23 Simple Ways To Feel Happy

To celebrate 2023, we've come up with 23 easy ways to bring joy into your day!

- MICHELE O'CONNOR

Get In Your Garden

"So many studies equate well-being with simply being outdoors," explains psychologist Dr Andy Cope (www.artofbrilliance.co.uk). Not green-fingered? Find a local gardening club.

Count Your Blessings 

"Every day, be thankful for everything from waking up (Woo-hoo, I'm alive!) to falling asleep (in a warm comfy bed)," urges Dr Cope. "Gratitude is like fertiliser for happiness." And those who keep gratitude journals feel more optimistic and satisfied with their lives.

Treat Someone 

In one study, volunteers given money to spend reported greater happiness when instructed to spend it on a gift for someone they knew instead of on themselves.

Set An Early Alarm 

"Daggfrisk is Swedish for 'dew fresh' - the kind of pure, clean feeling you get from waking refreshed in the early morning at sunrise," explains Dr Cope. Make the most of the silence before the rest of the world gets going.

Linger At The Dinner Table

The Spanish word "sobremesa" refers to the conversations people have around the table after completing a meal, explains Dr Cope. "Think no phones, no tech, just chatter," he says.

Put Your Name Down For Something...

suggests Marisa Peer, award-winning therapist and author (www.marisapeer.com). From assisting at a food bank to popping in on a neighbour for a cuppa and a chat, researchers have found that volunteering is a key way to boost psychological health.

Smile At Strangers

A simple smile as you pass someone by in the street really does make you feel good-particularly when they smile back.

Gaze Into A Fire