I don’t know about you, but Mondays can be a killjoy sometimes. If you are anything like me and find yourself riding the struggle bus through your Monday, or any day for that matter, I want you to give the “half-smile” technique a try. Research has shown, practicing a half-smile for at least 10 minutes can help improve your overall mood and who doesn't want that?!?
Here's how it works:
Typically when you feel an emotion, a behavior follows. For example, when you feel joy, you may smile as a consequence. If you feel anxious, you may take shallow breaths. If you feel angry, you may furrow your brows. So it only makes sense that if you engage in the behavior, an emotion is bound to follow. Well, research has shown this to be true. If you smile for a few minutes, you will feel happy. If you take deep belly breaths, you will feel less anxious. Make sense?
So let's give it a whirl.
Begin to smile with your lips, but stop just when you notice a small amount of tension at the corners of your mouth. It's a subtle, tiny smile. If someone were watching you, they probably wouldn't notice any change in your face. Now wear this for ten minutes without stopping, and be mindful of how your mood shifts.
I know you are dying to give it a try, so go ahead and rock that half-smile as you navigate through your Monday. The best part about this technique is that it can be done anywhere and no one will even know you are taking steps to improve your mood.