80% of Brits think their glasses are half full – Is yours?

A nationwide poll suggests that, despite the events of the past few years, as many as 83 percent of Britons describe themselves as positive, with their glass generally ‘half full’.

On the flipside, just 17 percent described themselves as negative, with their glass mainly ‘half empty’.

An upbeat 78 percent of those surveyed said they try not to let bad news affect them adversely, preferring to look on the bright side of life

And according to the poll, it is the small things in life which keep our chins up, with going for a relaxing walk emerging as the number one activity which keeps us feeling positive (49 percent).

And the old British saying “a cup of tea solves everything” clearly still rings true for the nation, with enjoying a brew also appearing on the list (17 percent).

Eating well (45 percent), hitting the gym (34 percent), catch-ups with friends (37 percent) and getting an early night (33 percent) are also ways we keep positive, as are taking a long shower (29 percent), enjoying a hug from a loved one (29 percent) and doing a random act of kindness (25 percent).

24 percent of the nation admit they find warm weather and sunshine to be the perfect tonic when feeling low, while other ways to feel uplifted include doing someone a favour (23 percent) and releasing negative emotions by having a good cry (22 percent).

The research was commissioned to launch Dr Rangan Chatterjee’s new 5-minute wellness podcast, Built To Thrive on Amazon Music.

Watching a favourite childhood film (12 percent), saying “good morning” or “good afternoon” to total strangers (nine percent) and dressing up to the nines – whether going out on the town or not (seven percent) were also on the list of ways to make you feel good.

Over half of Britons (51 percent) try to remember there is always someone worse off than you are, while four in ten try to appreciate what is important in life.

British physician, author and television presenter, Dr Rangan Chatterjee who’s launching the new 5-minute wellness podcast Built To Thrive on Amazon Music said: “Our research shows that we are a ‘glass half full’ nation, trying to stay on the bright side and picking ourselves up with the little things in life.

“Helping people improve their health and wellbeing has been my life’s work, and I truly believe that carving out just five minutes a day to focus on yourself can have huge benefits. Over the course of this series of Built To Thrive on Amazon Music, I am looking forward to guiding listeners through a variety of topics that affect so many of us and leaving them with simple, effective tips to help them improve their daily lives.”

The study of 1,500 Brits also reveals that while a third (32 percent) count their blessings daily, to keep positive and happy.

And 69 percent will always carve out time to top up their glass and feel positive if they are low.

The study also revealed that 47 percent of the nation find being around negative people to be draining, with 73 percent admitting there are people they avoid for this very reason.

And for the average Brit, that means there are FOUR people they will actively try to avoid keeping negativity in their lives to a minimum.

The new daily short-form podcast aims to provide listeners with simple tricks to help them make the most of each day, from one of the UK’s best-known physicians. 

THE TOP 40 WAYS TO KEEP YOUR GLASS HALF FULL

1. Going for a walk       49%
2. Eating healthily       45%
3. Catching up with a friend     37%
4. Exercising or hitting the gym     34%
5. Getting an early night      33%
6. Having a shower      29%
7. A hug from a loved one      29%
8. Doing a random act of kindness      25%
9. Warm weather       24%
10. Doing someone a favour     23%
11. Having a good cry      22%
12. Playing an upbeat song      20%
13. Making sure I have enough “me time”    18%
14. Meditation        18%
15. Getting organised/ having a clear out    18%
16. Spending time with my children     17%
17. Tidying the house      17%
18. Having a cup of tea      17%
19. Spending time with my pet     17%
20. Keeping a daily journal      16%
21. Planning a holiday      16%
22. Losing a couple of pounds of weight    16%
23. A long catch-up with friends     15%
24. Curling up on the sofa with my partner to watch a good film 14%
25. Dancing to loud music      14%
26. Firing off a text to a friend I have not spoken to in a while  14%
27. Silence         14%
28. Saying no to social events and staying in for an early night 13%
29. Watching my favourite childhood film    12%
30. Doing something creative like painting or cooking  12%
31. Doing something kind for a neighbour or friend   12%
32. Receiving a thank you card     11%
33. Greeting strangers with “good morning” or “good afternoon” 9%
34. A candle lit bath      9%
35. A trip to the hairdresser      9%
36. Praying        9%
37. Gentle exercise like yoga or pilates    9%
38. Going for a long drive on my own    9%
39. Donating to charity      8%
40. Dressing up to the nines, even if you are not going out  7%

Amazon Music listeners can find Built To Thrive by saying ‘Alexa play the Built To Thrive podcast’ in the Amazon Music app for iOS and Android and on Alexa-enabled devices.