The Healthy Truth: The Glass is Half Full

Dear Friends,

Is the glass half empty or half full? How you answer that question can tell a lot about your health. The great debate between pessimists and optimists has been an ongoing one. Although it seems like a pretty silly question at times, it could shed light on your health habits.

Your outlook on life may not seem like a big deal, but research findings have suggested otherwise. One study that surveyed 5,000 adults found that those who were optimistic were more likely to embark on healthy habits including not smoking, eating a healthy diet, having a healthy body mass index, and exercising regularly, compared to those who were pessimistic.

Other studies have shown that being optimistic led to better health outcomes, more satisfying relationships, and smaller chances of catching a cold or flu. Clearly, seeing the glass half full can go a long way for your health.

But as we all know, it’s often difficult to keep things on the bright side. We all face daily challenges which can turn our smiles upside down and pave way to a pessimistic attitude. Work, school, personal relationships, and even our health can all sometimes take downward spiral and have us thinking the glass is definitely half empty.

Although it can be hard to stay optimistic all the time, here are some tips to help guide you in the right direction in order to live a healthier life.

Tips to be more optimistic

Write thank-you notes: When was the last time you thanked someone? If it’s been a while, you may want to grab a pen and paper – or open your e-mail if you prefer. Being thankful can promote optimism as it allows us to focus on our blessings rather than things that go wrong.

Do what you love: If you love yoga but can never get around to taking a class, you could be left feeling low. Finding the time to partake in the things you love can definitely make you happier and more positive. Our days can feel short if they become mundane and routine, especially if we don’t take time for ourselves. In fact, we get easily stressed and pessimistic if we find ourselves in the same challenging routine. Therefore, designate time out of your day to do something you love.

Spread some good news: It’s pretty easy to vent to others when things are going wrong, but why not ‘vent’ about what’s going right? It can be as little as finding a penny or as big as getting a promotion, whatever made you happy in the day, tell people about it, as it is a way to amplify the goodness that can keep up your good mood. Plus, reveling in the good stuff can make the bad moments seem insignificant and less stressful. It may also be helpful to write up a daily list of all the good things that happened to you – or things you’re thankful for – so you can go to bed with a stress-free mind.

These are just some tips to brighten up your outlook on life, I’m sure there’s many more. Whatever you do to look past the negative, try to stick with it and watch your health flourish.

Until next week,

Emily Lunardo