Your Body on Happiness

If you’re happy and you know it, you’ll feel great all over!

Dec 2023 / Jan 2024

By Ellen Song

What puts a smile on your face? Maybe it’s listening to your favorite song or eating a bowl of delicious ice cream. Or maybe it’s the feeling of contentment you get from being with the people you love. Happiness can take many different forms. No matter where you find it, this joyful emotion is really good for you. It’s impossible to feel happy all the time, but there are many things you can do to add a little more sunshine to your days. And studies show that people who take the time to do things that make them happy deal with stress better, get sick less often, and are healthier overall. Read on to learn more about the effect of happiness on your body and mind.

Want to Improve Your Mood? Smile!

You might think you need to be happy to smile, but the opposite is also true! A smile can boost your mood. Scientists have found that smiling releases feel-good hormones. The next time you’re blue, try one of these to turn that frown upside down.

1. Make a silly face while looking at yourself in the mirror.

2. Have a smile-off competition with your silliest friend.

3. Watch a video of your favorite baby animal taking a bath.

4. Make a list of the corniest dad jokes you can think of.

Your Body on Happiness

BRAIN

A positive mood can increase your capacity to recall facts and improve your brain’s ability to carry out multiple tasks.

IMMUNE SYSTEM

People who report high levels of happiness tend to get sick less often. Happy people also tend to have a higher number of white blood cells, which protect you from infection.

AGING PROCESS

Studies show that higher levels of happiness are linked to slower physical decline in older adults.

HEART

People who have a positive outlook usually have lower blood pressure and are less likely to develop heart disease than people who tend to be negative.