Happier and Healthier
Over the past few days, I’ve been bombarded by “New Year, New You” messaging — and it’s had me reflecting. My own philosophy is much simpler: do more of what you love. That’s what truly makes us healthier and happier.
For some people, that might mean doing less. Resting more. Slowing down. If that’s you, well done, resting is a skill we’re not all comfortable with.
For others, it might look like signing up for a gym membership or starting a new fitness routine. If that brings you joy and strength, good on you for listening to that call. Yoga can’t meet all your movement needs, we also require cardio fitness and weights to help our whole body to stay strong.
We all have different priorities, different seasons of life, and different things that light us up. There isn’t one correct way to live a happy life — and honestly, that’s what makes the world interesting.
One of the things I love most about my friendships is how varied everyone’s hobbies are. I recently discovered that a couple I know keep Trivial Pursuit cards scattered around their home so they can ask each other silly general knowledge questions whenever boredom strikes. I love this for them. It’s playful, low-effort, and deeply connective. They’ve found a simple way to invite more joy and play into their everyday lives — and that’s something we could all learn from.
If life feels ridiculously busy right now, I genuinely feel for you. I’ve been there. I have a young child, and in the past I’ve cared for dying older relatives, so I know what it’s like to be time-poor. Work can be stressful. Life can pull you in a million directions at once. When that’s your reality, even the idea of “me time” can feel completely unrealistic.
If that’s the case, I invite you to think smaller. Much smaller. What could you do for just five minutes a day?
Five minutes might not sound like enough time to make a difference, but I promise you, it is. Five minutes of reading, knitting, weeding the garden, meditating, or going for a short walk can make life feel more rewarding and more fun. Those small moments add up.
So where do you find those five minutes? For many busy people, the answer is waking up earlier - but that’s not always realistic or desirable. Instead, think about how you can stack what you love into your existing routine. If you want to walk more, could you park a little further away from work or the school gates? If you want to read, could you spend five minutes of your lunch break with a book instead of eating at your desk while checking emails? If it’s gardening, could you step outside with your kids and let them help? If it’s meditation, maybe it’s something you do lying in bed before sleep - chances are you’ll drift off faster too.
And if you’re in a season where life feels a little less full-on, maybe this is your chance to start that art project, fix your bike, or attend the yoga or fitness class you’ve been thinking about. When you set aside regular time for something you love, it becomes an ingrained habit - a sacred pocket of time where you can fully immerse yourself in joy.
It’s also worth asking yourself whether the things currently taking up your time are truly worth it. If they’re not, can you swap them for something that inspires you? For example, I only watch TV I genuinely enjoy. I give up on programmes that don’t feel worthy of the precious hour I have between my eldest going to bed and me going to bed. Time is valuable — we’re allowed to be selective.
We are alive right now, and we deserve to enjoy our lives now - not someday, not after retirement. If anything, we’ll probably just find more jobs to do then too.
Life will never be all joy and roses, but we can create small pockets of happiness within it. Taking care of yourself is an act of self-love, and you deserve that care. I hope you find ways to weave more joy into your days - not just in January, but throughout 2026 and beyond.