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103 Wellness Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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Wellness is a key aspect of overall health and happiness. Taking care of our physical, mental, and emotional well-being is essential for living a fulfilling and balanced life. However, finding the right wellness topics to write about can sometimes be a challenge. To help you out, here are 103 wellness essay topic ideas and examples to inspire you:

Physical Wellness:

• The benefits of regular exercise for physical health
• How to create a personalized workout routine
• The importance of proper nutrition for overall wellness
• Tips for maintaining a healthy weight
• The impact of sleep on physical health
• The benefits of practicing yoga for physical wellness
• How to reduce stress through physical activity
• The connection between physical wellness and mental health
• The role of hydration in overall well-being
• The benefits of outdoor activities for physical wellness

Mental Wellness:

• The importance of mental health awareness
• How to practice mindfulness for improved mental wellness
• Tips for managing stress and anxiety
• The benefits of therapy for mental health
• The impact of social media on mental well-being
• How to build resilience and cope with challenges
• The connection between mental wellness and physical health
• The benefits of practicing gratitude for mental well-being
• Tips for improving self-esteem and self-confidence
• The role of creativity in mental wellness

Emotional Wellness:

• The importance of emotional intelligence for overall wellness
• How to cultivate emotional resilience
• Tips for managing emotions in a healthy way
• The benefits of practicing self-care for emotional well-being
• The impact of relationships on emotional wellness
• How to set boundaries for emotional wellness
• The connection between emotional wellness and mental health
• The role of mindfulness in emotional well-being
• Tips for processing and expressing emotions effectively
• The benefits of journaling for emotional wellness

Social Wellness:

• The importance of building and maintaining healthy relationships
• How to cultivate a supportive social network
• The impact of social media on social wellness
• Tips for setting boundaries in relationships
• The benefits of volunteering for social wellness
• The connection between social wellness and mental health
• The role of communication in healthy relationships
• Tips for resolving conflicts in a constructive way
• The benefits of community involvement for social wellness
• The importance of belonging and connection for overall well-being

Spiritual Wellness:

• The importance of finding meaning and purpose in life
• How to cultivate a sense of spirituality for overall wellness
• Tips for practicing meditation and mindfulness
• The benefits of connecting with nature for spiritual wellness
• The impact of faith and religion on spiritual well-being
• How to cultivate gratitude and compassion
• The connection between spiritual wellness and mental health
• The role of forgiveness in spiritual well-being
• Tips for living in alignment with your values and beliefs
• The benefits of practicing self-reflection and introspection

Environmental Wellness:

• The importance of environmental awareness for overall well-being
• How to reduce your carbon footprint for environmental wellness
• Tips for living a more sustainable lifestyle
• The benefits of spending time in nature for environmental wellness
• The impact of pollution on environmental wellness
• How to support environmental conservation efforts
• The connection between environmental wellness and physical health
• The role of mindfulness in environmental wellness
• Tips for creating a healthy and toxin-free environment
• The benefits of practicing eco-friendly habits for environmental wellness

Financial Wellness:

• The importance of financial literacy for overall well-being
• How to create a budget and manage your finances
• Tips for saving money and building financial security
• The benefits of investing in your future for financial wellness
• The impact of debt on financial wellness
• How to cultivate a healthy relationship with money
• The connection between financial wellness and mental health
• The role of financial goals in overall well-being
• Tips for navigating financial challenges and setbacks
• The benefits of financial planning for long-term well-being

Occupational Wellness:

• The importance of finding work-life balance
• How to cultivate a sense of purpose and fulfillment in your career
• Tips for managing stress in the workplace
• The benefits of pursuing a career that aligns with your values
• The impact of job satisfaction on overall well-being
• How to set boundaries and prioritize self-care at work
• The connection between occupational wellness and mental health
• The role of professional development in career growth
• Tips for navigating career transitions and changes
• The benefits of work-life integration for occupational wellness

Intellectual Wellness:

• The importance of lifelong learning for overall well-being
• How to cultivate intellectual curiosity and growth
• Tips for expanding your knowledge and skills
• The benefits of engaging in stimulating activities for intellectual wellness
• The impact of technology on intellectual wellness
• How to stay mentally sharp and cognitively engaged
• The connection between intellectual wellness and mental health
• The role of critical thinking and problem-solving in intellectual well-being
• Tips for staying open-minded and receptive to new ideas
• The benefits of intellectual challenges and intellectual wellness

