Six Simple Ideas for Living
Happier in 2016
Saving money and staying fit are
traditional New Year’s resolutions,
but overly packed schedules and
the materialistic focus of modern
day life are inspiring a new goal
for many people: to live happier in
2016 and beyond.
“To make 2016 the happiest
year ever, think about how you
rest, eat and move,” says Matt
Johnson, health and performance
expert and president of On Target Living. “I am a believer that
mental health is directly related
to physical health. For most of
human existence we have viewed
the mind - the head - different
from the physical body of the neck
down. New research is showing
they have everything to do with
each other. If you want optimal
physical health, you need optimal mental health and happiness.
When people are happier they
tend to improve all aspects of their
life.”
Johnson offers six surprisingly
simple, yet profoundly effective
ways to boost mood and overall
happiness in the new year:
1. Make sleep a priority
Getting seven to eight hours of
sleep each night is critical for the
body to produce hormones that
trigger happiness, explains Johnson.
“I am a big fan of always going
to bed with a positive attitude,”
he says. “If you go to bed angry,
worried or stressed, that tends to
come back the next day. Do what
you can before bed to reset your
mood. Read, take a bath, exercise
or talk face-to-face. Try to avoid
screen time.”
2. Make more time for family
“Over the last 20 years, family time has vanished. Sporting
events, projects, work and technology have swallowed this time,”
says Johnson. “As the author of the
cookbook Target to Table, I think
family face-to-face time is the
most important part of a healthy
family relationship and happiness.”
Johnson suggests planning
family dinner two to three times a
week. “When we start to eat dinner as a family in the home, our
health and happiness will follow,”
he notes.
3. Carve out whitespace
Whitespace is time you dedicate
to yourself to refresh, unplug and
4 RuralLeaderMagazine.com | JANUARY 2016
rejuvenate. This could be making
time to do yoga, enjoy a hobby,
read, meditate or take a bath.
“People who have hobbies and
activities that give them balance
tend to be happier,” Johnson says.
“If your hobby is texting, checking social media or watching TV,
this will set you up for a feeling of
emptiness. These things are fine in
short periods, but too much will
take away what life is giving us.”
4. Achieve work-life balance
With the expanse of the Internet
and mobile commuting, workers
are now connected more than ever
before. But this connectedness can
get out of control when answering
emails 24/7, so work-life balance is
important for overall happiness.
“We all want to be successful,
but with anything you need proper balance,” says Johnson. “If you
look at professional athletes, the
best ones try to find activities outside of their sport that help them
stay hungry, engaged and excited.
Find things that help you create
balance in your life.”
Johnson suggests:
* Don’t check email after 8 p.m.
* Go on a date night or family