Happiness Blog

Play is not just for kids; it’s for everyone! Getting in touch with that young fun can have numerous benefits: reduced stress, improved creativity, and a better work-life balance. Here are some ways to incorporate play into your life: 

1. Revisit Old Hobbies: Revisit hobbies from your past. Take up painting, coloring, dancing, a sport, or an instrument!
2. Explore Nature: Go outside! Hike on a trail, go to a park, or have a picnic. There are so many ways to get yourself in nature. You’ll be surprised how good you feel!
3. Mindfulness: Take up mindfulness activities like coloring, going on walks, meditation, or mindful eating. Incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine can really change your outlook on life!
4. Adventure: Go to a new restaurant for dinner. Go to a new shop in your city. Or, even more daring, go to a new city on a whim! Explore your surroundings and see new places! 
5. Creativity: Try some kind of creative expression. Whether it’s painting in your bedroom or joining a weekend improv group, encouraging your creativity to flow can really engage your brain!

Remember, play is not something that you outgrow or become too old for. It’s a timeless activity essential for a life of happiness and well-being!

As we are deep into the holiday season, nothing feels better than a warm cup of hot cocoa. Along with tasting incredibly delicious, it is an excellent mood booster! When you eat chocolate, your brain releases feel-good chemicals, including serotonin and endorphins, making you happy and content. High-quality dark chocolate is also high in antioxidants, meaning there are also health benefits to eating chocolate. Here are some chocolate recipes to brighten your day:

1. Homemade Hot Cocoa
2. Chocolate Covered Strawberries
3. Chocolate Peppermint Bark
4. Homemade Brownies
5. Chocolate Chip Cookies

Indulging in this decadent treat will not only make your tastebuds happy but is scientifically proven to make eat yourself to some chocolate this holiday season!  

Along with being a leisurely pastime, reading has many therapeutic benefits: stress reduction, improved empathy, improved sleep, and cognitive stimulation. Here are some feel-good book recommendations: 

1. “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett
2. “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens
3. “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
4. “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert
5. “The Happiness Project” by Gretchen Rubin

These books cover many topics, but all share a theme of motivation and inspiration. Reading can be a great tool in your therapeutic journey. So, next time you want a fun activity, pick up a book!

1. Vibrant Colors: Color psychology can really affect your mood. Vibrant greens, blues, and yellows can be both calming and uplifting. 
2. Plants: Bringing nature into your home can really improve your mood. We all know that going out and seeing nature is good for our mental and physical health, so why not bring it inside!
3. Pictures: Putting photos around your home of loved ones and good memories can bring a really positive, personal touch to your home!
4. Organize: Organization is a great way to reduce stress and make you feel on track and in control. It also will make your space look better in general!
5. Aromatherapy: Incorporating various aromatherapy (candles or essential oils) can both give a lovely aesthetic to your home and use smell to improve your mood.
6. Personal Sanctuary: Dedicate a part of your home to be “your area.” In this space, you can put books, records, yoga materials, or whatever activity makes you feel rejuvenated. 

Try incorporating these decorating tips into your home to make your space a place of happiness and positivity!

Sometimes it feels very easy to brush something off for a later date. We may try to avoid boredom or stress by navigating around a project, task, or assignment, only to be hit by the boredom and stress even more when we realize we have to get it done, now with limited time. This pesky procrastination can be more dangerous to our mental health than we really think, however. Procrastination has been linked to higher stress, lower life satisfaction, symptoms of depression and anxiety, lack of persistence, and negative self-evaluation. To avoid procrastination, try to reward yourself for starting on a task while periodically taking breaks. Break the mindset that it will be a hard task or be boring, and instead embrace challenges. While we are productive and getting things done, we may start to feel a little happier about ourselves and the tasks we are working on! So, avoid procrastination and find happiness in productivity! 

Breathe in…breathe out! Sometimes we tend to move too fast. We may feel that we are always on the move or have to complete something every second of the day. This can get in the way of us recognizing that we need to stop and take a break. Even just sitting down to control our breathing, making sure to focus on the ins and outs of air from our lungs, can promote relaxation, reduce stress, and overall allow us to regain a positive state our busy lives seem to take us away from. Research has shown that practicing healthy breathing techniques are associated with comfort, an overall sense of relaxation, and increases in pleasantness. Furthermore, these breathing techniques have been associated with reducing anger, anxiety, and overall arousal, creating a sense of calmness and positive affect within us. Sure, yoga or meditation may be a great way to practice breathing techniques, but even just stopping every once in a while to focus on our breathing patterns can calm us down and promote a healthy headspace to move forward with our day!

Acute stress, or short-term stress, is common. It is hard not to feel anxious when we try to navigate our busy lives with responsibilities that, at times, may feel like too much! Acute stress, though, can be detrimental to our overall mood; it can decrease emotional regulation which can bring forth negative emotions, and if built up, can lead to undesired mental conditions such as anxiety and depression. Research suggests, however, that through reminiscing over positive memories of joyful experiences we have had in our lives, we can alleviate some of this acute stress and regain our positive attitudes! In one study where participants were induced with stress, they found that those who recalled positive memories and experiences they have had, had lowered levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and lower reports of negative moods. Keeping these findings in mind, next time you are experiencing a stretch of stress in your life, try to sit back, relax, and reminisce over fond memories you have of when you were the happiest. You may find this will help alleviate the worry you are feeling, and allow you to regain a positive mood as you tackle your day to day life!