Cultural Wellness:

• The importance of diversity and inclusivity for overall well-being
• How to cultivate cultural awareness and sensitivity
• Tips for engaging with different cultures and perspectives
• The benefits of celebrating diversity for cultural wellness
• The impact of prejudice and discrimination on cultural wellness
• How to foster a sense of belonging and community
• The connection between cultural wellness and mental health
• The role of cultural traditions and heritage in cultural well-being
• Tips for promoting cultural understanding and harmony
• The benefits of multiculturalism and cultural wellness

Overall Wellness:

• The importance of holistic wellness for a balanced life
• How to create a personalized wellness plan
• Tips for integrating different aspects of wellness into your daily routine

In conclusion, wellness encompasses a wide range of topics that are interconnected and essential for living a healthy and fulfilling life. Whether you choose to focus on physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual, environmental, financial, occupational, intellectual, or cultural wellness, there are countless opportunities to explore and write about. So, pick a topic that resonates with you and start writing to inspire and empower others on their wellness journey.

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Essay on Good Health And Well Being

Students are often asked to write an essay on Good Health And Well Being in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Good Health And Well Being

Importance of good health.

Good health is like a treasure. When we are healthy, we can play, learn, and enjoy life. It means our body is working well, and we feel good. To stay healthy, eating fruits and vegetables, drinking water, and sleeping enough is important.

Exercise for Fitness

Moving our bodies makes us strong and fit. Playing sports, dancing, or even walking are great exercises. They keep our heart healthy and muscles strong. Exercise also makes us feel happy by releasing special chemicals in our brain.

Mental Health Matters

Being healthy is not just about the body but also the mind. Talking about feelings, being kind, and having fun with friends keep our mind healthy. It’s important to relax and not worry too much.

Preventing Sickness

Staying away from germs helps us not get sick. Washing hands, keeping clean, and getting vaccines are ways to fight germs. When we don’t feel well, seeing a doctor is a good idea to get better.

Good health and well-being make life better. Eating right, exercising, being happy, and staying germ-free are keys to staying healthy. Let’s take care of our health every day!

250 Words Essay on Good Health And Well Being

What is good health.

Good health means your body is working as it should, without any pain or illness. When you have good health, you can run, jump, play, and do all your school work without feeling tired or sick. It’s like a well-oiled machine that runs smoothly.

Why is Well Being Important?

Well being is about feeling happy and calm in your mind. It’s just as important as having a strong body. When your well being is taken care of, you can make friends, learn new things, and handle stress better.

Eating Right for Health

To stay healthy, you need to eat all kinds of foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy. Imagine your plate as a rainbow, with lots of different colors. Each color gives you different vitamins and minerals to keep you healthy.

Staying Active

Our bodies are made to move. Playing sports, dancing, or just walking your dog are great ways to stay active. When you move, your heart gets stronger and you can concentrate better in class.

Resting Well

Sleep is just as important as food and exercise. When you sleep, your body fixes any damage and gets ready for a new day. Try to get 8-10 hours of sleep each night.

Keeping a Happy Mind

Taking care of your feelings is part of well being. Talk to friends, write in a journal, or draw pictures to express yourself. This keeps your mind happy and healthy.

Good health and well being are about balancing eating right, staying active, resting well, and keeping a happy mind. When all these pieces fit together, you can play, learn, and grow every day.

500 Words Essay on Good Health And Well Being

Good health means your body is working as it should, without any pain or sickness. When you have good health, you can play, work, and learn better. Imagine a car that runs smoothly because all its parts are in top shape. Your body is just like that car. When all parts of your body are in good condition, you feel great and are ready to take on the world.

Why is Good Health Important?

Having good health is very important for everyone. It helps you grow strong and stay fit. When you are healthy, you can play with your friends, focus in class, and not miss school because you are sick. Your body and mind work better when you are healthy, which means you can solve problems easier and enjoy life more.

Eating Right

Eating right is like putting the best fuel in a car. Fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy products are all good for you. They give you the energy to run, think, and do all the things you love. Eating too much junk food is like putting sand in your car’s gas tank. It can make you feel tired and can lead to sickness.

