This remedy reduces depression, ADHD and fights cancer, obesity and more.
Some people know how to enjoy themselves.
Some people know how to enjoy themselves.
Indulging in short-term pleasures is just as important for happiness as self-control.
While self-control is often recommended as the best route to happiness, enjoying yourself in the moment leads to long-term happiness, as well as reducing the chance of depression and anxiety.
Goals like learning a foreign language or getting fit can be rewarding, but sometimes we need to have fun.
People who find it hard to enjoy hedonistic pleasures because they are thinking about what they should be doing instead are missing out.
The study comes in response to a focus in psychology on self-control.
Higher self-control has been linked to all sorts of positive outcomes, along with happiness.
Dr Katharina Bernecker, the study’s first author, said:
“It’s time for a rethink.
Of course self-control is important, but research on self-regulation should pay just as much attention to hedonism, or short-term pleasure.”
For the study, researchers developed a questionnaire designed to test people’s capacity for hedonism.
People who are good at enjoying themselves in the moment tend to agree with statements like:
People poor at enjoying themselves agree with statements like:
People poor at enjoying the moment tend to get distracted by intrusive thoughts about what they should be doing instead.
Dr Daniela Becker, study co-author, said:
“For example, when lying on the couch you might keep thinking of the sport you are not doing.
Those thoughts about conflicting long-term goals undermine the immediate need to relax.”
The results showed that some people find it hard to indulge in short-term pleasures.
They are also more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety.
None of which is to say that hedonism should be the sole aim of life, said Dr Bernecker:
“The pursuit of hedonic and long-term goals needn’t be in conflict with one another.
Our research shows that both are important and can complement each other in achieving well-being and good health.
It is important to find the right balance in everyday life.”
It can be hard work, though, enjoying yourself, Dr Bernecker said:
“It was always thought that hedonism, as opposed to self-control, was the easier option.
But really enjoying one’s hedonic choice isn’t actually that simple for everybody because of those distracting thoughts.”
One solution for those who find it hard to enjoy themselves is to to set aside specific times for enjoyment.
That way enjoyment is the sole aim of that period of time, hopefully reducing intrusive thoughts about other, more worthy, activities.
The study was published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (Bernecker & Becker, 2020).
Trying to maximize joy comes with an unexpected cost.
Over four thousand people were followed for six years to assess their chance of dying through any cause.
Over four thousand people were followed for six years to assess their chance of dying through any cause.
Even small increases in happiness are linked to living longer, research finds.
Dr Rahul Malhotra, study co-author, said:
“The findings indicate that even small increments in happiness may be beneficial to older people’s longevity.
Therefore individual-level activities as well as government policies and programs that maintain or improve happiness or psychological well-being may contribute to a longer life among older people.”
The results come from 4,478 people aged over 60, living in Singapore.
They were followed for six years to assess their chance of dying through any cause.
The results showed that among unhappy older people, 20% died in the subsequent six years.
However, in happy older people, just 15% had passed away.
Dr June May-Ling Lee, study co-author, said:
“The consistency of the inverse association of happiness with mortality across age groups and gender is insightful — men and women, the young-old and the old-old, all are likely to benefit from an increase in happiness.”
The study was published in the journal Age and Ageing (Chei et al., 2018).
Money shapes your happiness, decisions, and relationships in surprising ways.
This perspective has been linked to a wide range of psychological and physical benefits.
This perspective has been linked to a wide range of psychological and physical benefits.
A strong sense of purpose in life may lower heart disease risk.The research found that a high sense of purpose reduces the risk of heart disease by 19 percent.The risk of death by any cause was reduced by 23 percent in those who had a high sense of purpose.The study’s lead author, Dr Randy Cohen, said:“Developing and refining your sense of purpose could protect your heart health and potentially save your life.Our study shows there is a strong relationship between having a sense of purpose in life and protection from dying or having a cardiovascular event.As part of our overall health, each of us needs to ask ourselves the critical question of ‘do I have a sense of purpose in my life?’If not, you need to work toward the important goal of obtaining one for your overall well-being.”This is not the first study to link a sense of purpose with both physical and psychological benefits:
“Prior studies have linked a variety of psychosocial risk factors to heart disease, including negative factors such as anxiety and depression and positive factors such as optimism and social support.Based on our findings, future research should now further assess the importance of life purpose as a determinant of health and well-being and assess the impact of strategies designed to improve individuals’ sense of life purpose.”
Transform your sense of purpose in life by working on these teachable skills.
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Exposure to nature provides improvements to focus, mood, blood pressure and heart rate.
Exposure to nature provides improvements to focus, mood, blood pressure and heart rate.
As little as 10 minutes spent in nature is enough to make people feel happier.
While 10 minutes in nature works, a little more is even better.
Up to around 50 minutes spent in nature provides the largest improvements to focus, mood, blood pressure and heart rate.
People only need to be either sitting or walking to get the boost.
Physicians should ‘prescribe’ a dose of nature to people to help prevent depression and anxiety, the researchers believe.
Dr Gen Meredith, the study’s first author, said:
“It doesn’t take much time for the positive benefits to kick in—we’re talking 10 minutes outside in a space with nature.
We firmly believe that every student, no matter what subject or how high their workload, has that much discretionary time each day, or at least a few times per week.”
For the study, scientists reviewed 14 separate pieces of research on the effects of exposing young people to nature.
The results of all the studies revealed that between 10 and 50 minutes exposure to nature provided the maximum benefit.
Dr Donald Rakow, study co-author, said:
“It’s not that there’s a decline after 50 minutes, but rather that the physiological and self-reported psychological benefits tend to plateau after that.”
Sitting and walking were the only two activities the research looked at, Dr Rakow said:
“We wanted to keep this access to nature as simple and achievable as possible.
While there is a lot of literature on longer outdoor programs, we wanted to quantify doses in minutes, not days.”
Doses of nature could be prescribed by physicians, said Dr Meredith:
“Prescribing a dose can legitimize the physician’s recommendation and give a tangible goal.
It’s different than just saying: ‘Go outside.’
There is something specific that a student can aim for.”
The study was published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology (Meredith et al., 2020).
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