493: Underrated ways to reduce anxiety & boost mood | leading happiness scholar Gretchen Rubin

Interplay of Senses

The interplay between smell and taste significantly shapes our sensory experiences. Gretchen Rubin explains how smell is crucial for flavor, as it enhances the basic tastes of sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami 1. She shares a simple experiment with jelly beans to illustrate this connection, highlighting how plugging your nose can dull the complexity of flavors. This interaction became more evident during COVID-19 when many realized their sense of taste was affected by a loss of smell. Rubin notes, "We actually smell with our noses," emphasizing the importance of smell in our daily lives.

We actually smell with our noses.

--- Gretchen Rubin

Additionally, Jason Wachob discusses how processed foods manipulate our senses, making it challenging to appreciate natural flavors like those of fresh produce 2. Rubin shares her personal journey of quitting sugar to better enjoy the natural tastes of food.

   

Healing Power of Touch

Touch holds a profound influence on our emotional well-being and mental health. Gretchen Rubin describes how touch can transform the atmosphere of an encounter, such as a doctor holding a patient's hand while delivering difficult news 3. She emphasizes the importance of appropriate touch, noting its powerful ability to provide comfort and healing. Rubin shares personal experiences, like using touch to ease difficult conversations with her husband, highlighting its role in creating a tender and attentive environment.

Touch is very touchy because it is so charged, and when it goes wrong, it can go so wrong, but when used properly, is so powerful.

--- Gretchen Rubin

Jason Wachob adds that touch's healing power is often overlooked, despite its ancient association with comfort and healing 4.

   

Enhancing Mood with Music

Music is a potent tool for altering mood and boosting energy. Gretchen Rubin explains that music can make effortful tasks seem less burdensome and help synchronize with others 5. Its mysterious presence across all human cultures suggests its significant role in our lives, despite not being evolutionarily necessary. Music's ability to evoke nostalgia is another powerful aspect, as Jason Wachob shares how certain songs can transport him back to specific moments in his life 6.

Music is present in every human culture, but they're not really sure why.

--- Gretchen Rubin

Rubin highlights the "Nostalgia Machine," a tool that uses music to evoke memories, demonstrating music's unique power to connect us with our past.

   

Visual Awareness

Visual awareness can greatly enhance our appreciation of the everyday environment. Gretchen Rubin shares her approach to seeing differently by focusing on overlooked details, such as hidden features in logos or the use of colors in branding 7. She encourages a playful exploration of visual elements, which can transform mundane experiences into opportunities for discovery. This method allows individuals to engage creatively with their surroundings, fostering a deeper connection to the world around them.

I think what's fun about my approach is I talk about what I tried and then people go off and they think about, well, what would they want to do?

--- Gretchen Rubin

Rubin suggests visiting places like museums or foreign grocery stores to further enhance visual perception and appreciation.