Long Buckby hypnotherapist shares one-minute stress reset for International Day of Happiness

ExCo

The technique takes just a minute to try, but according to local hypnotherapist Frances B Lafferty, it can help people step away from busy thoughts and reset their mind during stressful moments.

With stress levels continuing to rise across the UK, a local hypnotherapist is encouraging people across Northamptonshire and Leicestershire to pause for just one minute on International Day of Happiness (20 March) and try a simple wellbeing exercise designed to calm the mind.

Frances B Lafferty, who works with clients in Market Harborough and Long Buckby, is sharing a technique called the “60-Second Happiness Reset” to help people step away from stress and reset their mind during busy days.

Recent wellbeing reports show that millions of adults in the UK regularly experience stress and anxiety linked to work, finances and everyday pressures, highlighting the growing need for simple mental wellbeing tools.

Frances explains that happiness is often misunderstood.

“Happiness doesn’t mean being positive all the time,” she says.

“It means learning how to manage your thoughts and emotions so you feel calmer and more balanced.”

Through her work in hypnotherapy, Frances regularly helps people to:

• Reduce anxiety

• Improve confidence

• Let go of stress

• Sleep better

• Feel calmer

• Stop overthinking

She believes small mental resets can make a powerful difference in everyday life.

“Many people think happiness is something we have to chase,” she says.

“But sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is simply pause, breathe and reset the mind. Even one calm minute can change how we approach the rest of our day.”

Originally from Derry in Northern Ireland, Frances trained in counselling before later specialising in hypnotherapy. After using hypnobirthing techniques during the birth of her son in 2019, she experienced first-hand how powerful the mind can be in shaping our experiences. This inspired her to train professionally and help others improve their wellbeing.

As part of International Day of Happiness, she is encouraging people across the region to try the 60-Second Happiness Reset.

“If just 1,000 people across Northamptonshire paused for one minute,” says Frances, “that would create more than 16 hours of calm across the county in a single day.”

The 60-Second Happiness Reset

1. Pause – stop what you are doing for a moment.
2. Breathe slowly – take a slow breath in through your nose and gently breathe out.
3. Relax your shoulders – allow tension to soften.
4. Think of one positive thing – a person, memory or small moment you appreciate today.
5. Repeat a calm thought – for example:

“Right now, in this moment, I am okay.”

This simple exercise helps move the mind out of stress mode and into a calmer, more balanced state.