Happiness Hacks
By Emily Yost, Director of Marketing & Communications at CACM
Scientifically Proven Ways To Get Back To Happy
I’ve always been impressed with the mental toughness held by community association managers. Your ability to ‘kill them with kindness’ or maneuver the toughest of situations requires chutzpah, self-confidence, patience and a heart for serving others. You experience an intense conversation with such grace and go about your day as if the situation never happened! Along the way, I know you’ve had support from co-workers and family who remind you that it will all work itself out. You’ve had happy distractions of going out with friends, seeing the latest film released at the movie theatre, attending a sporting event and yelling for your favorite team at the top of your lungs. But wait…all of those things were ripped from you with the onset of COVID-19. Since March, our ability to ‘vent’ to others has been dramatically decreased to an occasional chat with a co-worker, immediate family or your cat (although he/she is a great mood enhancer). It isn’t necessarily the best ‘decompression session.’ The world has been experiencing new mental health challenges impacted by COVID-19. For a community management professional who handles high stress situations on a daily basis, the impact has taken a bit of a toll. After hearing stories from across the state of the strain on emotional health and happiness, I set out on a quest to find out more about “happiness hacks” and the science that backs them up. I’m excited to share my action list of ways you can get back to happy!
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Vision Fall 2020 | cacm.org
1. Exercise.
According to health psychologist and lecturer at Stanford University, Kelly McGonigal when you exercise your brain produces endorphins, dopamine, adrenaline and endocannabiniod that are associated with feeling happy, confident, capable, feeling less anxiety, stress and even physical pain.
2. Play with your pet.
There is a good reason they are called “Emotional Support Animals.” Spending quality time petting your favorite animal is scientifically proven to lower blood pressure, make you feel calmer and even increases your serotonin and dopamine levels!
3. Eat better.
I know this will shock you (not!), but food affects your mood! Consider falling in love with some of these mood altering foods: a. Leafy greens like spinach and kale. They are rich in folate and the nutrient is linked to a decrease in negative moods and depression, as it produces dopamine in the brain! b. Mushrooms are also a source of vitamin D and vitamin D boosts serotonin in the brain putting you in a naturally better mood. c. Tumeric carries natural antidepressant qualities. d. And don’t forget to sip on some green tea! A study found that people who drank five or more cups of green tea per day had a 20% lower level of tress than those who drank less than one. Salmon is high in omega-3 fatty acides which stave off depression.
