Category: Happiness

Be happy, don’t worry!

18-Feb-10 17:24

According to a recent study in the Daily Express today, being happy is a great way to keep your heart healthy, which is no surprise really. Doctors recommend that we should all try to ‘inject' more fun into our lives, to help avoid heart attacks and other health-related complications. "If you enjoy reading novels, but never get around to it, commit to getting 15 minutes or so of reading in. If walking or listening to music improves your mood, get those activities in your schedule", said Dr Karina Davidson who led the research.

I fully support Davidson's comments as I know myself, I rarely make time for relaxation and hobbies, and feel as though I'm always on the go. Switching off is generally not easy, especially if you have a busy work (ing) or family life, but we are only human beings after all, and must make time to put our feet up sometimes.

The study, published in the European Heart Journal, assessed almost 2000 men and women for 10 years for symptoms of depression, hostility, or anxiety and how much they felt joy, happiness, excitement and contentment. The team then calculated a five-point scale of happiness and found that for each point up the scale a person was placed, their risk of developing heart disease dropped by 22 per cent.

This is a shocking statistic which just goes to show that maintaining your happiness is crucial in order to encourage a healthier lifestyle and sense of wellbeing. For those of us that are down in the dumps, taking action is key, whether it's talking your problems through with someone close to you (your mum or dad), or visiting a counsellor or specialist. When I'm feeling a bit rubbish, I try to focus on something positive - whether it's a day out or holiday coming up, or even just a night out with friends. The ultimate key is to manage your work-life balance, have fun and in the words of Bob Marley, 'be happy!'

Donna