Scientists have found a formula for happiness. And share with us

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The formula for happiness obtained by scientists is not really a discovery for anyone. But why do we constantly forget about her?

Judging by the overwhelming statistics of views and the number of comments, the topic "happiness for everyone" interests a lot of our readers. It is clear, because I really want to know the correct and effective recipe for how to make yourself and (okay, we are good) everyone around you happy.

However, despite the abundant number of different home-grown and graduated professionals, each of whom has its own methodology, the number of happy people stubbornly does not want to increase. So maybe there is something wrong with these recommendations?

Therefore, it is high time to turn to precise research and medical experience. It's time to find out scientifically what brings us a feeling of happiness. It is necessary to decompose these subtle intangible fluids into specific graphs of brain activity and hormone concentration, measure them, record them, and develop scientifically validated recommendations. You will find the results in this article (those who are in a hurry can jump straight to the conclusion).

Exercises

Physical activity has such a profound effect on our sense of happiness that more and more professionals are using it to treat depression. In a study cited in The Happiness Advantage, patients were divided into three groups. One of them received only medications, the second combined exercise with medication, and the third only went in for sports. The results may surprise you. Although all three groups felt an improvement, the duration was significantly different.

Patients were re-examined six months later to assess the frequency of relapses. Of those who took only medication, 38 percent went back to depression. The combination group fared slightly better with a relapse rate of 31 percent. The biggest shock we experienced when examining the sports-only group: only 9 percent worsened in it!

However, do not think that exercise is so beneficial only for those who have certain problems. Even in healthy people, there is a rapid and pronounced improvement in well-being, increased tone and self-esteem. For example, here are the results of a study of brain activity before and after 20 minutes of training.

Dream

We know that sleep helps our body to rest and recover. It affects our ability to focus and be more productive. But it turns out it's also important to our sense of happiness. In the NutureShock study, authors Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman explain this to us.

The point is that different parts of the brain are responsible for positive and negative memories. And with a lack of sleep, it is the zone that is responsible for positive memories that is inhibited, first of all. Therefore, with a systematic lack of sleep, you remember more bad things and perceive the world in a negative light.

In our experiment, sleep-deprived students tried to memorize a list of words. They could remember 81% of words with negative connotations, such as "disease." And, at the same time, they showed only 31% memorization for words with a positive or neutral connotation, such as "sun" or "purchase."

Of course, the quantity and quality of your sleep has a direct impact on your state of mind, not only when you wake up, but throughout the day. This is very clearly demonstrated by the following illustration, which shows the dependence of brain activity on the amount of sleep.

Distance to work

How our daily commuting to and from work affects us is overlooked by many. And it’s completely in vain, because we have to do it twice a day, five times a week, for many years. So, the influence of this factor on our state of mind cannot be disregarded.

Whichever way you get to your office, you still have to experience all the disadvantages of crowded metropolitan areas. Many people think that a larger house outside the city or a new car can compensate for these inconveniences, but recent research tells us that this is not the case. Therefore, a short and pleasant journey to work is another brick in the foundation of our happiness.

Friends and family

Now it has become fashionable to call ourselves an introvert, and the dominance of electronic gadgets is pushing us towards solitude. However, numerous studies indicate that this is one of the main reasons for the epidemic of unhappiness and even mental disorders that has swept the modern world.

George Vaillant has researched the lives of 268 men for 72 years. In 2008, summing up his work, he stated the following.

The only thing that really matters in life is our relationship with other people. For example, by analyzing the number and quality of social connections of 40-year-old men, you can make a fairly accurate forecast of their life expectancy. 93 percent of those over 65 have strong relationships with relatives.

Somewhat from the other side approached the study of this factor in a study published in the Journal of Socio-Economics states. There they decided to compare, using a questionnaire, the feelings of happiness among people with different incomes and levels of social connections. And it turned out that socially active people are about as happy with life as much more well-off (the difference in income is up to $ 100,000), but lonely people.

Fresh air

Being outside, the perception of natural sunlight and fresh air also has a very beneficial effect on our mood. At the same time, it is not at all necessary to radically change your habits and lifestyle - a study conducted by the University of Sussex says that even a half-hour walk is fine.

Walking in the fresh air, in the park, along the promenade, or even just down the street is a simple and very quick way to improve your state of mind. All participants performed much better outdoors in all natural environments than when they were indoors.

And the American Meteorological Society went even further and decided to study what weather factors have the greatest impact on our mood. After analyzing many parameters, they concluded that walking for 20 minutes at a temperature of 13.9 ° C is optimal.

Helping others

This is one of the most counterintuitive pieces of advice, but it really works. Scientists have even determined the approximate amount of time you should devote to helping those in need: 100 hours a year or two hours a week.

The Journal of Happiness Studies published a special study on this topic. Participants were given a certain amount of money and offered to make purchases for themselves or for a person in need. After that, questionnaires were filled out, from which it turned out that people who spent money on charity were much more satisfied with those who spent the entire amount on themselves.

But this is about money, but what about time? A corresponding study was carried out in Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Comparison of groups of people who grew up in societies with completely different attitudes towards charity confirmed the hypothesis that it is an important factor in shaping our attitude towards life. Doing good things for other people brings immediate benefits and improves our psychological status.

Smile

A smile on the face serves to express positive emotions, but there is also a feedback. If you smile to yourself, a familiar combination of nerve impulses from the muscles of the face triggers the excitation of certain parts of the cerebral cortex, according to a publication in PsyBlog.

Scientists see a strong connection between our mood and facial expressions, and this connection can be traced both forward and backward. Even if you force yourself to smile in a bad situation, you will certainly feel some relief.

Hopes and plans

It has long been noticed among the people that the expectation of the holiday is much better than the holiday itself. And scientists confirm this observation with their works. The report from Applied Research in Quality of Life cites results that indicate that the highest peak in happiness people experience is during preparation and expectation of positive changes in their lives. This can be planning a vacation, preparing for a wedding, waiting for a promotion. Moreover, the very onset of this event can cause much less delight.

Meditation

Meditation is often touted as a great way to improve focus, mental clarity and concentration, and to help you stay calm at all times. It turns out that meditation has an equally profound effect on your happiness.

Experts from Massachusetts General Hospital compared brain scans of ordinary people and those who practice meditation. They concluded that meditation has a direct effect on the functioning of the brain, including those centers that are responsible for pleasure.

Gratitude

This is a seemingly simple psychological practice, but many people cannot do it. Being grateful for what you have and for what you have, instead of constantly whining and frustrated with unrealistic desires, is another key to happiness. There are many different ways to learn this feeling. For example, writing down three good things that happened to you every day, or simply making a list of the things you love your life for.

An article was published in the Journal of Happiness that is the result of a survey of 219 people. These people were asked to compile lists of events and circumstances that they felt were positive for three weeks. This concentration on the positive has led to the fact that each next week their lists have become longer, and the sense of satisfaction with their lives - more and more.

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So, we can summarize. According to scientists, confirmed by numerous studies, the secret of happiness is not a secret to anyone.

Simple enough exercise, OK get enough sleep, work next to the housebut at the same time walk dailyin the fresh air for at least half an hour. Emotionally, maintaining family and friendships, positive attitudecultivating the ability to thanks … It will not always be superfluous to hope for the bestfuture and to helpthose who are deprived of this future. Yes, don't forget yet meditation!

As you can see, nothing complicated. Hope that reading this article will make you a little happier.