How to get the habit of HAPPINESS

Want to make some changes in your life? Follow these easy steps to reboot and be more content

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Most of us are so busy living our lives that we rarely get the chance to stand back and reflect. We don't pause to take stock, weigh up our choices and fix the things that niggle us. However, the benefits of a little time out to reset are huge. We can remind ourselves of what's important to us, and prioritise them. We can also think about what's not working and deal with those areas too.

Take time to think

To reset your life, a perfect solution would be to take time away from regular commitments, to relax and get some perspective.

Book a weekend break somewhere peaceful, to connect with nature. But don't worry if you can't plan a trip; you can still make regular time to pause, check in with yourself and focus on what's important. Set aside time each week to reflect 15 minutes to yourself during lunch or the evening, or a quiet hour alone on Sunday morning.

It's a good idea to start a journal to record your thoughts. Start by writing whatever comes into your head. To help you think about where you are in your life right now, write: 'Hello, my name is [...] and I'm...' Then continue writing, noting down whatever first comes to mind. Aim to write a page or so.

Read this back. How did you define yourself? Did you talk about your career, your emotions or your role in your family? Any themes that stand out will reveal what's important to you. And how did you complete that opening sentence? Was it 'I'm tired', 'I'm a grandmother', 'I'm lost'? This can give you a pointer towards areas you'd like to prioritise.