Choose enriching activities to maximise your happiness

YOU TIME

H A P P Y DAYS

Experiences make us happier than material things do. But what kind of experiences should we focus on? And how do we make sure we get the most out of them?

WORDS: Charlie Lyon

ENRICH YOUR CENTER PARCS EXPERIENCE Use James’s seven rules to maximise happiness on your break

1OUTSIDE AND OFFLINE Getting outside is easy; getting o ine can be trickier. Try leaving your phones in the lodge while you go out for the day. Arrange a rendezvous time and place in case you split up.

2CREATE A STORY TOGETHER If you’ve not cycled for a while, hire a cycle and head out for a ride in the forest. Make it more of an adventure by putting your map away and seeing where you end up.

3TRANSFORM YOURSELF Experiences can help you grow as a person. Try an All Archery Experience to hone your strength and stability, or a Bollywood Dancing activity to learn a little Indian culture.

4ENHANCE RELATIONSHIPS Hiring a Family Cabana at one of our Subtropical Swimming Paradises will help make sure you spend as much quality time together as possible… in between dips in the pool.

Would you rather upgrade your car to a flashier model or treat your family to a break they’ll never forget? Today, more and more people are choosing to invest in the experience economy and no one is more excited about this shift in attitude than author and speaker James Wallman. His first book, Stuffocation, focused on the problems of materialism. His second, Time and How to Spend it: The 7 Rules for Richer, Happier Days, which was published last year, was born from answering readers’ questions on how to become more ‘experience intelligent’.

“I started to think more about the seven rules for happier days,” says James. “We have 86,400 seconds in a day and the way we spend them matters. You know that awful phrase, time is money – it illustrates how wrongly people think about time. You can get more money, but one day you’ll go to the time ATM and there won’t be anything left.”

James started thinking about how fast his two children were growing up and how he wanted to use his leisure time to create enhanced experiences for him and his family.

The golden rules Getting ‘outside and offline’ is one of James’ rules. “In our society people work hard Monday to Friday,” he says. “Then they get to the weekend and end up scrolling through social media and watching rubbish on TV. When my family is together at the weekend it’s time to get outside and offline. I’ll take them to the park, but I’ll leave my phone behind because then I’m more focussed.”

Indeed, putting more space between you and your phone will help increase your enjoyment levels in many areas of your life, says James. “There’s data that shows

“The more an experience challenges you or pushes you out of your comfort zone, the more likely you are to connect with and inspire others”

Get outside in nature, spend time with family and friends and take on new challenges to get the maximum enjoyment out of your experiences

if you charge your phone outside of your bedroom, you’ll sleep better.”

He is also a huge believer in the power of biophilia – the affinity between human beings and the natural world. “The data’s really clear about nature,” he says. Because our species has spent 99% of its existence in nature, we’re hard-wired to find the sights, sounds and smells of nature pleasant and relaxing, he believes.

Creating stories is another key factor in enhancing happiness and success for James. And the more an experience challenges you or pushes you out of your comfort zone, the more likely you are to connect with and inspire others when you regale them with the story later.

“Even though we think we’ll be happier when we’ve got our feet up and are relaxing, we’re actually happiest when we’re in ‘flow’ – when we’re fully engaged in a task or activity,” he enthuses. Although, he does admit there is need for everyone to ‘flop’ from time to time. “If you’re whacked and have run out of energy, then you can flop,” he admits. “But do it in a way that is restorative for you. Then go and do something interesting.”

People power Making sure experiences enhance relationships is also crucial, says James – “relationships not only with other people, but with yourself too. Having a sense of belonging and connecting with your friends and family is key.”

Experiences can help you feel connected to others – even if they’re solitary pursuits, such as running or painting – as they give you this sense of belonging, insists James. That said, he also recommends joining a club as there are benefits to be had from sharing your passion with others.

Then there’s doing things for other people, he continues. “The thought of doing something for someone else may feel annoying because time is short. But if you can do something for someone else, you’ll get a sense of time affluence and you’ll feel happier.”

5MAKE THINGS MORE INTENSE “Select intensity,” says James. “Don’t just have a soft massage, have a hard one.” Aqua Sana spa's Elemis Freestyle Deep Tissue Massage will leave you feeling grounded, focused and relaxed.

6DO THINGS FOR OTHER PEOPLE If you’re not interested in crafts or paddle boarding, but someone else is and wants a companion – go with them! You can never predict when or where new life passions will be ignited.

7MAKING MEMORIES We remember through snapshots, which tend to be the beginning, the end and the extreme moments. Get things going with a bang, schedule in highs, such as Laser Combat, and leave the best till last.

BOOK IT Maximise happiness on your break by booking one of our wide range of activities. Book at your village’s Booking Desk, call the booking line on 034 48 266 200, or log into your Center Parcs online account: centerparcs.co.uk/ activities. To find out more about Aqua Sana spa treatments and experiences, see aquasana.co.uk – these can also be booked through your Center Parcs online account.