Happiness put to The Test

Work pressures, the recession, not enough sleep, there is plenty to feel down about : so how happy and healthy are we?

Some of our top health experts are on a mission to find out what state our nation is in with regards to our hearts, bodies, and minds.

Dr John Tickell is the man behind The Test, a national health and happiness survey.

"There's an absolute intimate connection between health and happiness. It's about time we went to Australians and said: 'are you really happy, and if not; what are we going to do about it?," Dr Tickell said.

A well-balanced lifestyle is essential, according to meditation expert Arian Young, and Chiropractor Simon Floreani.

"We've had two generations of people who haven't even thought about their health, who've taken it for granted, shipped it off to the hospitals and doctors to fix," he said.

"Now's the time we have to. We're physically, emotionally, financially, forced to start investing in our health and wellbeing," Mr Floreani said.

And you can meditate for as little as a few seconds, whilst you are waiting to pay for your groceries, queuing for public transport, standing under the shower, or even sitting on the toilet, our meditation guru said.

"All you need to do is take three full deep breaths, that's a mediation in itself."

And there are no surprises is to our most common complaint - stress.

"The fact is people don't know how to slow down," she said.

"You're awake for 238 half hours a weel... and people tell me they can't find four or five hours to take themselves for a walk?" Dr. Tickell said.

"There is, we're (just) really bad at managing time."

For the record, our experts have tipped women to do better in the results.

The Test is a comprehensive questionnaire designed to gauge the health and happiness of all Australians.

It invites people to slow down, 'take a look in the mirror' and discover easy, free, and achievable ways to make positive improvements to their lives.

Take the test from Sunday at http://www.thetest.com.au