GET A HALO
Scientists from Mindlab International call it the ‘helper’s halo’ effect – but it doesn’t have to be anything big. Treating someone to a cup of tea, giving up your seat on the Metro, taking an elderly neighbour a homemade pie – they all increase positivity and reduce stress levels. Want to take it further? Volunteering boosts happiness because it makes us feel empathy and appreciation for what we already have.
SMELL SOMETHING NICE
Recognised as our most powerful sense, smell evokes memories and emotions, and good smells lower heart rate and reduce stress, according to research by Dr Nick Lavidis, a neuroscientist at the University of Queensland, Australia. He found that the scent of freshly cut grass can make us feel good, for instance, because the odours and chemicals released by crushed plants positively affect the part of the brain that manages stress.
CHOOSE SNAPS OVER CHOCS
Researchers at the UK’s Open University found that looking at personal photographs made people feel 11 per cent happier than eating chocolate as comfort food (honestly!), which in comparison left people’s mood unchanged. And rather than put all the photos away again, why not create a screensaver or a collage of your favourite shots, a simple way to lose yourself for a few moments whenever you need to?
CREATE A SANCTUARY
Turn your bedroom into an oasis of calm: tidy it up, light a scented candle, play calming music or ‘spa sounds’, and not least, change the bed: fresh, clean sheets give us an enormous sense of well-being and comfort. Follow that up with a relaxing bath or shower to
Here are some ways Dubai residents get over a bad day:
Pree, Dubai Marina
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Helen, Jumeirah Beach Residences