Posts filed under ‘Swellbeing’
Literally think outside the box
Next time you’re experiencing a creative block, literally think outside of the box — ie. get out of your office or cubicle.
Or, literally, consider things on the one hand, and then on the other hand (by physically motioning with one hand, and then the other).
A study conducted at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business put these common metaphors to the test literally (another one was “putting two and two together”) and found that acting them out does indeed help us think more creatively, by assisting in triggering cognitive processes that allow us to come up with more creative solutions or ideas.
(And I literally can’t use the word “literally” without thinking of Rob Lowe on Parks & Rec. And OK, sure, maybe I just wanted an excuse to post Rob Lowe).
Tell yourself you’ll treat yo’ self — sometime later
You’ve sworn off candy, or carbs or coffee (whatever the forbidden item may be).
Just tell yourself you’ll have some “later”, time TBD — and you’ll be less likely to binge on it. Being vague about when you’ll have some makes it less likely you’ll overindulge than if you were to say to yourself “I’ll have some with my lunch,” according to research presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology.
Except, of course, on Treat Yo Self day, then indulge all you like, whenever you like :)
The happiest kind of shopping
Extraverts and those open to trying new things are more likely to spend their money on experiences (such a vacation or going to show) than on material items, and gain more long-term benefits and greater satisfaction with life, says new research in the Journal of Positive Psychology.
My problem? Shopping lots for both material items and experiences such as trips and concerts — but I’m pretty sure, in my very unscientific assessment, that just makes me doubly happy, wouldn’t you agree?
(Image: House of Harlow totem pole necklace available at Revolve Clothing, which indeed would make me even happier :)
Make a commitment to your health through a daily dose of happiness
“Tell me why-eeeee…”
Ah, hearing this song (“I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys) fills me with such joy. I’m not exaggerating. It’s one of my favourite songs of all time — deal with it. In fact, when I’m running and my iPhone’s on shuffle and this song comes up, I take it as a good omen and run with more spring in my step.
(and don’t ask me which way it is that they want it, because I don’t know what the song means!)
And I’m thinking I need to listen to it more often — because it may help me make better health decisions.
A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that people who were encouraged to experience a sense of happiness and to practice self affirmation made better decisions when it came to their health and wellbeing.
So, for example, they were asked to think of something small that made them happy (they gave the example of a sunset, I suggest to you the Backstreet Boys) when they awoke and to continue thinking of it throughout the day. Plus, they were also asked to think of times when they were proud of themselves (such as when you graduated) as a way to help overcome obstacles.
This method seems to shift our behaviour; we will do what we need to in order to meet goals we’ve set for ourselves when it comes to our health. One researcher gives the example of not feeling like going for a run in the rain — when you’re really not feeling like getting soaked during your run, yet with these simple tools, we are able to get over this and do the exercise so that we fulfill a promise we’ve made to ourselves.
So my prescription? “I Want It That Way” on repeat.
Where’s your daily tidbit of happiness come from?
