5 Steps to Become Happier This Year

Did you make a 2016 resolution? Or two? How about aiming for more happiness? Here's some advice to get you started.

Dr. Vanita is a Psychiatrist who offers some great tips on how you can freshen up your outlook for the new year with these five simple steps.

1. Focus on your most meaningful relationships. Spend more quality time with your family and close friends. Let go of relationships that drain you of energy, bring you down, that don't add significance to your life, or that are unhealthy.

2. Live according to your values. Everything is a choice, and your choices have consequences. Choose to live your life with integrity. No one can ever take away your character. Live with grace and learn from your mistakes. Strive for honesty, respect, empathy, humility, forgiveness -- in yourself and towards others.

3. Live simply. Get rid of the clutter in your life. Figure out what you really need. Maybe you don't need to buy so many new things. Maybe you can stop over scheduling yourself and find a way to balance your life and not stress so much about obligations. Decide to do more of the things you really enjoy and spend your valuable time doing the things that bring you the most joy, and perhaps less time 'plugged in' or working at home on your off-hours. Don't feel pressured to do things or spend time with people that aren't a priority.

4. Take care of yourself physically. Learn healthy eating habits, walk, run, work out, rest, sleep, and, at the same time, stop doing things that have been proven to be bad for you, like smoking and drinking too much. All of this will contribute to the health of your body AND mind.

5. Express gratitude and embrace change. Focus on what you DO have, not what you DON'T. This is a key to happiness. Celebrate THIS moment and what you have TODAY. Don't stress over regrets or what is missing from your life. Change is inevitable and constant. So learn to embrace it rather than fight it. You will grow from it. Decide to just allow your life to unfold and move forward, even if what happens in life isn't exactly what you had in mind.

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