December 30, 2014

Wellness Spotlight: A Happy State of Mind

Photo by Hean Prinsloo on Unsplash

Happiness is probably one of the hardest things to define. Feeling happy is definitely subjective – what makes me happy may not put a smile on your face. But research shows that feeling mentally happy can have a bolster of positive effects on the body.

Research suggests that genetics may play a big role in our normal level of subjective well-being, so some of us may start out at a disadvantage. On top of that, between unexpected tragedies and daily habitual stress, environmental factors can bring down mood and dry up our thirst for living. Life is a roller coaster, so being able to manage the emotional ups and downs is important for both body and mind.

If you have a good sense of well-being, it’s easier to maintain good habits; Exercising, eating a balanced diet and getting enough sleep are all important. People who have an optimistic mindset may be more likely to engage in healthy behaviors because they perceive them as helpful. Some researchers speculate that positive mental states do have a direct effect on the body, perhaps by reducing damaging physical processes.

You might be thinking: “Maybe I would be happier if I had more money.” There’s that old cliché “money doesn’t buy happiness” — but is it true? A 2010 study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that emotional well-being rises with income up to a point, which seems to be a household income of $75,000. Day-to-day happiness did not increase after that. In that case, money does buy you happiness if a large part of said happiness is taken away by the stresses of living paycheck-to-paycheck or otherwise poor living.

But what about right now — what can we do to make ourselves feel more positive immediately? If you’re seeking to increase your own sense of happiness, try mindfulness techniques. Mindfulness means being present and in the moment, and observing in a nonjudgmental way, Susan Albers, a psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic, told CNN in 2010.

Wellness Apps

A variety of smartphone apps are also available that claim to help you monitor and enhance your moods.

If you’re from a big city, live off of a busy road or just have a noisy family, falling asleep may be a struggle for you every night, which leads to more struggles the next morning. But, with Sleep Bug, your device can be transformed into the perfect device for sleeping – with sounds like waves at the beach, the sound of wind through a garden or animals in the middle of the jungle, this app will have you feeling relaxed and ready for sleep in no time at all. It even comes with a custom timer so it will turn off on its own while you’re already on your second dream. That should help people to fall asleep.

Sleep vitamins can be an extremely helpful tool for anyone who is not getting a full, restful night’s sleep on a regular basis.

If you’re like most people who google their symptoms at the first sign of a cough to find out whether or not you should head to the doctor, this is the app for you. iTriage was developed by two ER doctors and asks you specific questions about how you are feeling and your symptoms to come up with a plan of action, so you’ll know whether you may just need some more rest or if you should head to your primary doctor.*

Now this app isn’t free but it’s worth sharing! Talkspace can help keep your wellness and mental health in check as it aims to make therapy more affordable by connecting users with licensed therapists at the touch of a button. This app connects you with people who can help – from a bad breakup to issues with weight loss.*

*Though these apps were intended to help you on your journey to better health, wellness and fitness, they should not be used as a substitute for licensed and certified professionals. Please speak with your primary physician about your health. Do not disregard any symptoms or illnesses you have.