HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR MOOD IN 12 MINUTES?

Being in a good mood and maintaining morale is not always easy. Everyone has his technique not to sink and stop the bad mood that sometimes invades us.

Everyone has tried different strategies to improve their mood and sometimes it is about unsavory and addictive methods, like throwing yourself on a glass of alcohol, a packet of chips or a bar of chocolate.

Wanting to cheer up when we are in a bad mood is a normal reflex but the solutions are not always obvious and do not bear fruit.

Rather than looking for ways to feel better during a slouch, it seems that it is a priority to wish the happiness of one's neighbor.

This is revealed by the results of a study by Iowa State University (US) published in the journal Journal of Happiness Studies on March 21, 2019.

THE HAPPINESS OF SOME MAKES THE MOOD OF OTHERS

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Indeed, researchers suggest that simply walking and being kind to others reduces anxiety and increases happiness, as well as the feeling of social connection.

This simple, time-consuming strategy that you can incorporate into your daily activities may seem naive at first, and will not solve all your problems. It's about improving a transient mood problem, not a mood disorder like depression or bipolar disorder.

The researchers tested the benefits of three different techniques to reduce anxiety and increase happiness or well-being. To do this, they invited students to walk around a building for 12 minutes and apply one of the following strategies:

• Love : look at the people they see and say to themselves, " I wish this person to be happy. The students were encouraged to really think it, being convinced by this thought.
• Interconnection : watch the people they meet and think about how they are connected to each other. It was suggested that students reflect on similar hopes and feelings they might share or follow.
• Downward social comparison : look at the people they see and think about how they could be better off than everyone they met.

The study also included a control group in which students were invited to look at people and focus on what they see on the outside, such as their clothes, the combination of colors, textures and make-up. , and accessories. All students were surveyed before and after the walk to measure anxiety, happiness, stress, empathy and connectivity.

LOVE AND KINDNESS ARE THE BIG WINNERS

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The researchers compared each technique with the control group. They found that those who practiced kindness or who wanted others to feel good, were happier, more connected, more caring and empathetic, and less anxious.

The Interconnection group was more empathetic and more connected. The group "social comparison" had no advantage and was much worse than the technique of goodness. People who compare themselves to others feel less empathic, less caring, and less connected than people who want the best in others.

Previous studies have shown that ascending social comparison has a buffering effect when we feel bad about ourselves. The researchers found the opposite. Basically, ascending social comparison is a competitive strategy. This does not mean that it can not have any benefits, but competitive mindsets have been associated with stress, anxiety and depression.

 

The researchers also examined how different types of people responded to each technique. They expected that naturally conscious people would benefit more from the benevolence strategy, or that narcissists would have difficulty wishing others to be happy. They were a little surprised by the results.

This simple practice is valid regardless of your personality type. Showing affection for others has also reduced anxiety, increased happiness, empathy and social connection.

Test and tell me in comment if it works for you. In my opinion, for the result to be felt it will be necessary to test the method several times. Whenever you have a dark mood, take a 12 minute top time to walk down the street and wish deeply and sincerely the happiness of all the people you meet.

SOCIAL NETWORKS AND SELF-IMAGE

Social media like Facebook and Instagram are like a playground for comparisons. Although the study did not focus specifically on social media, the authors claim that the results show that comparison is a risky strategy.

Moreover, several recent studies specific to new technologies and social media show that the smartphone affects our relationships and that social media affects our way of seeing our body .

Unfortunately, it is almost impossible not to make comparisons on social media. Often, it's possible to notice about yourself or our surroundings, social media brings feelings such as envy, jealousy, anger or disappointment in response to what we see, and these emotions disrupt our sense of welfare.

The authors point out that the comparison works well when we learn something or make a choice. For example, children learn by observing others and comparing their results to ours. However, in terms of well-being, the comparison is not as effective as the goodness that constantly improves happiness.

If you are in a bad mood, the reasons can be variable and multiple, like the quality of your sleep , your diet and your hydration.

So if you are in a negative mood, eliminate the maximum of factors and do not add social networks in the ingredients of malé, flee your profiles of social networks!