Action for Happiness

I was diagnosed with MS a few years ago which was an extremely stressful and anxious time for me. I had heard that meditation was good for stress relief, so I picked up a book by Jon Kabat-Zinn. I have now been practising mindfulness for about three years and the feelings of peace and happiness in my life are unparalleled. It seems quite unbelievable that this is as a result of a practice which is so simple and is free of charge for any human being.

Living a happier life isn't just good for people, it could also hold the key to saving our planet - by encouraging us to focus less on excessive material consumption and more on the things that really make us happy. If we can switch the goal of modern society away from just maximising material prosperity towards maximising all-round human well-being, we not only improve people's lives, we can also help preserve our planet for future generations.

Summer camps can be a truly life-changing positive experience for youngsters from both well-off and disadvantaged families. Not only do they have a great time, they make new friends, discover new things they can do, contribute to a happy community and feel the joy that comes from being part of something good.

It's a popular myth that the third Monday in January is the most depressing day of the year. But "Blue Monday" has no real scientific basis and was dreamt up as a marketing idea. Although January may feel a bit of an anti-climax it doesn't need to be a gloomy month. As the saying goes, "There's no such thing as the wrong weather, just the wrong clothes". So with that mindset let's ignore the gloom-mongers and embrace what January brings.

The path to inner joy is simple – do acts of kindness, relax and be thankful for what you've got. According to Action for Happiness, little things like this can really improve our lives. But can they really work? Hannah Booth spent a week putting them to the test.

Film director David Puttnam considers areas where we can contribute to our collective happiness. He argues that the key is to put our longer-term needs - such as living sustainably and having a deeper commitment to our communities - ahead of our short-term individual desires.

After 2008, we entered a 'beyond-growth' economy, argues Jules Peck. Today, we need enterprises that aim to deliver wellbeing

Simply observing culture improves the physical health and mental wellbeing of men more than attempting to be creative, it is claimed. Women seem to benefit more from taking part in artistic activities than just watching them, however. Researchers suggest that doctors and policymakers should therefore promote cultural activities as a simple way to lower stress.

Anthony Seldon reveals the five most important things he has learned in his life. As the head of Wellington College, he threw out GCSEs and established his own curriculum - which includes lessons in happiness.

Participating in an 8-week mindfulness meditation program appears to make measurable changes in brain regions associated with memory, sense of self, empathy and stress. In a study that will appear in the January 30 issue of Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, a team led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers report the results of their study, the first to document meditation-produced changes over time in the brain's grey matter.

Action for Happiness has partnered with BBC Breakfast to run a week-long Happiness Challenge all this week (24-29 Jan). The aim is to get members of the public trying out simple actions to improve their happiness, based on the latest scientific research.