How Happyzine readers feed and maintain their happiness, as we move into the depths of winter
Jill Hayhurt is a PHD candidate at the University of Otago. She has a keen interest in the science of Happiness.
When I started to notice the winter blues sneaking into my mindset and habits, I rifled through some positive psychology readings in order to prop up my health and happiness. Some of my favourite tips are from Dr. Nic Marks and colleagues, who write about The Five Ways to Wellbeing: Connect, be active, take notice, keep learning, and give.
I found that focusing on one of the five ways almost automatically encourages more time and attention spent on the other ways as well. For me a big change happened when my husband built me a new raised veggie bed for my birthday in May. Firstly I had to learn how to grow a winter garden, and secondly I have to take notice, both of the ways our seedlings were developing, and the environment that was helping (sunshine!) and hindering (snow?!) their growth.
Our veggie bed has urged me outside despite the plummeting Dunedin temperatures, and I am definitely looking forward to sharing our harvest over the next few months. Especially the Brussels sprouts; not at all my favourite vegetable. (Though maybe Dr. Marks would suggest that I can still learn to love them?)
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Tags: Happiness
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