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purpose (which was promoted by a
spiritual connection) were happier.
They Make Exercise a Priority.
A wise, albeit fictional Harvard
Law School student once said, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy.” Exercise
has been shown to ease symptoms
of depression, anxiety and stress,
thanks to the the various brain
chemicals that are released that
amplify feelings of happiness and
relaxation. Plus, working out makes
us appreciate our bodies more. One
study published in the Journal of
Health Psychology found that exercise improved how people felt
about their bodies — even if they
didn’t lose weight or achieve noticeable improvements.
GETTY IMAGES/VETTA
They Go Outside.
Want to feel alive? Just a 20-minute dose of fresh air promotes a
sense of vitality, according to several studies published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology.
“Nature is fuel for the soul, “ says
Richard Ryan, Ph.D, the lead author of the studies. “Often when
we feel depleted we reach for a cup
of coffee, but research suggests a
better way to get energized is to
connect with nature.” And while
most of us like our coffee hot, we
may prefer our serving of the great
outdoors at a more lukewarm temperature: A study on weather and
individual happiness unveiled 57
degrees to be the optimal temperature for optimal happiness.
They LOL.
You’ve heard it before: Laughter is the best medicine. In the
case of The Blues, this may hold
some truth. A good, old-fashioned
chuckle releases happy brain chemicals that, other than providing the
exuberant buzz we seek, make hu-
HUFFINGTON
11.10.13