Being active is another way to keep your body in good shape. Think of it as taking your car for a drive instead of leaving it in the garage all the time. When you run, play sports, or dance, you make your muscles stronger and your heart happy. Exercise can also make you feel happier because it releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel good.

Rest and Relaxation

Rest is just as important as being active. It’s like giving your car a break after a long trip. Sleeping well at night helps your body repair itself and get ready for the next day. Relaxing and taking breaks can also help your mind stay sharp and calm.

Staying Clean

Keeping your body clean is like keeping your car shiny and free of dirt. Bathing, brushing your teeth, and washing your hands can keep germs away. Germs are tiny bugs that can make you sick, so it’s important to stay clean to keep them at bay.

Seeing the Doctor

Going to the doctor is like taking your car for a check-up. The doctor makes sure everything is working right and can help prevent sickness or catch it early when it’s easier to treat. Getting vaccinated is one way doctors help protect you from serious illnesses.

Good health is not just about your body but also about your feelings and thoughts. Talking about your feelings, staying positive, and spending time with friends and family can keep your mind healthy. Just like your body, your mind needs to be taken care of to feel good.

Good health and well-being are like a treasure that helps you live a happy and full life. By eating right, staying active, getting enough rest, keeping clean, seeing the doctor, and taking care of your feelings, you can keep this treasure shining. Remember, taking care of your health is one of the most important things you can do every day!

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Good Health
• Essay on Good Habits And Bad Habits
• Essay on Good Governance And Social Responsibility

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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Why You Should Take Care of Your Body and Health

Elizabeth Scott, PhD is an author, workshop leader, educator, and award-winning blogger on stress management, positive psychology, relationships, and emotional wellbeing.

Daniel B. Block, MD, is an award-winning, board-certified psychiatrist who operates a private practice in Pennsylvania.

• Why It Matters
• Eat a Balanced Diet

Make Sleep a Priority

• Stay Active
• Avoid Harmful Substances
• Manage Your Stress

Taking care of your physical body is good for your mental health. The mind and body interact and influence one another in complex ways. Physical illness can make managing your mental well-being more difficult. Stress, lack of energy, poor sleep, and other problems can also take a toll on how you feel mentally.

This article discusses why you should take care of your body and how it can support your mental health. It also explores what you can do to take better care of yourself.

Why Taking Care of Your Body is Good for Mental Health

There are a number of reasons why taking care of your body is good for your mental health:

• Health problems affect functioning : Health problems, even minor ones, can interfere with or even overshadow other aspects of your life. Even relatively minor health issues such as aches, pains, lethargy, and indigestion take a toll on your happiness and stress levels.
• Poor health habits can add stress to your life : They also play a role in how well you are able to cope with stress. The stress that comes from poor health is significant.
• Poor health interferes with daily living : Health challenges also affect other areas of your life. Health problems can make daily tasks more challenging, create financial stress, and even jeopardize your ability to earn a living.
• Stress can worsen health : Stress itself can exacerbate health issues from the common cold to more serious conditions and diseases, so maintaining healthy habits can pay off in the long run. This article looks at some healthy habits that have a positive impact on your life.

One way to improve your ability to cope with stress and feel better is to make a commitment to healthier habits .

Press Play for Advice On Creating Good Habits

This episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast , featuring Katy Milkman, PhD, shares how to build healthy habits to create lasting change. Click below to listen now.

Follow Now : Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts / Amazon Music

Eat a Balanced Diet for the Right Reasons

Rather than eating right solely for the promise of looking better in your jeans, you should also make a commitment to eating foods that will boost your energy levels and keep your system running smoothly. This is because what you eat can not only impact your short-term and long-term health, it can affect your stress levels.

It's much harder to cope with stress if you are hungry or malnourished. Hunger can make you more emotionally reactive to stressors, leaving you irritable or even angry in the face of minor daily annoyances. Watching what you eat can be a stress management tool as well as a health preserver.

Another reason it's a good idea to maintain a healthy diet is that your diet can have an effect on your mood.

While the effects of an unhealthy diet are cumulative and become more apparent in the long-term, you are also less likely to feel well in the short-term if you are eating a diet heavy on sugar-laden, fatty, or nutritionally empty foods.

