Slough Ride, Take it Easy
From the BBC:
In an unusual three-month experiment, six specialists from a variety of disciplines worked to improve the happiness levels of a typical UK town.
The experts tried and tested 10 simple measures in the quest for happiness.
They found successful strategies included nurturing a plant, smiling at strangers and cutting television viewing by a half.
The ten tips?
* Plant something and nurture it
* Count your blessings - at least five - at the end of each day
* Take time to talk - have an hour-long conversation with a loved one each week
* Phone a friend whom you have not spoken to for a while and arrange to meet up
* Give yourself a treat every day and take the time to really enjoy it
* Have a good laugh at least once a day
* Get physical - exercise for half an hour three times a week
* Smile at and/or say hello to a stranger at least once each day
* Cut your TV viewing by half
* Spread some kindness - do a good turn for someone every day
Sounds good to me. I need to exercise more. And, I suppose, do more good turns. Otherwise, I think I’m doing alright by this list. You?
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Cutting your TV viewing by half has rapidly diminishing marginal returns.
Smiling at and saying hello to a stranger at least once a day in the UK? Wild ideas among the Brits these days.
I say hello or good morning to my bus driver every day. i don’t always smile because it’s…well..morning. but he or she is always greeted. i actually find it’s more gratifying to thank them when i leave.
I expected a different list from the Brits, such as: An evening at the local pub discussing the merits of Speckled Hen or Boddingtons; seeing Manchester United play football; dining at an Indian resataurant, arguably the best food in the UK; or a trip to France (Well, maybe not right now).
The ten tips seem a bit intuitive. I think my 93 year-old mother could have come up with a very similar list without the help of “specialists.”
Nietzsche in one post and “count your blessings” in the very next post? This is reason #412 that I enjoy your writings … scope.
(And for extra credit, does this count toward my “say something nice to a stranger” thing?)
i.c., Yes. It counts. And I’ll count your kind words as a blessing. We’ll all be out of our heads with joy.
10 tips to increase happiness
Link: Happiness and Public Policy � Slough Ride, Take it Easy. * Plant something and nurture it * Count your blessings - at least five - at the end of each day * Take time to talk - have an