How are you feeling today? Often when we ask people that question, they reply 'not bad', or 'could be worse'. But what would make us feel 'perfect'? Maybe we could live better by being healthier, less stressed, more motivated – but how?

 

Of course there are many remedies for improving our mental health, but sometimes there are small and simple solutions to help improve our wellbeing. It's something the BBC TV programme Easy Ways to Live Well has been looking at.  It suggested several 'health hacks¹' which the programme's presenters³ tried and gave their 'seal of approval'. And maybe they could help us too.

 

Firstly, to tackle putting on weight and to cut the calories, the programme found sniffing⁴ peppermint⁵ stops our craving⁶ for a snack.  Presenter², chef and writer Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall says “a scientific theory called 'mutual⁷ competition' shows that a strong smell can distract our brain from the food we're thinking about.”

 

If your addiction⁸ to your smartphone is getting you down, it's suggested that turning your phone screen grey helps you reduce screen time because a black and white screen becomes less attractive to look at. With recent studies showing our phones can make us 26% less productive and increase our stress, it seems like a no-brainer to try this 'dim' idea.

 

Fancy a swim in ice-cold water? Well, the BBC programme found a daily dip in freezing water gets you used to the stress of doing it and therefore prepares you for other life stresses. And another way to 'chill out' is to leave your smartphone at home, immerse yourself in a forest, and breathe in the fresh air. Forest bathing is the perfect tonic⁹ for the stresses of urban life.

 

Other life-improving ideas included things such as singing to reduce pain and fidgeting more to get away from our sedentary lives. But whatever therapy we choose to adopt, it seems any change to our lifestyle can help improve our body and mind.

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