Want more health and happiness in the year ahead β without having to work too hard? Here are tried and tested tweaks that can lead to big improvements.
Not setting a morning alarm. Now, I very rarely do. Dr Neil Stanley , sleep expert. Listening to classical music on the radio. I used to listen to the news during dinner, but since I switched to music I feel much less stressed and much happier.
Anonymous, New Orleans, US. Leaving my phone downstairs at night. I bought a Lumie alarm clock to wake me up instead. I sleep better, I feel less stressed and I am much calmer. Joe Wicks , fitness coach. Filling out my calendar for the next decade. Anonymous, California, US. Deciding not to drink alcohol β just for that day. Marian Keyes , author. Buying a pair of waterproof trainers.
It sounds trivial, but walking whatever the weather means I get the most out of my lunch breaks. A storm gets the blood pumping even better than a sunny day. Callum Gibson, events worker, East Sussex. Putting a smile on my face the moment I wake up. It tricks the brain into thinking: ooh, I feel quite good about today!
Making homemade soup to eat at work. It nourishes twice over: when I make it and when I eat it. Robin, doctor , Christchurch, New Zealand. Questioning my rationale. Since I wrote Rationality , people ask if I always act rationally. Counterexamples spring to mind, from biking aggressively to postponing medical tests because I may not like the results.
