How to be happy in 2021
How to be happy in 2021
If 2020 was the year of worry, stress and health scares, here are six simple steps to boost your happiness for 2021
Get clarity
Founder of the Life Reboot Camp, Sophie Le Brozec, explains in order to get happy, you have to first know what makes you happy. Buy a small notebook and jot down ten things that bring you joy.
Don’t: Make a life shopping list: family, work, money, health.
Do: Be specific. Go on adventures with the kids. Increase my income by 15 per cent. Buy our dream detached home. Clear my credit card in the next year. Do less housework.
Sacrifice
Sophie also asks what are you actually doing about getting the things you want? Making a sacrifice is often the key. If happiness means spending more time with your kids, today, consider sacrificing the job or a hobby you love. Refer back to the clarity list you made and ask yourself, what are you prepared to sacrifice to get these things? Fill this form in now and stick it on your fridge to keep the realities of reaching your goals firmly in sight.
Try it!
If I want…to lose weight, I’ll need to give up… sausage rolls
If I want… action in the bedroom I’ll need to give up… social media in bed
For more tips and to learn about Sophie’s Life Reboot Programme, visit sophielebrozec.com/camp
Turn back the clock
In times of difficulty, we have a natural tendency to turn to happier memories of days gone by. Feeling nostalgic is a normal reaction to periods of prolonged emotional and physical turbulence, with a recent study finding that looking back on photos significantly boosted mood. Fish out those childhood photo albums or have a laugh with schoolmates about the poor teachers you drove bonkers at school. You can even pick up a copy of a nostalgic book that will plunge you into another time, transporting you away from the troubles of the day for an hour or two.
Forest bathing
Connecting with, and being in nature is known to be beneficial for our physical and mental health. Something as simple as being in a green space, or looking out at a body of water has been shown to soothe frazzled nerves and lower our heart rate. If you’re feeling really zen, kick off your shoes and walk barefoot on grass, or sand. The very action of ‘earthing’ is known to promote healing in the body, as well as reduce stress, promote good sleep and reduce anxiety.
Did you know? In Japan, shinrin-yoku or ‘forest bathing’ (spending time outdoors near trees) is a national pastime believed to promote wellbeing.
Deep breaths
How many times have you told a loved one in distress to take a deep breath to help them calm down? It really works. ‘Long-life’ breathing is a simple technique that triggers your para-sympathetic nervous system and restores your body’s ability to calm your body and mind. As detailed by Sandy Taikyu Kuhn Shimu, in her book Boost Your Natural Energy: 40 Simple Exercises and Recipes for Everyday, this technique makes you feel naturally at peace, boosting energy and creativity. It works by directing your focus and breath to three areas of your body and activating the nervous system.
HOW TO DO IT
Sit upright somewhere comfortable, close your eyes and breathe in and out of your nose. Then take a deep breath in, directing a third of your respiratory capacity into your belly, the next into your side ribs and lower back (kidney area) and the last third into your chest and upper back without lifting your shoulders.
Breathe out slowly from top to bottom, without tipping your torso forward or letting your shoulders slump. It takes a bit of practice, but do it daily for 5-10 minutes, taking care not to get out of breath.
Accept help
You may experience an exaggerated feeling of responsibility in the home, as women often do the lion’s share of domestic asks, but don’t feel the need to cater to the whole family’s needs on your own. Share out jobs, lighten your load wherever you can so you don’t end up burning out. There’s no shame asking in asking for help, or for your loved ones to pull their weight.