Some of the more immediate effects poor diet include feeling:

Eating well has important long-term consequences, but it may also help you feel more energetic and optimistic in the short-term as well.

Stay Motivated

If you remind yourself that what you eat now will affect how you feel in the coming hours, it may be easier to stick to a healthy diet.

Sleep can have a serious impact on your overall health and well-being. Poor sleep can take a toll on mental health and contribute to problems including anxiety, depression, mood changes, and behavior changes.

Make a commitment to get enough sleep at night. If you haven't gotten adequate sleep, you may be less productive, less mentally sharp, and otherwise more prone to the effects of stress.

Some good habits that can help:

• Try to get a full eight hours of sleep each night
• Avoid caffeine after 2 pm
• Avoid eating foods in the evening that might disrupt your sleep
• Go to bed at the same time each night; wake up at the same time each morning
• Create a restful sleep environment; make sure your bed is comfortable and keep the room at an optimal temperature for sleeping (between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit)
• Adopt a calming technique such as meditation to help yourself relax each night before bed

You may be surprised by how much less stressed you feel when you're not tired. Following good strategies can help if you have trouble getting quality sleep when stressed . Not only will you sleep better, but you’ll feel better all day.

Find a Fitness Habit That Works for You

We've all heard the advice to eat right and exercise. However, it can be difficult to fit in workouts around a busy schedule, particularly when you're feeling exhausted from stress. 

Make It a Habit

One effective strategy for making fitness a regular part of your life is to build an exercise habit around your other habits—either attach a workout to your morning routine, or your lunchtime habits, or make it a regular part of your evening.  

If you make a morning jog part of your getting-ready-for-work routine, for example, it is much more likely to happen than if you wait until you feel like jogging and happen to have a free half-hour, especially if you lead a busy life like most of us and are tired at the end of the day. 

Do Something You Enjoy

Another important way to make exercise easier is to choose an activity that you actually enjoy. Some examples include walking while listening to an audiobook or attending a class at your gym where good music drives up your energy level. Finding an activity that you enjoy means that you are more likely to stick with it.

Find a form of exercise that you'd like to do and then find a time when you can make it work with your schedule.

Watch What You Put Into Your Body

Avoid putting unhealthy substances into your body; nicotine, excess alcohol, and even excessive caffeine can take a toll on your health in the long run, but also make you feel lousy overall in your day-to-day life.

In addition to watching what you put into your body, it also helps if you can avoid allowing toxic thinking patterns from exacerbating your stress levels as well.  Find healthier ways to manage stress, and you'll enjoy double health and stress management benefits .

Find Ways to Manage Your Stress

Stress is an inevitable part of life, but it can take a serious toll on your mind and body if it gets out of hand. Excessive stress is linked to a number of serious health ailments, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and ulcers.

Stress management strategies that can help include:

• Practicing mindfulness : Mindfulness is an approach that involves focusing more on the here and now instead of fretting over the past or future. It can help increase your self-awareness and improve your ability to handle the daily challenges life throws your way.
• Utilize stress management techniques : Incorporate a variety of stress management tactics into your life, such as deep breathing, guided imagery, and positive self-talk. Making these a habit can help you combat stress in the short-term, as well as later down the road.
• Eat a balanced diet : A poor diet can exacerbate the negative effects of stress. Instead of reaching for high-sugar snacks or fast food meals, focused on following a balanced diet that incorporates fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and complex carbohydrates. 

Finding ways to manage your stress effectively can minimize the negative impact on your health. It can also be beneficial for your emotional health and reduce your risk of burnout, anxiety, and depression.

A Word From Verywell

These are three important ways to take care of your body that you may not naturally think of as stress relievers. If you set goals to make these ideas a reality in your life, not only will you feel the difference immediately, but you will also see results in multiple areas of your life in the coming weeks and months. Few habits come without effort, but these three can make a significant impact on your life, and are well worth the effort.

Yaribeygi H, Panahi Y, Sahraei H, Johnston TP, Sahebkar A. The impact of stress on body function: A review .  EXCLI J . 2017;16:1057–1072. doi:10.17179/excli2017-480

Yau YH, Potenza MN. Stress and eating behaviors .  Minerva Endocrinol . 2013;38(3):255–267.

