Got Happiness?

Frazzled?

Take a Time Out—

Outside, that is. The power of nature to bring you back into positive alignment is amazing. Reset your system—clogged with artificial light and glaring screens—by going out into the fresh air and sunshine, amidst the trees, grass, birds, and breeze…

Maintaining a strong connection with nature has been shown to reduce stress. It is also correlated with longer attention spans and an ability to think more clearly. It calms the nerves, soothes the spirit, and generally lightens the load.

The summer months are perfect for playing outdoors. Hit the beach, blaze the trails, or find yourself a nice tree to sit with. Listen to the birds, watch the squirrels. Nature is right under your nose.

Read more at http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/06/happiness-is-right-outside.php

How you eat has a significant impact on how you feel. One of the best ways to raise the quality of your experience is through mindful eating: paying respectful attention to your food. Instead of staring at a screen or thinking about your weekend or doing your homework while you’re eating, focus your awareness on what’s happening in your mouth. Appreciate the smell, flavor, texture, and temperature of your food. Consider where it came from, and where it is going. Mindful eating helps you establish a closer relationship with your body—and supports you in making healthy decisions about what to put into it.

Read more at http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mindful-eating/200902/mindful-eating

According to Michelle Moore, author of “How to Live a Happy Life,” you can inspire happiness with your posture! A hunched back and shallow breathing tend to accompany a person throughout a busy work day, which sends a stress signal to the brain. On the other hand, a straight spine and forward gaze promotes confidence, deeper breathing, and relaxation.

The posture of happiness look like this: Sitting or standing, imagine a string pulling you upward from the top of your head and aligning your torso. Shoulders are dropped and slightly backward, opening the heart and lungs.

The sense of balance and circulation that is created with this posture is a foundation for well-being and peace of mind. Don’t leave your happiness to chance. Take a Happy Stance!

Read more at
http://www.happinessinsights.com/2010/12/happiness-stance-happiness-posture.html

Want to balance and boost your mood? Reduce your intake of refined sugar.

Recent studies reveal that sugar on the brain behaves much like a drug addiction. The sweetness is pleasing to the palate, but “just a spoonful of sugar” slows your immune system down, upsets the body's mineral balance, disrupts cellular function, contributes to hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, concentration difficulties, crankiness, and gives you headaches. Substitute sugars and sugar alcohols can be even worse. The chemical structure of Splenda (sucralose), for example, has more in common with pesticides than it does with food.

Sugar hides, in alarming qualities, within foods that are packaged to look healthy. Increase your food label literacy: corn syrup, malt dextrose, rice syrup, evaporated cane juice, agave nectar, and molasses are added sweeteners.

Satisfy your sweet tooth with fresh fruit. Your body and mind will thank you!

Read more at:
http://www.plosone.org/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0000698

Never underestimate the power of sleep!
In a study published by The New York Times, researcher Dr. Kahneman and colleagues found that, more than income or job security, a good night’s rest has the greatest impact on mood.

That being said, most people aren’t getting the sleep they need to feel their best—and the cell phone and/or computer may be a culprit. "Unfortunately, cell phones and computers, which make our lives more productive and enjoyable, may be abused to the point that they contribute to getting less sleep at night leaving millions of Americans functioning poorly the next day," Russell Rosenberg, the vice chairman of the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), says.

Consider this: exposure to artificial light before going to bed can increase alertness and suppress the release of melatonin, a sleep-promoting hormone. In addition, wireless network devices operate at high frequencies, which can excite, and disrupt, living tissue.

Nearly 95 percent of people questioned in an NSF study said they used some type of electronics in the hour before going to bed, and about two-thirds admitted they do not get enough sleep during the week. Give your body and mind a break by unplugging from your screens in the evening. Turn Z’s into A’s!!

For a helping hand, check out: http://helpguide.org/life/sleep_tips.htm

Bringing light into someone’s day when they aren’t expecting it is a great way to brighten your own!

According to Dacher Keltner, director of the Berkeley Social Interaction Laboratory and author of “Born to Be Good: The Science of a Meaningful Life,” kindness and compassion are hard-wired into our brains—to promote thriving, prosperous communities. As social creatures, we literally feed on positive interaction and connection. Keltner advocates a shift in paradigm: instead of competition for survival, how about collaboration for thrival? (*note: this author is aware that “thrival” is not techincally a word.)

Random Acts of Kindess are some of the simplest and most powerful tools in any pursuit of happiness.

Here are a few ideas to get you going:

-Leave flowers on somebody’s doorstep.
-Tape the exact change for a soda to a vending machine.
-Send a card to a friend, “just because.”
-When standing in a line, let the next person go ahead of you.
-Pay a sincere compliment to a total stranger.

Read more about Keltner’s approach to the good life at: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=kindness-emotions-psychology

Enjoy more Random Kindess here: http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/

Looking a person in the eye is the first step toward a positive impression and interaction. It establishes an instant cord of contact, a signal that says, “I’m here.”

Dr. Roel Vertegaal recently completed extensive research on the effects of eye gazing, and found evidence to suggest a strong link between the amounts of eye contact people receive and their degree of participation in group communications. The study shows that greater eye contact leads to increased conversation and group problem-solving ability.

In short, eye contact helps us feel connected to others. The impact this simple gesture has on happiness is profound: when we look at each other, we empower ourselves!

-Practice making eye contact when you say “hello.”
-Make eye contact at strangers as you pass (and smile).
-When listening to somebody speak, show your attention with eye contact.

“Basic human contact - the meeting of eyes, the exchanging of words - is to the psyche what oxygen is to the brain. If you're feeling abandoned by the world, interact with anyone you can." –Martha Beck

Read more!
http://www.succeedsocially.com/eyecontact
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/11/021122073858.htm

Engage every morning with a specific intention. An intention is an internal orientation that helps guide you toward what you want to create in your life. It’s a powerful tool for framing and focusing your goals, approaching challenges, and connecting with your inner wisdom. You can state your intention aloud to a friend or family member, to yourself in the mirror, or write it down in a journal.

Here are a few simple examples:
Today I will practice mindfulness.
Today I will eat a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Today I will smile more.
Today I will take more time to relax and breathe deeply.
Today I will get some exercise.

Pay intention, because intention pays. It’s a great way to start the day!


Read more about intention here: http://www.goal-setting-guide.com/setting-intentions-vs-setting-goals

You can have a lot of fun simply by challenging yourself to do something you’ve never done. Be it rock climbing, kayaking, golfing, or synchronized swimming….wrapping your mind and body around a new concept opens more space—both inside and out.

Studies show that a body acclimates quickly to routine, so it’s important to keep things fresh. Avail yourself of the many opportunities on campus. The Zone offers free Tai-Chi, Yoga, Meditation, and Zumba classes during the week.

Check it out!
http://zone.ucsd.edu