The Happy Worker

There are many things you can do to be happier, and below are some tips and techniques I've picked up over the years. A lot of them help you to feel happy instantly and that's the whole point. The more often you can feel happy immediately, the happier you will be in the long term. Happiness is not something you want to leave 'for later', it's something you want to access right away. And the good news is that you can.

And if you would like to receive a weekly inspirational happiness quote and message, like the ones below, you can sign up for them here (to the left, where it says "Be Inspired").

You know the saying 'Every cloud has a silver lining'. If you want to be happier, it will help to always look for that silver lining. Most situations, however dire they may seem at the time, have a positive element too. Look for it and focus on that, rather than the negativity.

We all have it: that one song that instantly brings a smile on our face. Or a favourite artist or type of music that is guaranteed to put us in a good mood. Put them all together and make a playlist of 'uplifting music'. Then, when you're feeling down or things aren't going your way, put that on (with headphones if necessary) and see how you your mood lifts.

You may be working towards a big goal and think you can't be happy until you've achieved it. But you can be happy every day, if you learn to celebrate all achievements, however small. Sure, the celebration can be bigger when you've reached that final goal, but don't forget all the little steps that got you there. And when you focus on what you have, rather than on what you don't have (yet), you will feel much better.

This is a great one: carry a notebook with you and every time someone gives you a compliment (which, by the way, is probably a lot more often than you think), write it down. Then, when you're feeling a bit low, look at it and remember all the nice things people have said to you.

We can't influence what others say about or to us, but we can influence what we say to ourselves. So stop saying negative things to yourself. Believe in yourself and your ability to deal with whatever comes your way. And if you're not feeling good about something, don't say "I'm rubbish at this" but instead say "I can't do this yet". It opens up the possibilities that you will be able to do it in the future.

Smile and the whole world smiles with you. If you're feeling low or things aren't going your way, make an effort to smile, even if you don't feel like it. The muscles that are needed to make you smile will release endorphins, which in turn will make you feel better. So put on that Peter Kay DVD or watch something funny on YouTube, and you'll instantly feel better.

Misery loves company and negative people can sap your energy in an instant. Avoid that sort of negativity as much as possible and surround yourself with positive and encouraging people instead. This starts by recognising negative people and then realising that you don't have to join their pity party. Choose your own happiness!

Be kind to yourself as much as to others. Just because others are unkind, doesn't mean you have to be too. When you fill your life with kindness, you will see that it will fill you with happiness. And being kind to yourself is sometimes the hardest thing to do, but also the most important.