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Finally! Happiness And Wellbeing Levels In The UK Are On The Up

Happiness And Wellbeing Levels Are On The Up In Britain
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New statistics have revealed that people living in the UK are more satisfied, and generally happier, than they have been in years.

The biannual survey of wellbeing from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that life satisfaction and happiness indicators are up on last year's figures. In fact, they're up for the first time since 2011.

The survey of 165,000 people also shows that anxiety levels have dropped.

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The ONS reported that people in Northern Ireland gave the highest rating for wellbeing, while Londoners reported lower than average for personal wellbeing.

The stats also showed a slight increase in trust in the Government.

The report, Measuring National Wellbeing, said: "The year-on-year differences are small but statistically significant in each case.

"These latest estimates suggest improvements in the past year in the average ratings of personal wellbeing in the UK across all of the measures."

Report co-author Dawn Snape said positive economic results - including employment levels and income - during the past year had helped boost happiness levels.

She said: "One possibility is that with the economic news improving, people are feeling more positive about their lives, particularly with the decreasing unemployment rate.

"The unemployment rate has a profound impact on happiness. Not only does it affect the people who are unemployed but also those people around them."

She also mentioned that when economic forecasts are poor, happiness levels also dip among the employed who fear losing their jobs.

She added that married people have the highest wellbeing level among relationship groups, with divorced people having the lowest.

All relationship groups reported improvements across all aspects of wellbeing, with the exception of widowed and surviving civil partners whose statistics remain largely unchanged, the report said.

Co-author Glenn Everett said wellbeing levels dip as people reach middle age, but rise again upon retirement.

The five happiest places in the UK, according to the report, are Antrim, Fermanagh, Omagh and Dungannon in Northern Ireland, and Babergh in Suffolk.

The least happy areas are Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, Dartford in Kent, Torridge in Devon, Maldon in Essex, and South Ribble in Lancashire.

Richmondshire in Yorkshire has the lowest anxiety level, with the London Borough of Hackney scoring highest.

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Boost Happiness Instantly
Smile.(01 of17)
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A 2011 study showed that thinking about something that makes you smile can actually make you happier (fake smiles don't do the trick), while 2003 Clark University research found that smiling activates positive memories. (credit:Gettystock)
Go for a run.(02 of17)
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Physical activity boosts the brain's release of endorphins, which are feel-good neurotransmitters that can improve mood and well-being. (credit:Gettystock)
Pray.(03 of17)
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Spirituality and religious involvement is linked with greater well-being and happiness, according to a review of more than 300 studies on the connection between spirituality and health. Prayer is also thought to relieve stress. (credit:Gettystock)
Laugh.(04 of17)
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In addition to relieving stress, laughter can boost mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. (credit:Gettystock)
Go for a stroll in the park. (05 of17)
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There are many health benefits to spending time in nature, including, perhaps, increased well-being. One UK study showed that subjects were significantly happier when in natural environments as compared to when they were in urban environments. (credit:Gettystock)
Perform an act of kindness.(06 of17)
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Do something nice for someone else today -- it could make you happier, according to University of California research. (credit:Gettystock)
Listen to happy music.(07 of17)
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Students who listened to "happy" music while making a concerted effort to feel happier experienced elevations in mood, according to a small study published this year in the Journal of Positive Psychology. (credit:Gettystock )
Walk tall.(08 of17)
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Walking with an upbeat stride might make you feel happier, according to Florida Atlantic University research. In the study, walkers who were told to take long strides with their arms swinging and heads held high reported feeling happier after a three-minute jaunt than a group that shuffled and looked downwards while walking. (credit:Gettystock)
Meditate.(09 of17)
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Meditation may be helpful in lowering stress levels and reducing symptoms of mild depression, and has been linked with emotional well-being and improved sleep. (credit:Gettystock)
Keep a gratitude journal. (10 of17)
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Be thankful for what you have! A number of studies have found a strong correlation between gratitude and well-being, starting at a young age. Teaching kids gratitude in schools has been linked to boosts in positive emotions and optimism. (credit:Gettystock)
Go on vacation.(11 of17)
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The mere anticipation of an upcoming trip can boost overall happiness for up to eight weeks before you take off, according to a 2010 Dutch study. (credit:Gettystock)
Play with a puppy. (12 of17)
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Your brain may be wired to enjoy playing with puppies. One study suggested that petting a furry friend can increase activity in the left-side of the brain and release higher levels of serotonin, which are both associated with pleasure and happiness. Pet ownership in general has also been linked to an enhanced well-being. (credit:Gettystock)
Take a nap.(13 of17)
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Sleep deprivation can up your stress levels. One experiment showed that after memorizing a list of words, sleep-deprived college students could remember 81 percent of words with a negative connotation ("cancer"), and only 41 percent of positive or neutral words ("sunshine"). What's more, researchers have linked catnaps with improved mood. (credit:Gettystock)
Enjoy a nice cup of tea.(14 of17)
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Noticing and appreciating life's small pleasures can literally rewire the brain for happiness by shifting the brain's negativity bias, according to psychologist Rick Hanson, author of Hardwiring Happiness. "We're surrounded by opportunities -- 10 seconds here or 20 seconds there -- to just register useful experiences and learn from them," Hanson told The Huffington Post. (credit:Gettystock)
Volunteer. (15 of17)
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Helping others could go a long way towards helping yourself. A recent University of Exeter study found that volunteering can boost happiness, ease depression and even help you live longer, Everyday Health reported. (credit:Gettystock)
Have sex.(16 of17)
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Sex might just help you relieve stress and boost well-being. A study by the Institute For The Study of Labor found that people who have sex at least four times a week tend to be happier and less depressed -- not to mention make more money. Plus, it could even keep your heart and immune system healthy! (credit:Gettystock)
Think of happy times.(17 of17)
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Feeling nostalgic about the past can make you feel happier and more optimistic about the future, according to a recent University of Southampton study. (credit:Gettystock)

Ms Snape said people in Northern Ireland were a "conundrum", having scored highly in all aspects of the wellbeing index despite having a high unemployment rate.

She said: "Aren't they great? They're a real conundrum for us. Unemployment is high yet they really buck the trend. At the moment we don't know the answer to this (high wellbeing).

"It may be down to social connectivity, a great sense of community, maybe it is down to how life is going there now compared with 15 years ago," she added.

"It is not clear to us yet, we need to do more (research). But it seems quite consistent that people in Northern Ireland rate their wellbeing at a very high level. They have a positive outlook."

Prime Minister David Cameron ordered the research, first published in 2012, after deciding that the Government needed to be informed not only on Britain's economic progress but also on the public's quality of life.

Gregor Henderson, from Public Health England, said: "There is a critical relationship between wellbeing and good health - high levels of wellbeing can add years to life, improve recovery from illness, and may reduce the healthcare burden."

Can we get a 'woop' for wellbeing?