| Do you have tons of items on your to-do list?
Well, add one more. It's time to pencil in a little pleasure. Chances
are, you simply deserve some joy and satisfaction. Experts say good
feelings can boost your ability to bounce back from stress, solve
problems, think flexibly and even fight disease.
Studies show that:
- Laughing decreases pain, may
help your heart and lungs, promotes muscle relaxation and can reduce
anxiety.
- Positive emotions can decrease
stress hormones and build emotional strength.
- Leisure activities offer a
distraction from problems, a sense of competence and many other
benefits. For example, twins who participated in leisure activities were
less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease or dementia than their fellow
twins in one study.
Ways to Create Joy
and Satisfaction
Strengthen Your
Funny Bone.
You can keep it together by cracking up: It's hard to be irritated,
worried or glum when you're rolling in laughter. And gentle humor often
helps defuse a tense situation.
Check out some tips:
- Pick up some joke books
or humorous essays at a bookstore or library. Keep a few handy
for a quick pick-me-up.
- Put together a
collection of sayings or photos that make you smile, and stick
them someplace visible. Change them occasionally, or you'll likely stop
noticing them.
- Keep a humor tape in
the car and steer clear of traffic frustration.
- Watch or listen to
comedy via video, podcast or website. Or get a laugh the
old-fashioned way—through the comics section.
- Try to laugh at some of
the hassles in your life if you can. Finding what's a bit
absurd or amusing in a challenging situation just might offer relief.
Find Some Fun
Whether it's playing
golf or goofing around, having fun isn't just, well, fun. It also promotes
our overall well-being and success.
Leisure activities can boost our effectiveness,
broaden our perspective, increase creativity and restock our energy
supply. Leisure can combat stress by offering:
- social support
- chances to build confidence
- distractions from difficulties
- an emotional lift
Let's have some fun:
- Free up some time.
Can you afford to scratch something off your calendar? Is there anyone
you can ask to help lighten your load? Set aside a time, and keep it
like it was a doctor's appointment.
- Do something you loved
to do as a kid. Run through the sprinklers, hang from the
monkey bars, make a mess with finger paints.
- Do something you've
always wanted to do. Bake a soufflé, build a tree house, learn
to knit. If you're not sure how, take a class or look for a local group
dedicated to the activity.
- Pursue a creative
interest. Writing, singing or making music all have therapeutic
effects. Or just turn on a song you love: Brain images show that music
can trigger feel-good hormones.
- Do it with someone you
love. Get an extra boost from your leisure by sharing it. Good
times build relationships, and
good relationships are key to our happiness.
For the complete article and more tips
on how to create joy in your life, check
www.liveyourlifewell.org.
This message is brought to you as part of
the “Healthy Minds/Healthy Bodies” educational campaign sponsored by
Beatrice Community Hospital Gage County PATCH.. For further information
and resources, contact Sharon Langvardt, MS, LIMHP, CMFT, Blue Valley
Behavioral Health and Beatrice Hospital PATCH coordinator (402) 228-3386
or slangvardt@bvbh.net or slangvardt@bchhc.org.
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