There are a number of scientifically proven things a person can do to help them enjoy life more. 

On The Pat Kenny Show, psychotherapist Stephanie Regan said many of these are only small “tweaks” but can make a huge difference to your mental well being and enjoyment of life. 

First on the list is ditching perfectionism, which she believes is a recipe for unhappiness. 

 “In fact, the research shows that the more perfectionistic you are, the more likely you are to have all kinds of disorders like anxiety, depression and all of that,” she explained.  

“So, if you are inclined to be perfectionistic, you really do need to tackle that and the way to tackle it is to work towards a kind of self-compassion.

“I would suggest to people to start questioning why they are perfectionistic and to work back towards a much more gentle way with themselves.” 

A man playing with this dog. Picture by: Carla Tracy Photography / Alamy.com.

Ms Regan also suggested people focus more on cultivating better friendships. 

“I know I go on and on and on about connection, but we know that connection is a huge part of our mental well-being,” she added. 

“There's the physical effect as well that if you don't have positive relationships, you can have quite a bit more stress in your life and a lot more inflammation in your body. 

“It's not just having friendships and connections - it's the quality of them. 

“If you have this kind of inconsistent support or a toxic kind of relationship, that is shown to be really very bad for your health.”

A woman with a cup of tea. Picture by: Alamy.com.

Ms Regan continued that people should also focus on a hobby - whether that is an old skill they might have given up or something entirely new. 

“It distracts you from problems, it gives your mind a rest,” she said. 

“That is why hobbies are important, not just because there's a cardiovascular effect and there's all sorts of other effects, but I'm giving you the mental well-being effect.

“And it is a distraction from stress, it builds friendships and there is something else about exercising with somebody.”

Friends taking a selfie. Picture by: Alamy.com. 

Finally, Ms Regan urged people to dwell on all the good things in their lives as well, a sentiment she admits some find a “little bit patronising”. 

“I see it much more as a searching for the positive in your day,” she explained. 

“The research has shown that in studies where people sat down every evening for one month and wrote down three things that they were grateful for in the day or that they felt was really important to them and why they were grateful for it… their mood lifted and depressive symptoms decreased.”

Main image: A happy woman. Picture by: Alamy.com.