Happiness Blog

We have discussed before that diet has some implications on our mental wellbeing. In a study conducted last year in the UK, researchers tested this idea further by seeing whether snacking on fruit as opposed to savory non-nutritional food items like chips, would have any correlations with mental health. They found that those that snacked on fruit had higher levels of mental wellbeing and lower levels of depression. In contrast, those that snacked more on the savory non-nutritional food items reported higher frequencies of mental lapses which was associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as generally lower mental wellbeing scores. Although diet and mental health research is not as prevalent, these findings do imply some sort of connection. With this being said, try to snack on healthier items like fruit instead of chips or sweets to see if your mood and mental wellbeing is improved by it!

If you are feeling stressed or anxious, or even have trouble with your sleeping behaviors, yoga may be a great activity to start engaging in! Research conducted by Harvard explains that with consistent yoga practice, and the mindfulness that accompanies it, people tend to exhibit positive outcomes such as better sleep, better body awareness, weight loss, improved levels of compassion and gratitude which all feed into improved happiness levels. Focusing on the positive sleep outcomes from yoga, Harvard’s research also explains that due to yoga’s ability to reduce stress, anxiety, and arousal, these aspects can help minimize poor sleeping activity and allow you to feel more calm and relaxed when it is time to go to bed. With this being said, if you are trying to find a nice, short, daily activity that can benefit your overall emotions and happiness, try out yoga. It doesn’t need to be at a class either! There are many great videos online that take you through a guided yoga session for you to do in the comfort of your own home! Namaste!

With the nice summer air, cloudless skies, and the sun’s beaming light coming down, it is important to get outside and enjoy these beautiful  summer months. One activity that is simple and can get your mind engaged as well as get you outside on a nice summer day is reading outside! For one, the sun’s natural light is less straining for your eyes, giving you a less uncomfortable and more relaxed experience when reading the pages of your book of choice. Reading outside also heightens your senses, allowing you to be more in tune with your surroundings and more in tune with the nice ambience of the outdoors. Furthermore, studies have shown that reading outside in the sun lowers your stress levels by minimizing the stress hormone cortisol. So, with implications of reading outside keeping you more concentrated, more in tune with the book and your surroundings, as well as more relaxed, try to get out in the nice summer weather and enjoy an exciting book to take a break and find some happiness!

Cutting or coloring your hair can make you feel like a new person! If you feel like you’re in a slump or want to change up your style, changing your hair can be a great way to gain confidence. You can try a new color, or even light highlights if you don’t want to change your hairdo too much. Try some new layers, lengths, or bang styles. There is so much to explore! The internet has made looking up hairstyle inspiration so simple. And, if you want an at-home project, you can dye your hair yourself (though I recommend doing a lot of research before doing this!). Though this is the harder way, many times it’s cheaper and makes you feel even more accomplished since you did it yourself!
Lastly, even if you don’t want to switch up your hairdo, getting a fresh haircut or styling your hair a different way can still make you feel good!

“The opposite of play is not work; the opposite of play is depression.” – Dr. Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play

While adults are typically the ones teaching children, there is so much we can learn from them and their attitude toward the world. The carefree nature that comes with childhood is one of the most beautiful things in the world. While “playing” is seen as a childlike activity, it can increase creativity in adults and generally make you happier, according to Dr. Chris Bogart, a licensed clinical psychologist from Connecticut. He defines play as “time spent without purpose.” As adults, we often think of a lack of purpose as a waste of time and energy. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Just because you aren’t getting a task done, having fun is essential for maintaining your mental health. 

So, dance around your room to Beyonce or the Beatles! Play tug of war with your dog! Let your imagination run wild, and allow yourself to truly let go and play.

If you find yourself attached to your phone and technology, as many of us do, it may take a lot of work to keep a physical paper journal or mindfulness tracker. I’ve bought a few wellness journals in my life and attempted to write in them daily, only to forget they exist a month later. So, instead of separating technology from my wellness, I started using various wellness apps! Apps make it super easy to integrate mindfulness and good skills into your everyday life if you are a natural techie! Here are some examples:

• Headspace – This app holds a lot of things, ranging from meditation to stress management! They have meditation guides, breathing exercises, bedtime stories (for both kids and adults!), life advice, and self-care tips! Unfortunately, you have to pay for this app, with it being $12.99 per month (or $5.83 per month if you bill annually).
• Smiling Mind – This app, on the other hand, is free! They have daily meditation exercises, with programs both for youth and adults. Their app addresses sleep, stress, relationships, well-being, and much more. You can even attach your Google Home to it!

Next time you feel like you want to mindlessly be on your phone, try to turn that urge into a short 10-minute meditation session!

Sometimes it can be challenging for people who are auditory learners to sit down and read a book. I find myself mindlessly staring at the pages, sometimes reading a page multiple times just to retain the information. This is where podcasts can be a great resource! Plus, there are a TON dedicated to learning about psychology! Dr. Chris Bogart, a licensed clinical psychologist from Connecticut, recommended these podcasts in a recent talk, “The Upsides of Stress”:

• Tiny Buddha
• The Positive Psychology Podcast
• The Anxiety Podcast

For far more options that aren’t necessarily about wellness, Audible is an excellent audiobook resource, and Apple Podcasts has so many shows to choose from!