Five ways to feel a little bit better about life

Five ways to feel a little bit better about life. Summer seems to be on its way out in the UK. That can leave some people feeling down at the prospect of shorter days, dark evenings and cold weather.  If you’re one of those people then you might find this post useful to help with those winter blues. We can’t change the weather or control the changing of the seasons.  However we can change what we do.  Research has shown that if we make sure we include the following five activities regularly in our lives then we’re more likely to feel contented.  It’s about focusing on the important things in life rather than dwelling on bad weather or lamenting that you can’t afford the latest gadgets/fashions.

1 – Connect, to feel better

Connecting with people is important as we’re social creatures. Talking to or being with other people regularly, satisfies our need to feel we belong and know we’re not alone.  Whether it’s joining a club of likeminded people, chatting with your neighbour or getting back in touch with an old friend. See how you feel when you connect with others.

2 – Be active & feel better

We all know that exercising regularly is good for our bodies, but we forget that it’s also good for our emotional health too.  Physical activity releases endorphins that make us feel good and helps us to sleep better. Exercise helps improve mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.  Being more active doesn’t have to be about sweating it out at the gym three times a week or going to formal exercise classes.  How about putting on your favourite music and dancing around your living-room? Or get out in the garden for a spot of digging?  It’s important to work within your body’s capabilities. Think about what you normally do and how you could get your body moving a bit more.

3 – Take notice

Taking notice is about being more mindful of ourselves and the world around us.  It’s about pausing to be aware of how you feel. Thinking about what you have to be thankful for & recognising what’s important in life.  It could be about noticing the changing of the seasons or finding out what’s going on in your local community.  When was the last time you stopped to reflect on things?

4 – Keep learning & feel better

Learning new things stimulates our brains and gives us a sense of achievement.  That sense of achievement, no matter how small, is really important for our self-esteem.  You could sign up to a course to learn a new skill or hobby or speak to your manager about taking on some new responsibilities at work.  How about speaking to someone from a different culture or simply look up a new subject on the Internet?  There is an abundance of free information on the Internet and in libraries; see what you could learn today.

5 – Give

Giving doesn’t have to mean donating money or fundraising for charities, it could be something as simple as holding the door open for someone.  Smiling at people, saying please and thank-you; you never know how much your act of kindness could brighten someone else’s day no matter how small or insignificant you think it is.  Do something nice for someone today and see how you feel. None of the above activities are new or complicated; it’s about remembering to focus on the little things in life that make us happier.  You’re probably doing much of this already, but the important thing is to remember to keep doing them all. If you’re feeling a bit down, why not grab a notepad and write down what you do and where the activities fit in under the five headings; Connect, Be active, Take notice, Keep learning and Give.  You’ll find lots of activities cover more than one point, but look out for gaps and have a think about what you could do to fill that gap.

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I can help you ditch dieting forever, either with my 1-2-1 support. Or if you prefer to work independently, you can learn all the skills I teach my 1-2-1 clients, on my ‘No More Diets’ online course.