19 Steps Towards Living A Happier Life

Forget New Year’s Resolutions, they’re history already and it’s only March. What we want are simple steps we can take towards living a happier life the whole year round.

Belle About Town talked to etiquette guru William Hanson who offered his advice on simple steps we can all take towards living a happier life in 2019.

1. Wake up from the gym dream

Let’s be honest, unless you were a keen gym bunny last year, nothing’s really going to change now.  Don’t kid yourself that you’re going to be a regular among the machines and weights.  Gyms aren’t for everyone so don’t beat yourself up for not going.  You can be healthy and exercise in other ways.

2. Switch off at seven

Have a break from screens and the peer pressure of social media after seven o’clock in the evening.  Come home, unwind with a good book, music and conversation with those you live with.  Ignore the devices and focus on the humans.

3. Change your breakfast

As we all know, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  Introduce a new option for your morning fuel, such as Granola, to give your mornings a touch of variety and for slowly released energy to keep you going throughout the day.

4. Smile more and say hello

Spread the positivity by changing how you acknowledge strangers in the street.  No need to say hello to every one you pass, but give a polite smile to most and say good morning/afternoon to at least four people a day.

5. New hairstyle

When visiting your hairdresser, ask for something different.  There’s no need to shave it all off, or turn it a different colour, but for the same price as your regular cut they can style it a bit differently at the end in order to give you a fresh new look.  (Remember, it takes three days for the brain to work out if you like a new style, so don’t love or loathe it immediately.)

6. At home

Many of us get used to the relative ease of catching up with and entertaining friends in restaurants, but having people for some home-cooking in your own house is often cheaper per head and much more enjoyable – especially if you are a creature of the a la carte.  Don’t panic, the food needn’t be haute cuisine – just wholesome and tasty.

7. Keep in touch

Nothing is nicer for someone than receiving a handwritten letter or card in the post.  A text or email that you may have written slumped on the sofa is not the same thing.  Use an evening to write short missives to people you haven’t seen for a while.  Spread the joy to your address book, too!

8. Surprise your partner

If you and your partner have set habits and chores, then surprise them by helping out with something that you wouldn’t normally do or be seen doing.  Give them the enjoyment of a ‘free pass’ on their regular chore and hopefully they may do the same with one of yours.

9. Rearrange your furniture

If you’re a little cash-strapped and you can’t get that new piece of furniture you wanted then try a little move around of the existing furniture you have to give your sitting room a slightly new feel.  Move a chair here, put a lamp there.  There are known psychological benefits to rearranging household wares and you’ll be surprised how this simple fix can improve your mood.

10. What goes around comes around

Good manners are all about looking after others – they are self-less not selfish.  Use today as a time to invest in some quality time sitting down, conversing with your close friends to see if you can help them with any of their own problems.  A problem shared, is a problem halved, remember.  And if they are good friends, they’ll pay back the kindness and generosity in spirit when the time comes.

11. Clean queens

If you find yourself with a spare half day then pick a room and turn it inside out with a thorough deep clean.  Give the things that usually get missed some special attention.  You’ll soon be able to actually see the fruits of your labours, giving you that rush of excitement and achievement.

12. Best feet forward

Similarly, spend an hour giving all your shoes a really decent clean.  Remove the laces, wipe away any stubborn dirt from soles and crevices, and polish like there’s no February.  You can tell a lot about a person by their shoes, so go into the new year with sparkling shoes that will be the envy of your friends and colleagues.

13. Light up your life

Repurpose Christmas fairy lights to decorate a bannister, doorway, beam or window.  Prolong the sparkle to help combat SAD.

14. Connect with a colleague

When you get back to work, try to make friends with a colleague you don’t know overly well.  Find out more about what makes then tick and what irks them.  You may find you have more in common with them than you think.

15. Declutter

Before you put away a new purchase, clear something away and donate it to charity or offer it to a friend or relative so it goes to good use.  Having piles of disorganised gubbins around you can bring down the mental mood.

16. Limit the liquor 

Save yourself money and sore heads by cutting back (or even cutting out) alcohol.  You can do this throughout the year, not just the first month.

17. Meet up for breakfast

Don’t spend every weekend morning lounging around in bed – arrange to see friends and family for breakfasts out and about.  They are cheaper than evening meals in restaurants and get you up and out the door, ready to tackle the day sooner than floating around the house in PJs.

18. Brighten up your wardrobe

Bright bold colours don’t just have to be for the warmer summer months.  Wearing one statement item can help bring some visual colour and cheer to your winter wardrobe.

19. Photo recall

Switch some of the photos in your frames for new ones to give subtle changes to your day-to-day decor.  Keep the previous photos at the back of the frames to start a rotation.

• William Hanson spoke to us on behalf of Lizi’s Granola. Initially handcrafted in Lizi’s’ B&B kitchen and served to visiting guests to now being sold all over the world, the brand promises breakfast lovers something a whole lot better.