More Happier: Happiness, Self-Compassion, Meditation & More—with Elmo! Pt. 1

Global Impact

The impact of global issues on personal mental health is a growing concern. Laurie Santos shares her struggles with the relentless news cycle, highlighting the importance of managing screen time and engaging in physical activities like dance parties to boost endorphins 1. Joy Bradford emphasizes that these small acts can provide a buffer against stress, even if they seem trivial compared to global tragedies.

Sometimes people feel like it's kind of selfish to worry about our own happiness or our own well-being. But what the research shows is the people who work on being happier, calmer, they are the people that are most able to think about the problems of the world.

--- Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin adds that focusing on personal happiness is not selfish, as it equips individuals to better address broader issues 1.

   

Scheduled Worry

Scheduled worry emerges as a novel approach to managing stress and concerns. Gretchen Rubin advocates for setting aside specific times to worry, which can transform anxiety into constructive problem-solving sessions 2. This method, combined with tools like pen and paper, can shift worry from a ruminative loop to expressive writing or journaling.

I'm a big fan of scheduling time to worry... it stays constructive because I'm in a mental state to deal with it.

--- Gretchen Rubin

Dan Harris supports this idea, noting that self-care practices like these enhance one's ability to contribute positively to society 2.