
Marry / Commit to a relationship | ||||
Don’t actively seek happiness | ||||
Be generous to others | ||||
Set yourself manageable goals | ||||
Enjoy everything | ||||
Get regular and enough sleep | ||||
Set up a regular savings plan | ||||
Stop feeling guilty or to blame | ||||
Accept yourself as you are | ||||
Seek challenges | ||||
Make sure you have safe surroundings | ||||
Laugh as often as you can | ||||
Get good health insurance | ||||
Seek a purpose in life | ||||
Keep a list of things you are grateful for | ||||
Optimise your bedroom for sleep | ||||
Seek a way of life that fits you | ||||
Avoid long commutes | ||||
Keep out of debt | ||||
Seek a job that fits you | ||||
Train to have a positive attitude | ||||
Recognise your strengths | ||||
Invest in experiences | ||||
Opt for a house that fits you | ||||
Keep a positive experiences journal | ||||
Take holidays that you really enjoy | ||||
Choose to live near family | ||||
Find at least one happy new friend | ||||
Get a garden or work in someone else’s | ||||
Live in an environment of trust | ||||
Develop skills for happiness | ||||
Read books | ||||
Invest in things that will last | ||||
Limit your work hours | ||||
Develop social media skills | ||||
Develop face-to-face social skills | ||||
Join a public speaking club | ||||
Live in a “bubble” day-to-day | ||||
Eat healthy | ||||
Get a pet | ||||
Join a walking group | ||||
Develop arts appreciation | ||||
Take a painting course | ||||
Take up meditation | ||||
Create a “meditation” space | ||||
Monitor your happiness | ||||
Take professional advice on lifestyle | ||||
Monitor your health | ||||
Write a personal mission statement / mantra | ||||
Give money regularly to charity | ||||
Get plenty of sunlight | ||||
Get fresh air and a short walk every day | ||||
Become known in a gym or coffee bar | ||||
Go to church regularly | ||||
Practise yoga | ||||
Go swimming | ||||
Spend time in a sauna or steam room | ||||
Spend time with children | ||||
De-clutter | ||||
Go self-employed | ||||
Become a vegetarian | ||||
Become a vegan | ||||
Don’t monitor the news | ||||
Own your own home | ||||
Move out of the city | ||||
Remove negative people from your circle | ||||
Recognise the value of your free time | ||||
Make your own food | ||||
Work part-time or flexibly | ||||
Drink lots and lots of water | ||||
Take control of your medication | ||||
Limit how much you watch TV | ||||
Take responsibility for your own happiness | ||||
Spend a careful amount of time with screens | ||||
Get an anthem, something that works for you, play it non-stop |
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