It's a big step acknowledging that you need more happiness in your life; it's so easy to get caught up in the daily grind of working and/or caring for others that we forget to spend time catering to our own needs. This is frequently true for busy women, and especially common for those of us who are mums.

Here are five simple ways to cultivate happiness

1. Spend time with yourself

What do you really love to do that's just for you? It might be a hobby like gardening or crafts, an activity like a dance class or swimming, or just a way of getting some time out like a walk along the beach, or breathing in the fresh air in a forest.

2. Spend time with your friends

We've become such a disconnected society with everyone being so busy and technology replacing face-to-face conversation it can be so nice just to talk to people in person. Plan some time with your friends, or if you've lost touch with people and struggle to pin them down for a catchup, think about joining a club or sport where you can make new ones.

Yes we know it feels ridiculously hard to make friends as a grown up... but social interaction is an important part of feeling connected with the world around us. You don't have to be best buddies, but surrounding yourself with people who 'get' you and support you can help lift you up when times get lonely or tough.

3. Spend time in nature

Humans aren't meant to live indoors or time our days to unnatural lighting. Our body's Circadian rhythm (what helps us naturally fall asleep and wake up at the same time each day, and gives us quality sleep to feel well rested) is very much intertwined with our skin's exposure to sunlight. People also tend to feel happier when they are in nature.

Get out for a bushwalk, take a stroll along the beach, do a few laps of your local park; anything that gets you outside with the sun on your skin and fresh air in your lungs.

4. Indulge in some self-care activities

When we get busy - especially mamas out there - one of the first things to drop off our radar is often self-care. But looking after our mind and body shows that we value ourselves and what we contribute to society.

Mani/pedis, massages, beauty treatments, a really good nap, a new haircut and colour, new clothes that make us look and feel great, exercise to help us feel healthier, find what resonates with you and do something that's 100% about looking after yourself.

5. Think about what you really want for your future

We only have a limited number of hours in our day, but even spending just 5 minutes of it visualising where we want to be or engaging in activities that will help get us there is time spent working towards our happiness. Where do you want to be in several months? A year? Five years? If you're not in the position to act on it now, researching and planning how you will achieve this will be exciting in itself as it begins to open up possibilities.

You'll notice all of the five ways involve time - this means if you are always busy or find it difficult to create time to do these things, you will probably need to plan ahead and may need to involve others to help you do it.

Depending on your situation, the logistics of orchestrating it may seem too difficult, but believe us, the benefit of going to the effort will be completely worth it for your mental wellbeing!

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