Science-Backed Methods For a Better Life
If there were simple, science-backed ways to improve your life, would you try them?
The good news is there are things that you can do every single day to make your life at least a little bit better (and the good feelings will only build over time.) For anyone who has ever wondered how to create a better life for themselves, this post is for you.
1. Spend time outside
We spend so much of our lives indoors, and it has an impact on our health and happiness. According to Harvard Medical School, being outside :
- Raises Vitamin D levels.
- Increases happiness.
- Improves concentration.
- Might help you heal faster.
2. Go for a walk
Sitting outside and soaking up some natural light does wonders for your mental and physical health, and those effects are even more pronounced when you add in exercise.
Studies have found that walking in nature can help reduce risk of depression, and it also elevates your overall mood of sense of well-being. Even a quick 10 minute stroll at lunch time is a great start.
3. Focus on your sleep hygiene
The importance of a good night's sleep can't be overstated, but it's so easy to get swept up in your daily schedule and leave sleep hygiene on the backburner. But, if you start today, you'll be sleeping happily in no time.
Try some of these tips for proper sleep hygiene like starting a sleep routine and turning off electronics before bed. You'll be amazed by how much these small, daily changes will impact your entire life.
4. Start a daily journaling practice
Regular journaling has benefits that are both mental and physical . Writing about what you've experienced and how it made you feel can help improve immune function, emotional IQ, communication skills, and more.
5. Practice gratitude actively
Whether you write it down, share it with someone else, or speak it only to yourself, there's life-changing power in actively expressing gratitude:
- Better physical, emotional, and social well-being.
- Reduced feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression.
- Improved health, which includes higher energy levels, a stronger immune system, lower blood pressure, and fewer headaches.
Practicing gratitude can feel odd at first, but these tips will help you find a way to express gratefulness that works for you .
6. Laugh at life
This one might sound counterintuitive, but hear me out. The ability to find humor in the good and bad parts of life increases our resilience, makes us happier, reduces stress, helps us bond with people, enhances creativity, reduces feelings of physical pain, and so much more.
If you aren't sold on the idea of laughing your way to a better life, read this article . It offers an excellent look at why humor is important and how it can improve your life. After you're done reading, you'll surely be on the lookout for things to laugh about.
Our caring therapists can help you improve your life. Contact us today!
