A New Year reflects the chance for a fresh start. There’s generally a feeling of ‘newness’ in the air and many of us are thinking about what we would like to do differently in the coming year.
It may be a resolution to exercise more, eat healthier, be more assertive, or it may be an overall feeling of wanting to make a fresh start and to just simply enjoy life more this year.
We can all bring a little more joy into our lives without breaking into too much of a sweat or putting ourselves under too much pressure.
Though you may never have thought of happiness as something you could work on, never has finding ways to cultivate happiness been more important. Being an adult is a seriously hard business, especially when the news stations are focussed on nothing but the doom and gloom. Its more reason to create a little more happiness!
When it comes to the pursuit of happiness, research says that real-life experiences deliver longer-lasting satisfaction than material goods.
Here are a few ways to get started on your own pursuit of happiness!
Explore a new City
The UK is not short on incredible cities to visit. England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have fascinating cultures that you can experience through their cities’ architecture, attractions, and hospitality.
Check out this list of top UK cities to visit:
17 Best Cities in the UK to Visit Right Now - The Planet D
Learn a new language
The brain is compared to muscles for one reason. Seeing that the more physical exercises you do, the more the muscles strengthen and get larger. This aspect applies to the brain too. The more you challenge it, the more the brain expands, and the better it functions and how fun to learn a whole new language?
Here are some websites that have some great free learning:
Duolingo - The world's best way to learn a language
Learn a language. Memrise is authentic, useful & personalised.
Food glorious food
It’s easy to get caught up in the same cooking routines and nothing brings us more joy than a tasty meal. Why not spice things up a bit and learn to cook something you’ve never done before? Here are some great recipes for all pallets:
30 New Healthy Recipes That You Should Try in 2023 (tasteofhome.com)
20 Inspiring Dinners That Will Help You Eat Around the Globe - Brit + Co
Learn About Your Family History
Old photos, letters, and journals give you a glimpse into what your ancestors were really like. Stories handed down from one generation to the next about something an ancestor did can be inspiring. Family history is what makes a name and series of dates on a page into a living, breathing, person. There are loads of great sites out there to start your family tree!
Family History | Free Family History Search | Ancestry UK
Start your family tree for free to uncover your family history | findmypast.co.uk
Find your ancestors - Free UK Genealogy
Help Out in the Community
There are always worthwhile causes to get involved with in the local community. You could volunteer your time. Giving back is always a great way of finding the all-important meaning and purpose we need in life. The National Council for Voluntary Organisations has a searchable function to find your local charities that fit in with your own personal likes and interests!
Don’t forget that you (McGoff Group employee) can use a Volunteering Day from McGoff Group to support your community.
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Love to read?
We may not be able to predict everything the near year will bring. But based on 2023's new book releases, you can choose what you`ll be reading this year. Why not challenge yourself to read a book every month? Adapt the time-frame in line with your particular reading ability. Read quickly? Then a book a week may be more of a challenge. Read more slowly? Then one book every 2 or 3 months may be better.
Here are 2023s most anticipated books;
38 Best New Books to Read 2023: Most Anticipated Reads (today.com)
Or is you prefer something a little more classic, here is the list of must reads!
Must Read Classics (1769 books) (goodreads.com)
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Life isn’t meant to be drudgery and the hope for better times is infectious. Let us begin the new year with positive intentions to cultivate more happiness!
Blog written by Emma James
Director of Support Services
