It’s well-known that smiling is contagious—just seeing
someone else smile can make you feel happier as well. Smile therapy also seems
to provide benefits in terms of your mental health and physical wellbeing,
which can help you reduce stress and live healthier, happier lives both at home
and at work. It’s pretty hard to be miserable when you’re surrounded by people
who are smiling! Here are some of the ways that smiling can help boost your
mental health and keep you happy, healthy, and productive all day long.
A smile makes you appear more attractive
When you smile, you not only appear more attractive to
others, but you also feel better about yourself. That boost in confidence can
be just what you need to get through a tough situation.
Positive emotions are contagious
When you smile, you not only improve your own mood, but you
also have the power to positively affect the moods of those around you. In
fact, studies show that positive emotions are contagious. So the next time
you're depressed, try smiling. It just
might make someone else's day - and yours too!
Positive moods can improve physical health
A study published in the journal Psychological Science found
that smiling can lead to a positive feedback loop of good emotions. In other
words, smiling itself has the power to uplift your mood. And as it turns out,
happiness has some pretty impressive health benefits. Research has linked
happiness to a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and infection.
Plus, happy people tend to live longer than their unhappy counterparts.
People with better mental health are more likely to have
positive body language
A recent study found that people who smiled more had better
mental health overall. The study participants were asked to rate their own
mental health, and those who reported higher levels of happiness and satisfaction
also tended to smile more.
Your social connections improve when you use positive body
language
When you smile, there is a great chance that people will smile back at you.
This creates a positive feedback loop that can lead to increased happiness and
satisfaction with life. Additionally, smiling has been shown to reduce stress
and lower blood pressure. So, if next time you’re feeling low, try putting on a
smile.
Happiness improves your performance at work
When you're happy, you're more likely to be engaged and motivated
in your work. That means you're more likely to be productive, efficient, and
successful. Plus, smiling has been shown to reduce stress, lower blood
pressure, and boost your immune system. All of that is good news for your
mental health.
Happiness increases productivity and reduces absences from
work
A positive attitude and outlook on life has been linked with
increased productivity in the workplace. A study done by the University of
Warwick found that happy employees are 12% more productive than their unhappy
counterparts. Furthermore, happiness has also been linked with decreased
absences from work. In a study done by the National Bureau of Economic
Research, it was found that workers who reported high levels of happiness
missed 1.9 days less of work per year than those who reported low levels of happiness.
Higher levels of happiness result in increased life
satisfaction
A study published in the journal Psychological Science found
that people who feel happier tend to have higher levels of life satisfaction.
The study's authors believe that this is because happy people are more likely
to engage in positive activities, like smiling. So next time you're feeling sad or anxious, try cracking a smile. You never know; it might improve your mood.
Confidence breeds success
We’ve all heard the saying all our lives that fake it ‘til you make it. So, now you know? There’s actually some truth to that. When we exude confidence, we not only
feel more capable, but others perceive us as such as well. And often, the first
step to looking and feeling confident is simply...smiling.
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