5 simple ways to improve your wellbeing in 2013!

A big happy new year to all our wonderful Network readers, subscribers and contributors. Our new issue is on its way but since January is upon us we thought we would put together 5 simple ways you could improve your health and wellbeing in 2013. A lot of us make massive resolutions to change ourselves but often change comes at the pace of a snail and thats not always a bad thing! Remember who won the race so..... slow and steady, here we go!

1. Spend more time in Nature

Connecting with nature can improve your health and wellbeing; say researchers in the British Medical Journal. The theory is known as ecotherapy: restoring health through contact with nature. But lets me honest, we all know this! Even just thirty minutes out to take a walk around your local park or if you are lucky enough to have an abundance of it outside your door stroll around your garden. It’s easy, makes you healthier and turns that frown upside down.

2. Drink more water

Our body is made up of mostly water so it makes sense to top up during the day. Day to day we hear people talking about feeling tired or not having enough energy and part of the problem could be due to not drinking enough water. If you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated -- and this can lead to fatigue, muscle weakness, dizziness and other symptoms.

3. Laugh… A LOT

A good chortle has been found to reduce pain. Not only does it distract you from aches, but it releases feel good endorphins into your system that are more powerful than the same amount of morphine. Whats great is it doesn’t even have to be ‘real’ laughter. Check out laughter yoga!

4. Daydream

Who knew?? I don’t know about you but I couldn’t count the amount of times I got given out to at school for my eyes and thoughts wandering off into the distance but now, according to Psychology Today, daydreaming is good for you “It fosters creativity, happiness and mental health. But in this plugged-in culture, while you may be connected to the world, you may be disconnected from yourself and the comforting company of your own dreams. You may be so swept up in an array of inboxes that your inner life goes unnoticed or unheeded. Daydreaming, letting your wishes and instincts play out, is so important because the real you– your true, authentic, emotional, free and spontaneous self comes to life. When you express the true self you are less likely to feel anxious or depressed and more likely to feel creative and content.” One, two, three aahhhhhh!

5. Give more

In meditation there is a reflection called ‘Loving Kindness’ – the part where you wish love and happiness to the world and particularly the people who may irk you from time to time. I found this slightly irksome myself to begin with but after a couple of times practicing it I found it a great relief as well as a pride in myself for overcoming my own dislikes. Giving isn’t always easy but a 2008 study by Harvard Business School professor Michael Norton and colleagues found that giving money to someone else lifted participants’ happiness more that spending it on themselves (despite participants’ prediction that spending on themselves would make them happier). Happiness expert Sonja Lyubomirsky, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, saw similar results when she asked people to perform five acts of kindness each week for six weeks. The proof is in the pudding so try it for yourself today!

So let us know how you get on and please if you have any suggestions yourself add them in the comments section below!