Everyday Happiness - Finding Harmony and Bliss
Education:Self-Improvement
The final days of summer are upon us, and I have a very important message for you on how to use them. Tune in to find out more!
Transcript:
Welcome to Everyday Happiness where we create lasting happiness, in about 2 minutes a day, through my signature method of Intentional Margins® (creating harmony between your to-dos and your priorities), happiness science, and musings about life.
I'm your host Katie Jefcoat, and I hope that you enjoyed your summer. During the past week, I have been at the beach with my family, and it, combined with Arthur Brooks's article from the Atlantic, inspired me to talk to you about how important it is for your happiness to get outside.
While I won’t bore you with the statistics, numerous studies have found that people, adults and children alike, are spending less and less time outside. We all know what it is like to sit down in front of our screens, whether for work or pleasure, to look up and find that the whole day is gone and night is upon us once again.
While your conscious state may not recognize the problem, you unconsciously become less happy the longer you stay away from nature. Fortunately, stress, anxiety, and even depression have been proven to improve when we take the time to go outside.
Now, you may be thinking, "I don’t have time to spend time outside." But, in all reality, you can’t afford not to go outside. Time in nature, even just a walk through the neighborhood, increases creativity and problem-solving. Taking a brief walk could mean that you get your work done faster AND you get to go outside!
So, how can we use these last few weeks of summer to get outside?
First, if you are going on vacation, make sure that you schedule plenty of outside time. Whether it is hiking, camping, horseback riding, beach walking, or even attending outdoor markets, anything works.
Second, spend a day outside. Take just one day this weekend, put the devices away, and be outside. Pack a picnic, go for a walk, or do whatever you love to do outside, but don’t come home until it's dark. Arthur Brooks also recommends going barefoot. Studies have found that grounding yourself can improve your mood, so kick your shoes off and give it a go.
Third, make an Intentional Margin to go outside each day. Schedule a 15-minute walk through the neighborhood, go on your daily run outside rather than the treadmill, have an after-dinner walk with your partner, or even just take your morning coffee out on the porch.
Remember, summertime is designed for fun, and we can bring along the positive skill sets and habits we build into the dreary months. Before you go, tell me your favorite outdoor activity that you schedule for your day over @everydayhappinesswithkatie on Instagram! I want to know!
If you are getting this via email, just hit the reply button if you want to share! :)
And remember, kindness is contagious.
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And, let’s connect on social at @everydayhappinesswithkatie and join the community on the hashtags #IntentionalMargins and #everydayhappinesswithkatie on Instagram
Links: https://onamission.bio/everydayhappiness/
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