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Good mood seven days a week, 24 hours a day is an impossible thing. However, if you understand what brings joy and improves your mood, you can develop good habits and practice them daily, and as a result, life will bring much more pleasure. Psychologists talk about what helps them stay positive and stand firmly on their feet during periods of increased stress.
“Even Aristotle said that happiness is an activity,” says psychoanalyst Jason Wheeler. “A lot of things in life happen by themselves, but happiness is the result of purposeful efforts.” That’s what psychologists are doing.
1. Practice mindfulness
The word evokes yoga and meditation in complete silence, but Jason Wheeler says mindfulness practice can be combined with a variety of exercises. He prefers swimming as a training for the body and mind: measured, repetitive movements are good for entering a conscious state.
“In order to swim fast and correctly, I need to be focused only on what I am doing at the moment. I live from stroke to stroke, from inhalation to exhalation,” he explains. — Plus, nothing hurts after swimming. On the contrary, I feel fresh and energized. Half an hour to an hour spent in the pool is the perfect meditative break in the middle of the day.
2. Recall reasons for gratitude
Expressing gratitude has health benefits, including helping you sleep better and lowering your risk of depression. Psychologists use this practice.
“When anxiety hits me, I make a list of things to be grateful for. This helps to switch the brain and not dwell on what causes stress, on negative thoughts and experiences. This simple exercise helps boost your mood,” says psychotherapist Casey Howard.
3. Go in for sports
Another way to cheer up is cardio. “Running helps keep you from going crazy,” shares Casey Howard, “it helps relieve stress, and besides, good ideas come up while running.”
There is an explanation for the fact that Casey feels good after physical exertion: jogging increases the level of adrenaline, and after that the production of endorphins, which improve mood, also increases. Even small loads help: a recent study showed that they even increase mood to a greater extent than more intense and difficult workouts.
4. Communicate with friends and family
“My husband and I take time each day to talk calmly about our marriage. It strengthens relationships and brings joy,” says psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Gail Saltz.
Effective communication and rapport is a key component of any relationship, especially a romantic one. In 2015, a study was published that showed that those wives who said that their husbands were used to suppressing emotions were less and less satisfied with their marriage over time.
So feel free to express your feelings. Talk about what matters, connect with friends, return to the here and now, exercise and be grateful, this will help you cope with stress and feel happier.
Source: The Huffington Post.