Owen L, Corfe B. The role of diet and nutrition on mental health and wellbeing . Proc Nutr Soc . 2017;76(4):425-426. doi:10.1017/S0029665117001057

Breymeyer KL, Lampe JW, McGregor BA, Neuhouser ML. Subjective mood and energy levels of healthy weight and overweight/obese healthy adults on high-and low-glycemic load experimental diets .  Appetite . 2016;107:253–259. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2016.08.008

Choi DW, Chun SY, Lee SA, Han KT, Park EC. Association between sleep duration and perceived stress: salaried worker in circumstances of high workload .  Int J Environ Res Public Health . 2018;15(4):796. doi:10.3390/ijerph15040796

Gardner B, Lally P, Wardle J. Making health habitual: the psychology of 'habit-formation' and general practice .  Br J Gen Pract . 2012;62(605):664–666. doi:10.3399/bjgp12X659466

Rood L, Roelofs J, Bögels SM, Alloy LB. Dimensions of negative thinking and the relations with symptoms of depression and anxiety in children and adolescents .  Cognit Ther Res . 2010;34(4):333–342. doi:10.1007/s10608-009-9261-y

Kriakous SA, Elliott KA, Lamers C, Owen R. The effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction on the psychological functioning of healthcare professionals: a systematic review .  Mindfulness (N Y) . 2021;12(1):1-28. doi:10.1007/s12671-020-01500-9

Nguyen-rodriguez ST, Unger JB, Spruijt-metz D.  Psychological determinants of emotional eating in adolescence.   Eat Disord . 2009;17(3):211-24. doi:10.1080/10640260902848543

By Elizabeth Scott, PhD Elizabeth Scott, PhD is an author, workshop leader, educator, and award-winning blogger on stress management, positive psychology, relationships, and emotional wellbeing.

Greater Good Science Center • Magazine • In Action • In Education

Six Ways Happiness Is Good for Your Health

Over the past decade, an entire industry has sprouted up promising the secrets to happiness. There are best-selling books like The Happiness Project and The How of Happiness , and happiness programs like Happify and Tal-Ben Shahar’s Wholebeing Institute .

Here at the Greater Good Science Center, we offer an online course on “The Science of Happiness” and boast a collection of research-based happiness practices on our new website, Greater Good in Action .

But all of these books and classes raise the question: Why bother? Many of us might prefer to focus on boosting our productivity and success rather than our positive emotions. Or perhaps we’ve tried to get happier but always seem to get leveled by setbacks. Why keep trying?

Recently, a critical mass of research has provided what might be the most basic and irrefutable argument in favor of happiness: Happiness and good health go hand-in-hand. Indeed, scientific studies have been finding that happiness can make our hearts healthier, our immune systems stronger, and our lives longer.

Several of the studies cited below suggest that happiness causes better health; others suggest only that the two are correlated—perhaps good health causes happiness but not the other way around. Happiness and health may indeed be a virtuous circle, but researchers are still trying to untangle their relationship. In the meantime, if you need some extra motivation to get happier , check out these six ways that happiness has been linked to good health. 

1. Happiness protects your heart

Love and happiness may not actually originate in the heart, but they are good for it. For example, a 2005 paper found that happiness predicts lower heart rate and blood pressure. In the study, participants rated their happiness over 30 times in one day and then again three years later. The initially happiest participants had a lower heart rate on follow-up (about six beats slower per minute), and the happiest participants during the follow-up had better blood pressure.

Research has also uncovered a link between happiness and another measure of heart health: heart rate variability, which refers to the time interval between heartbeats and is associated with risk for various diseases. In a 2008 study , researchers monitored 76 patients suspected to have coronary artery disease. Was happiness linked to healthier hearts even among people who might have heart problems? It seemed so: The participants who rated themselves as happiest on the day their hearts were tested had a healthier pattern of heart rate variability on that day. 

Over time, these effects can add up to serious differences in heart health. In a 2010 study , researchers invited nearly 2,000 Canadians into the lab to talk about their anger and stress at work. Observers rated them on a scale of one to five for the extent to which they expressed positive emotions like joy, happiness, excitement, enthusiasm, and contentment. Ten years later, the researchers checked in with the participants to see how they were doing—and it turned out that the happier ones were less likely to have developed coronary heart disease. In fact, for each one-point increase in positive emotions they had expressed, their heart disease risk was 22 percent lower.

