Happy habits

We all want to be happy, but many of us spend years believing it is tied to the next goal instead of focusing on the present. This week we take a look at happiness and the factors that determine how much of it we feel.

Research suggests that true, lasting happiness has nothing to do with how much money or success we have. Strong relationships are among the biggest factors influencing our mental wellbeing. Spending time with family and close friends, feeling supported and having people you can rely on matter far more than chasing status or material possessions.

Our daily habits also play a surprisingly important role. Exercise is beneficial on so many levels. It can boost your mood, lower stress and improve sleep. Even gentle activities such as walking have been shown to benefit mental wellbeing. Practising gratitude has also been linked to greater life satisfaction. It does not have to be anything complicated. In fact, the simpler the better.

Perhaps the most comforting message is that nobody feels happy all the time. Life will always have difficult moments and that’s completely normal. Instead of chasing constant happiness, experts say we should focus on building strong relationships and finding purpose in everyday life. Those simple habits are often the real secret to long-term happiness.

In other news this week, turn to our Beauty pages to learn how to contour your face like a pro. Contouring with make-up is an easy way to give the face more structure and subtle definition. However, it has to be done properly as poor blending can leave the skin looking muddy and patchy.