18 Feb New research linking lifestyle changes and happiness
Here at The Happiness Institute we’re obviously interested in happiness and positive psychology but we’re also fascinated by the links between happiness and more traditional or physcial aspects of health.
As the name suggests my first book, The Good Sleep Guide, addressed the relationship between sleep, worry, health related activities and wellbeing (I didn’t use the term happiness much back then!)
Our latest program, The Happiness Diet, is (again obviously) concerned with weight managment and happiness, using positive psychology principles to leverage off the power of positivity to achieve great results.
Well, here’s some new research that’s consistent with our belief that the physical and mental, the mind and the body, are inextricably linked and that happiness is a result of not just what does on in our heads but also what we do with our bodies. Here’s a sample…
Lifestyle changes_ã”such as getting more exercise, time in nature, or helping others_ã”can be as effective as drugs or counseling to treat an array of mental illnesses, according to a new paper published by the American Psychological Association.
Multiple mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety, can be treated with certain lifestyle changes as successfully as diseases such as diabetes and obesity, according to Roger Walsh, M.D., PhD. of the University of California, Irvine_ã_s College of Medicine. Walsh reviewed research on the effects of what he calls _ã–therapeutic lifestyle changes,_ã or TLCs, including exercise, nutrition and diet, relationships, recreation, relaxation and stress management, religious or spiritual involvement, spending time in nature, and service to others. His paper was published in American Psychologist, APA_ã_s flagship journal.
Walsh reviewed research on TLCs_ã_ effectiveness and advantages, as well as the psychological costs of spending too much time in front of the TV or computer screen, not getting outdoors enough, and becoming socially isolated. He concludes that _ã–Lifestyle changes can offer significant therapeutic advantages for patients, therapists, and societies, yet are insufficiently appreciated, taught or utilized,_ã
The article goes on to describe in more detail the benefits of TLC’s (one of which must surely be happiness!) so to read more JUST CLICK HERE