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Loading...5 Happiness Boosters That Do More Harm Than Good
- Mel, selected from DivineCaroline
- March 22, 2011
- 5:01 pm
- 596 comments
By Gretchen Rubin, DivineCaroline
Everyone has a few tricks for beating the blues–things you do when you’re feeling down to try to boost your mood. It turns out, however, that several of the most popular strategies don’t actually work very well in the long-term. Beware if you are tempted to try any of the following.
1. Comforting yourself with a “treat.” Often, the things we choose as “treats” aren’t good for us. The pleasure lasts a minute, but then feelings of guilt, loss of control, and other negative consequences just deepen the lousiness of the day. So when you find yourself thinking, “I’ll feel better after I have a few beers…a pint of ice cream…a cigarette…a new pair of jeans,” ask yourself: Will it really make you feel better? It might make you feel worse.
Related: 5 Best Snacks to Boost Your Mood
Read more: Exercises, Health, Mental Wellness, happpiness
Mel, selected from DivineCaroline
At DivineCaroline.com, women come together to learn from experts in the fields, of health, sustainability, and culture; to reflect on shared experiences; and to express themselves by writing and publishing stories about anything that matters to them. Here, real women publish like real pros. Together, with our staff writers, they’re discussing all facets of women’s lives from relationships and careers, to travel and healthy living. So come discover, read, learn, laugh and connect at DivineCaroline.com.
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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
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people are talking
Cute! We've had several cats who would do this, too.
If I could get there I would volunteer to help them! I hope there are volunteers that can step in an…
Have the meowiest of birthdays, Maru!!! *kittyhug1*
Thank you for sharing.
so innocent , loving and trusting !
596 comments
+ add your ownlove those 'happy' foods and now won't feel guilty eating them!! Good article!
TY
Quick fixes, childish responses...it's called being human, But fight it!! :)
Thanks.
i'm quite Guilty of most of these. but i'm a work in progress! :-)
Thanks Mel.
interesting
Michael,
the study the author references refers to the little venting that goes on daily for many people.
I call it road rage fodder.
I tried not venting all the little things. What happened was I stopped feeding the issue any energy.
It worked
Read the article, and glanced at a few comments. Did not feel like checking all nearly 600 very closely. But found some of these of merit, and find some where the OPPOSITE is for me. Also know all people are different internally, and maybe this is personal matter of "Different strokes for different folks." But not a bad thought to try psychoemotional releases and not comfort so-called food, buying clothes, etc. Stuff marketers out there created brainwashing efforts about long ago, to create demand. Maybe not even CHOCOLATE for the blues is anything but that. But being physically comfy isn't bad, and maybe deep, slow breathing relaxes others than me. And using the mind to prompt muscles to relax a bit. And I'm a Type A personality.
Going into my garden is a very enjoyable and healthy treat (retreat actually), but it takes some time to wean oneself of bad habits!
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