Can you smile again in just eight minutes? According to Kelly McGonigal, yes. This American Psychologist Developed A “Joy Exercise” (“Joy Workout”) That Managed To Pique The Curiosity Of Even Eminent People new York Times,
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“Joy Workout”
According to the psychologist, following her method for eight minutes each morning can help us start the day on the right foot and get our smile back on track. No more sad thoughts, foggy minds in the shower and heads on the ground because it’s raining cats and dogs outside. In fact, this exercise that resembles a little joy dance involves turning on your favorite catchy song and performing each of the following six steps for one minute:
1. the access: It’s about spreading your arms trying to reach the sky
2. sway: You swing your shoulders, then your arms, until you’re completely swinging your entire body, freeing each part well.
3. bounce: we look forward to the beat of the music
4. Shake : To get rid of negative emotions, move your body part by part, then move your whole body
5. jump for joy: Jump from place to place raising your fists skyward in victory
6. celebrate: With your fingers spread, throw your hands up to the sky, as if throwing confetti.
Finally, we spend two minutes dancing freely, without rules, to our chosen music. You can do some of the movements mentioned above to continue on your way, or opt for a full “freestyle.”
What scientific basis?
If the method sounds crazy or even a little ridiculous, it has the virtue of being based on tangible scientific studies that have tried to understand how certain movements can make us happy. In A study published in the journal Frontiers in PsychologyIn this study, the scientists asked the participants to remain in an extended pose or a closed pose for two minutes. the former felt more powerful and had stress level less at the end. They also tended to take more risks. For the latter, their cortisol (stress hormone) levels remained high.
a second study Performed in 2021 asked 25 participants to perform a series of movements (jumps, stretches, extension movements, dances in rhythm…). Result ? The researchers concluded that their results “Reaffirm the role of movement in changing or involving the emotional state”, Happiness can be increased by these different types of movements. Jumping in and raising your head skyward were the moves that made you the happiest.
Some additional techniques:
a transient method
“Listening to pleasant music and putting yourself in a state of celebration can trigger a momentary well-being”confirm Doctor Stephane Clerget, Psychiatrist in Paris west france, But if the positive effects of this forced situation are felt quickly, they are only temporary. “It’s always good to take in the feeling you get after spending time with friends with a laugh”, he adds. Thus, the “pleasure workout” would simply come from the old behavioral methods.
as force yourself to smileForcing yourself to exercise pleasure makes it possible to “cheat the brain” trigger well-being, This method can be especially useful for people who have negative thoughts, who have trouble moving, or who experience a temporary drop in morale. But it only solves the problem on the surface and immediately, it doesn’t interfere with the depth. A good exercise to force yourself to shower when you are not in good shape, but by no means a miracle cure for all ailments.
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