2. Happiness strengthens your immune system

Do you know a grumpy person who always seems to be getting sick? That may be no coincidence: Research is now finding a link between happiness and a stronger immune system.

In a 2003 experiment , 350 adults volunteered to get exposed to the common cold (don’t worry, they were well-compensated). Before exposure, researchers called them six times in two weeks and asked how much they had experienced nine positive emotions—such as feeling energetic, pleased, and calm—that day. After five days in quarantine, the participants with the most positive emotions were less likely to have developed a cold.

Some of the same researchers wanted to investigate why happier people might be less susceptible to sickness, so in a 2006 study they gave 81 graduate students the hepatitis B vaccine. After receiving the first two doses, participants rated themselves on those same nine positive emotions. The ones who were high in positive emotion were nearly twice as likely to have a high antibody response to the vaccine—a sign of a robust immune system. Instead of merely affecting symptoms, happiness seemed to be literally working on a cellular level.

A much earlier experiment found that immune system activity in the same individual goes up and down depending on their happiness. For two months, 30 male dental students took pills containing a harmless blood protein from rabbits, which causes an immune response in humans. They also rated whether they had experienced various positive moods that day. On days when they were happier, participants had a better immune response, as measured by the presence of an antibody in their saliva that defends against foreign substances.

3. Happiness combats stress

Stress is not only upsetting on a psychological level but also triggers biological changes in our hormones and blood pressure. Happiness seems to temper these effects, or at least help us recover more quickly. 

In the study mentioned above, where participants rated their happiness more than 30 times in a day, researchers also found associations between happiness and stress. The happiest participants had 23 percent lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol than the least happy, and another indicator of stress—the level of a blood-clotting protein that increases after stress—was 12 times lower.

Happiness also seems to carry benefits even when stress is inevitable. In a 2009 study , some diabolically cruel researchers decided to stress out psychology students and see how they reacted. The students were led to a soundproof chamber, where they first answered questions indicating whether they generally felt 10 feelings like enthusiasm or pride. Then came their worst nightmare: They had to answer an exceedingly difficult statistics question while being videotaped, and they were told that their professor would evaluate their response. Throughout the process, their heart was measured with an electrocardiogram (EKG) machine and a blood pressure monitor. In the wake of such stress, the hearts of the happiest students recovered most quickly.

4. Happy people have fewer aches and pains

Unhappiness can be painful—literally.

A 2001 study asked participants to rate their recent experience of positive emotions, then (five weeks later) how much they had experienced negative symptoms like muscle strain, dizziness, and heartburn since the study began. People who reported the highest levels of positive emotion at the beginning actually became healthier over the course of the study, and ended up healthier than their unhappy counterparts. The fact that their health improved over five weeks (and the health of the unhappiest participants declined) suggests that the results aren’t merely evidence of people in a good mood giving rosier ratings of their health than people in a bad mood.

A 2005 study suggests that positive emotion also mitigates pain in the context of disease. Women with arthritis and chronic pain rated themselves weekly on positive emotions like interest, enthusiasm, and inspiration for about three months. Over the course of the study, those with higher ratings overall were less likely to experience increases in pain.

5. Happiness combats disease and disability

Happiness is associated with improvements in more severe, long-term conditions as well, not just shorter-term aches and pains.

In a 2008 study of nearly 10,000 Australians, participants who reported being happy and satisfied with life most or all of the time were about 1.5 times less likely to have long-term health conditions (like chronic pain and serious vision problems) two years later. Another study in the same year found that women with breast cancer recalled being less happy and optimistic before their diagnosis than women without breast cancer, suggesting that happiness and optimism may be protective against the disease.

As adults become elderly, another condition that often afflicts them is frailty, which is characterized by impaired strength, endurance, and balance and puts them at risk of disability and death. In a 2004 study, over 1,550 Mexican Americans ages 65 and older rated how much self-esteem, hope, happiness, and enjoyment they felt over the past week. After seven years, the participants with more positive emotion ratings were less likely to be frail. Some of the same researchers also found that happier elderly people (by the same measure of positive emotion) were less likely to have a stroke in the subsequent six years; this was particularly true for men.

