7 simple ways of being happier, according to science

Image source, Getty images Photo foot, Some are destined to be happier than others, but that does not mean that there are no ways to be happier. Article information Author, Drafting Author’s title, BBC Future January 25, 2025 It is a question that we ask ourselves many times … and for which we often do not have a clear answer. Is to live without worries? Or is it living quiet despite the problems that they afflict us? The truth is that some people seem predetermined to be happier than others. But you are the type of person who sings in the shower and dances in the rain, or you have a tougher and little pessimistic personality, that idea of ​​happiness is not something that will simply happen to us. We can all change our habits to attract more of that well -being to our lives. For that reason, here you can find some tips that may be useful to be happier in 2025 1. embrace friendship as we get older Friendship benefits people in all ages, but in adulthood it can become an important source of happiness. While old people tend to limit their social connections to spend time with people who know better, researchers on the subject point out that it is a good idea to be open to forge new friendships, because that gives us a different benefit to relationships with The family, which may be based on obligation. As friendship is voluntary, non -mandatory relationships can begin and end at any time, so they can be more fun and less tense. Image source, Getty images Photo foot, It is believed that waiting regularly fun activities could give us a more optimistic perspective. Although adults face obstacles that can make new people difficult, in a way it should be easier to make friends: our personality is more mature, we have won the ability to socially relate, our life perspective is oriented more towards the search of joy and we tend to become more pleasant. And the effort to maintain quality friendships while we age is worth it, since the benefits go beyond psychological well -being. This also improves our cognitive functioning and physical health. In fact, research repeatedly indicates that friendship is a factor as important as the family when predicting good mental health when we age. And if you are the type of person to whom you make it difficult to make friends, a advice that can help: it may be good The US length, as a way of feeling close to those around you while positive emotions are shared. 2. Practice “confelicity” Compassion is a well -established pillar of true friendship. The word, which comes from the Latin word “shared pain”, shows us that empathy helps us form strong connections when our friends need help. But there is an opposite emotional state that is less known and equally important: “confelicity.” That word means “shared happiness” and is an undervalued facet of good relationships that can be as important as compassion to maintain friendship, according to several studies. Enthusiastly support the good news of our friends – and ask about it – is the basis of being a good friend. Responding passively or not actively assessing your friend’s success can put those relationships at risk. Image source, Getty images Photo foot, Enjoying the fortune of our friends is important to maintain good relations with them. 3. Make a volunteer It is almost a cliché to say that doing something for another person can make you feel better than giving you a personal taste. But the more we know of altruism, the more it seems that this cliché is very true. In fact, scientific studies have found that volunteering can even help with a series of conditions such as chronic pain and depression. In 2002, a study found that voluntary people suffering from chronic pain and who were assigned to help other people experienced less intensity while served as volunteers. Other studies have shown that animal care can improve our health and take care of plants can bring us well -being, especially in older adults. Some doctors now recipe volunteering as an effective form of “social prescription”: medical prescriptions that connect people with resources and activities in the community in which they live. Send people to do everything from art classes to cycling groups, or encourage them to participate in activities to help other people needed to be valid health interventions that can also help reduce pressure on the services of health. 4. Connect with your ancestors There is another way for the past to help you in the present. Several studies suggest that relating to our ancestors can have deep psychological benefits. Knowing family stories about how adversity was overcome, for example, it can be empowerment when the stories go from one generation to another. Susan M. Moore – emerita program of psychology at the University of Swinburne, in Australia – has found that people who know about their family history have higher levels of satisfaction and mental well -being. Putting into the task of investigating the family tree can help to have the feeling of being in control of one’s life, in addition to favoring a greater understanding of your place in the world. You can also give you a sense of perspective and gratitude: knowing that your current life has been possible because of the battles and achievements of your predecessors. Image source, Getty images Photo foot, The pleasure of driving for an idyllic landscape. 5. Write a list To count the blessings and favors received is an old advice and is based on a simple but well proven intervention. It happens that when we write a list of three things that have happened to us can help us improve our humor. Either an event that has changed our lives, such as spending an important exam or having a baby, or something lighter like being of chance With an old friend or enjoy a … Read more

The 9 sports that tone us the most and make us happier at the same time

At this point, no one is going to deny that the positive effects that exercise on health, are indisputable. It is not an opinion, there is a whole physiological process that demonstrates it: When you exercise, serotonin and dopamine, the famous happiness hormones, are released. This decreases the cortisol, the stress hormone. And be careful, because playing sports can make you happier than being a millionaire. And yes, a study was also done to prove this claim. It was in 2018, around Yale and Oxford Universities. After analyzing data from more than a million Americans, they came to the conclusion that sport can make us happier than money. Now, let’s combine happiness with physical benefits. © sezane Researchers of the ORTurku Universityin Finland, determined to study everything on which our happiness depends, decided to analyze and find the sport that not only makes us happier, but also works best for us in terms of toning. And they found it: he high intensity training (HIIT). To reach this conclusion, they compared the endorphins present in the body after an hour of HIIT and discovered that those who had chosen this sport compared to others had many more happiness hormones in their blood. © Getty Images Not only the Danes were responsible for confirming it. Also Chinese researchers from the Shenzhen University They wanted to check it and, indeed, they confirmed the suspicion again. What’s more, They even saw how a high-intensity workout of just 10 minutes can increase happiness hormones in the blood and improve mood. This high intensity or resistance training is not only limited to HIIT sessions. We talk about resistance when we also talk about sports like runningcycling or swimming. Its benefits have not only been demonstrated physically, but also on a psychological level. These types of sports improve mental health and helps reduce problems such as depression or anxiety for precisely the same physiological reason: the release of serotonin. © Getty Images “When the muscles cry, the brain laughs.”“says German doctor and researcher Eckart von Hirschhausen, who explained in an article for the German magazine Stern that “If you run often, new brain cells even grow.” What sport should you choose then to tone up and, at the same time, be happier? You don’t have to learn new disciplines, because surely all of these sound familiar to you. swimming Swimming is a low-impact sport but also considered an endurance and strength sport by toning and working all muscle groups. The feeling of being in the water can be very relaxing and pleasant and this releases the famous endorphins. © Getty Images ride a bike Both outdoor cycling and on a stationary bike are great options for toning your legs and lower body. Boxing and martial arts These disciplines are not only excellent for toning the body through strength and endurance training, but they also offer significant emotional release. Hitting a bag or practicing combat techniques releases tension and encourages the production of endorphins. Running Running is an excellent cardiovascular exercise that strengthens leg muscles and improves endurance. It is widely related to the release of endorphins and even has its own name (known as the “runner’s high”). © Getty Images Dance Dance classes, whatever the style, are fun and energetic. In addition to toning the body, dancing improves coordination and balance, and is also an ideal sport to release endorphins and help lift your spirits. Yoga Although yoga is primarily known for its ability to improve flexibility and relaxation, certain practices, such as dynamic yoga or power yoga, can tone muscles. Additionally, the meditation and concentration practiced in yoga also releases endorphins and helps reduce stress. Hiking Walking through nature is not only a great exercise to tone your legs and core, but it has also been widely shown that contact with the natural environment increases the feeling of well-being. Outdoor activity, along with the release of endorphins, provides an emotional high. winter sports Skiing or snowboarding, winter sports, are not only exciting and adrenaline-pumping, but they also tone the legs and core. The fun associated with these sports, along with physical activity, causes a powerful release of endorphins. strength training Weight lifting and resistance training not only tone the body, but can also lead to a sense of accomplishment and well-being. Overcoming goals progressively can help improve self-confidence and enhance a positive state of mind.

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