How Health Can Influence Happiness

Anxiety, depression, fear, stress, and lots more contribute to people's feelings of unhappiness. According to Georgetown University, a study was done researching the incline of anxiety and depression since the start of the pandemic and found that around 5.6 million children have been diagnosed with anxiety and 2.4 million children have been diagnosed with depression. These numbers have been increasing from the year of 2016 to now. Anxiety and depression are some of the most common mental illnesses that young adults and children nowadays deal with. Additionally, these illnesses will affect nearly 30% of all adults at some point in their lives.

This information is devastating. Mindsets of stress and anxiety that are caused at such a young age become detrimental to young humans' brain growth and development. It's important to make sure that people are aware of the treatment they can receive and the different ways they can better their mental and physical health in their everyday lives. Though the meaning of happiness is subjective to each person, we must work to promote healthy tips for improving health to help improve happiness.

 Happiness and Physical Exercise

Today there is a considerable amount of research being done that demonstrates the correlation between physical health and observing a higher quality of life. An increase in physical exercise is seen to be related to an overall healthier life, a longer life, as well as development of all around more positive emotions. The connection between mental health and physical health is very relative, meaning one will most likely affect the other. Thus, figuring out ways to physically improve your day is necessary. Discovering a routine that fits in your day-to-day life and knowing what you can do to physically change your mood is important to implement when looking to improve happiness.

Time-Effective Physical Activity For Everyday Life

• Go on a walk
• Go on a hike
• Do push-ups or jumping jacks
• Lift weights
• At-home workout class on Youtube

 Happiness and Routines

 Creating a routine and specifically being able to manage your stress efficiently is essential for creating good practices and promoting overall health. Having a set schedule and sticking to that schedule creates healthy boundaries and healthy practices that will help you long term to maintain mindful, physical, and emotional health. Though it can be hard to stick to a routine, doing your best to set healthy goals that are specific to yourself will help to reduce stress and anxiety in your life. 

Examples of Healthy Routine Steps

• Waking up and going to bed at the same time every day
• Limiting food intake 3hrs before bed
• Limiting screen time throughout the day
• Getting your body moving each day
• Eating foods that boost your mood (Greens, Nuts, Complex Carbs, and Foods High in Vitamin C)

Happiness and Fueling Your Body

The benefits of fueling your body well will involve, a sharper memory, quicker thinking, better-sleeping patterns, increased energy throughout the day, as well as creating more confidence in being able to tackle mental and emotional challenges in your everyday life. Clean eating and regular exercise have been found to lower levels of depression and anxiety, as well as increase levels of dopamine and serotonin in the brain. These molecules send signals throughout our body that increase feelings of pleasure and happiness.

Happiness and Everyday Life

Of course, this doesn't mean you need to become a "gym bro" or a nutritionist overnight. However, finding exercises and healthy alternative foods for yourself, are essential for improving your outlook on life and dealing with day-to-day issues. No matter your age or level of health, learning small ways to better deal with stress and anxiety will help to promote an overall happy and healthier life moving forward, in whatever way happier and healthier means to you.

What Do You Think? 

Did you discover practical and helpful ways to deal with stress and anxiety? What are some hindrances you thought of when reading this blog? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Discover More Here: 

• https://www.hurusa.com/the-important-connection-between-happiness-and- health/#:~:text=Better%20physical%20health%20generates%20a,those%20more%20aligned%20with%20happiness 
• Anxiety disorders - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic 
• https://health.gov/news/202112/physical-activity-good-mind-and-body 
• https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/the-mental-health-benefits-of-exercise.htm 
• https://psychcentral.com/lib/what-makes-us-happy#causes