6. Happiness lengthens our lives

In the end, the ultimate health indicator might be longevity—and here, especially, happiness comes into play. In perhaps the most famous study of happiness and longevity, the life expectancy of Catholic nuns was linked to the amount of positive emotion they expressed in an autobiographical essay they wrote upon entering their convent decades earlier, typically in their 20s. Researchers combed through these writing samples for expressions of feelings like amusement, contentment, gratitude, and love. In the end, the happiest-seeming nuns lived a whopping 7-10 years longer than the least happy.

You don’t have to be a nun to experience the life-extending benefits of happiness, though. In a 2011 study , almost 4,000 English adults ages 52-79 reported how happy, excited, and content they were multiple times in a single day. Here, happier people were 35 percent less likely to die over the course of about five years than their unhappier counterparts.

These two studies both measured specific positive emotions, but overall satisfaction with one’s life—another major indicator of happiness—is also linked to longevity. A 2010 study followed almost 7,000 people from California’s Alameda County for nearly three decades, finding that the people who were more satisfied with life at the beginning were less likely to die during the course of the study.

While happiness can lengthen our lives, it can’t perform miracles. There’s some evidence that the link between happiness and longevity doesn’t extend to the ill —or at least not to the very ill.

A 2005 meta-analysis , aggregating the results of other studies on health and happiness, speculates that experiencing positive emotion is helpful in diseases with a long timeline but could actually be harmful in late-stage disease. The authors cite studies showing that positive emotion lowers the risk of death in people with diabetes and AIDS , but actually increases the risk in people with metastatic breast cancer , early-stage melanoma , and end-stage kidney disease . That increased risk might be due to the fact that happier people underreport their symptoms and don’t get the right treatment, or take worse care of themselves because they are overly optimistic.

More on Happiness

Explore the relationship between meaning & happiness

Discover the secret to a happy life .

Read Rick Hanson's "How to Trick Your Brain for Happiness."

Listen to Sonja Lyubomirsky on the myths of happiness .

Discover a better way to pursue happiness .

As the science of happiness and health matures, researchers are trying to determine what role, if any, happiness actually plays in causing health benefits. They’re also trying to distinguish the effects of different forms of happiness (including positive emotions and life satisfaction), the effects of “extreme” happiness, and other factors. For example, a new study suggests that we should look not just at life satisfaction levels but life satisfaction variability : Researchers found that low life satisfaction with lots of fluctuations—i.e., an unstable level of happiness—was linked to even earlier death than low life satisfaction alone.

All that said, the study of the health benefits of happiness is still young. It will take time to figure out the exact mechanisms by which happiness influences health, and how factors like social relationships and exercise fit in. But in the meantime, it seems safe to imagine that a happier you will be healthier, too.

About the Author

Kira M. Newman

Kira M. Newman is the managing editor of Greater Good . Her work has been published in outlets including the Washington Post , Mindful magazine, Social Media Monthly , and Tech.co, and she is the co-editor of The Gratitude Project . Follow her on Twitter!

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Physical Activity Is Good for the Mind and the Body

Health and Well-Being Matter is the monthly blog of the Director of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

Everyone has their own way to “recharge” their sense of well-being — something that makes them feel good physically, emotionally, and spiritually even if they aren’t consciously aware of it. Personally, I know that few things can improve my day as quickly as a walk around the block or even just getting up from my desk and doing some push-ups. A hike through the woods is ideal when I can make it happen. But that’s me. It’s not simply that I enjoy these activities but also that they literally make me feel better and clear my mind.

Mental health and physical health are closely connected. No kidding — what’s good for the body is often good for the mind. Knowing what you can do physically that has this effect for you will change your day and your life.

Physical activity has many well-established mental health benefits. These are published in the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and include improved brain health and cognitive function (the ability to think, if you will), a reduced risk of anxiety and depression, and improved sleep and overall quality of life. Although not a cure-all, increasing physical activity directly contributes to improved mental health and better overall health and well-being.

Learning how to routinely manage stress and getting screened for depression are simply good prevention practices. Awareness is especially critical at this time of year when disruptions to healthy habits and choices can be more likely and more jarring. Shorter days and colder temperatures have a way of interrupting routines — as do the holidays, with both their joys and their stresses. When the plentiful sunshine and clear skies of temperate months give way to unpredictable weather, less daylight, and festive gatherings, it may happen unconsciously or seem natural to be distracted from being as physically active. However, that tendency is precisely why it’s so important that we are ever more mindful of our physical and emotional health — and how we can maintain both — during this time of year.

