August is Happiness Happens Month, a month dedicated to celebrating what makes you happy and reminding us that happiness can be found in the little things. However, it is easy to get wrapped up in our busy schedules and forget what makes us happy. As a result, we have included five tips that may improve your happiness.

1. Eating a Balanced Diet

Your food choices impact both your physical health and mental health. For instance, some foods can affect your state of mind and make you emotionally stronger. Carbohydrates provide serotonin, but simple carbohydrates can cause you to crash. Meanwhile, complex carbohydrates like vegetables can provide serotonin and help avoid your energy from crashing.

2. Exercising

Regular exercise can have multiple benefits, not just for your body but for your mind. A small amount of physical activity releases chemicals in your brain that can help reduce stress and anxiety while boosting your self-esteem and happiness.

Exercising doesn’t have to be something you dread doing; it can be a fun physical activity like dancing or riding a bike. To help stay motivated, try picking an exercise you enjoy and inviting a friend to join in.

3. Practising Gratitude

Take time to reflect on good things that happened in your day or what you appreciate, as it can boost your mood. Practising gratitude can improve your happiness and impact feelings of hope.

There are multiple ways to practice gratitude, but one of the easiest ways is starting your day by acknowledging one reason you are grateful. You can also practice looking for small things you appreciate throughout your day. Also, you can write down what you are thankful for and practise saying it to yourself or your loved ones.

4. Spending Time with Family and Friends

Meaningful relationships enhance your overall well-being and happiness. Family and friends celebrate your successes and provide support during difficult times. These relationships prevent isolation and offer us companionship when we need it most.

As we age, it becomes harder for us to make new friendships. To make new friends, you may need to broaden your search, attend community events, take up a new interest or even volunteer.

5. Paying it Forward

Regardless of the size of the gesture, paying it forward can improve happiness and well-being for both you and the recipient. There are opportunities to pay it forward everywhere, from complimenting someone else to paying for someone’s coffee in the queue. All you have to do is be aware of your surroundings to find ways to pay it forward.

Support and advice:

CCS Gateshead Carers, get the support and advice you need with our Emotional Support and Well-being Service. This service aims to support you, not only professionally but personally.
Our Emotional Support and Well-being service can help:
Call Carol on 07751828989 or wellbeing-support@clececare.co.uk in confidence