iVillage logo
Search iVillage
Relationships
Horoscopes
Entertainment
Beauty & Fashion
Diet & Fitness
Health
Pregnancy
Parenting
Home & Garden
Work & Money
Food & Drink
Travel
Mamma Mia!
Get in the mood for love
Wake me up when it's over...
Gwen yawns through tennis final
Boom, shake the room
Check out The Orgasmatron
Relationships 
  |  Family & Friends  |  Emotional well-being  |  The Happiness Workshop: week one
Advertisement
Topics
Sex
Family & Friends
Emotional well-being
Family Issues
Friends, Lovers & Exes
Social Skills
Divorce
Marriage
Couples
Single & Dating
Community
Understanding Men
partners
iVillage shopping

Hot stuff
The wedding planner
Vote for a good cause
Relationship photo galleries
The Orgasmatron
Olympics 2008
Sex positions to try
iVillage sex shop
Community Awards
Men are perfect but...
Newsletters
sign up for FREE!




 
Promotions
Dating dilemmas
A new survey by DatingDirect.com, reveals 84 per cent of single Brits struggle to find a date
Transform coffee breaks
A sprinkling of Latte Creations makes an everyday coffee break extra special

The Happiness Workshop: week one

by Susan Quilliam
continued from page 1
The stress factor
Life is busy. Stress is your body's way of signalling there's something wrong and can lead to a range of physical ailments and mental symptoms. For true contentment, you need to reduce the stress in your life. Improve happiness and curb stress levels by:

  • Learning how to say no. Modern life is very demanding and you may feel discontented because you are overachieving. Keep a commitment diary for a week and see exactly what you are asking of yourself. Then be brutal. Cut out what you don't have to do. Renegotiate with partners or colleagues to decrease your workload. Stop feeling guilty and take more time out.

    Stretch. Stress studies show that people sometimes get tense not because they're doing too much, but because they're not doing enough. So if you feel you are underachieving - or turning into a couch potato - get moving. Ask for more responsibility at work. Take up a new hobby. Set yourself a challenge for the coming year. If you're fulfilling your potential, you'll feel more content.

  • Get enough rest. Lack of sleep creates depression, so make sure you get the amount that's right for you. Current research suggests six or seven hours a night. If you have trouble sleeping, create a pre-sleep routine consisting of a warm bath and gentle music and consciously think calm thoughts to wind down. Take regular relaxation breaks during the day to keep your energy levels high.

    More resources
  • The Assertiveness Workbook by Joanna Gutman (Sheldon Press) or ask your local evening class centre if they run assertiveness courses.
  • The Ultimate Stressbuster by Sarah Brewer (Ebury Press)
  • Getting a Good Night's Sleep by Fiona Johnston (Sheldon Press)



    •  previous | 1 |  2 |  3 | next print printer friendly send to a friend
      
    Delicious     Digg     reddit     Facebook     StumbleUpon