Roughly half of all people in the United States will be diagnosed with a mental health disorder at some point in their lifetime, with anxiety and anxiety disorders being the most common. Major depression, another of the most common mental health disorders, is also a leading cause of disability for middle-aged adults. Compounding all of this, mental health disorders like depression and anxiety can affect people’s ability to take part in health-promoting behaviors, including physical activity. In addition, physical health problems can contribute to mental health problems and make it harder for people to get treatment for mental health disorders.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the need to take care of our physical and emotional health to light even more so these past 2 years. Recently, the U.S. Surgeon General highlighted how the pandemic has exacerbated the mental health crisis in youth .

The good news is that even small amounts of physical activity can immediately reduce symptoms of anxiety in adults and older adults. Depression has also shown to be responsive to physical activity. Research suggests that increased physical activity, of any kind, can improve depression symptoms experienced by people across the lifespan. Engaging in regular physical activity has also been shown to reduce the risk of developing depression in children and adults.

Though the seasons and our life circumstances may change, our basic needs do not. Just as we shift from shorts to coats or fresh summer fruits and vegetables to heartier fall food choices, so too must we shift our seasonal approach to how we stay physically active. Some of that is simply adapting to conditions: bundling up for a walk, wearing the appropriate shoes, or playing in the snow with the kids instead of playing soccer in the grass.

Sometimes there’s a bit more creativity involved. Often this means finding ways to simplify activity or make it more accessible. For example, it may not be possible to get to the gym or even take a walk due to weather or any number of reasons. In those instances, other options include adding new types of movement — such as impromptu dance parties at home — or doing a few household chores (yes, it all counts as physical activity).

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I built a makeshift gym in my garage as an alternative to driving back and forth to the gym several miles from home. That has not only saved me time and money but also afforded me the opportunity to get 15 to 45 minutes of muscle-strengthening physical activity in at odd times of the day.

For more ideas on how to get active — on any day — or for help finding the motivation to get started, check out this Move Your Way® video .

The point to remember is that no matter the approach, the Physical Activity Guidelines recommend that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (anything that gets your heart beating faster) each week and at least 2 days per week of muscle-strengthening activity (anything that makes your muscles work harder than usual). Youth need 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day. Preschool-aged children ages 3 to 5 years need to be active throughout the day — with adult caregivers encouraging active play — to enhance growth and development. Striving toward these goals and then continuing to get physical activity, in some shape or form, contributes to better health outcomes both immediately and over the long term.

For youth, sports offer additional avenues to more physical activity and improved mental health. Youth who participate in sports may enjoy psychosocial health benefits beyond the benefits they gain from other forms of leisure-time physical activity. Psychological health benefits include higher levels of perceived competence, confidence, and self-esteem — not to mention the benefits of team building, leadership, and resilience, which are important skills to apply on the field and throughout life. Research has also shown that youth sports participants have a reduced risk of suicide and suicidal thoughts and tendencies. Additionally, team sports participation during adolescence may lead to better mental health outcomes in adulthood (e.g., less anxiety and depression) for people exposed to adverse childhood experiences. In addition to the physical and mental health benefits, sports can be just plain fun.

Physical activity’s implications for significant positive effects on mental health and social well-being are enormous, impacting every facet of life. In fact, because of this national imperative, the presidential executive order that re-established the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition explicitly seeks to “expand national awareness of the importance of mental health as it pertains to physical fitness and nutrition.” While physical activity is not a substitute for mental health treatment when needed and it’s not the answer to certain mental health challenges, it does play a significant role in our emotional and cognitive well-being.

No matter how we choose to be active during the holiday season — or any season — every effort to move counts toward achieving recommended physical activity goals and will have positive impacts on both the mind and the body. Along with preventing diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and the additional risks associated with these comorbidities, physical activity’s positive effect on mental health is yet another important reason to be active and Move Your Way .

As for me… I think it’s time for a walk. Happy and healthy holidays, everyone!

Yours in health, Paul

Paul Reed, MD Rear Admiral, U.S. Public Health Service Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Director, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

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