How to have a HAPPIER NEW YEAR

Boost your outlook in 2023 and beyond with our easy positivity plan

Feeling low? It's no wonder, thanks to the unsettling run of events last year that provoked feelings of worry, anxiety and sadness: the war in Ukraine, the passing of the Queen and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, to name a few. But the good news? It's easier than you think to feel positive because it's entirely possible to 'think yourself happy'.

Happiness comes from the ability to navigate life, says psychotherapist Owen O'Kane. 'We can't control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond and, even in difficult times, we can salvage something and still find contentment.' Finding this balance is not only key for living a contented life, but also for staying healthy.

'Happy people have better heart health, stronger immune function and suffer less chronic pain - they also live longer,' says Miriam Akhtar, an expert in positive psychology.

Ready for a mindset switch? Try these tips to top up your positivity tank.

CHEAT YOURSELF HAPPIER

Boost your feel-good factor in 2023 with our expert tricks

Movement is medicine

Exercise gives us a way of proactively building mental health resilience, says Tally Rye, author of Train Happy (£14.99, Pavilion). 'After you exercise, the brain can increase the happy neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, noradrenaline and endorphins, which are the ones that make you feel good, she explains. 'And workouts don't need to be overly long or intense for you to feel those mood-enhancing benefits." Power walking while chatting to a friend or whizzing through a field on a bike with your family are both feel-good ways to get moving.

Keep track of your emotions