Smiling is more than just an expression of happiness – it’s a way to boost your emotional and physical wellbeing. Discover simple practices to bring a smile to your face each day and let its warmth ripple through your life.
A smile sends messages to the brain, which responds by releasing stress-lowering neuropeptides as well as that well-known trio of feel-good neurotransmitters – dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin. This biochemical response not only elevates mood but also reduces stress levels, lowers blood pressure, and strengthens the immune system. Moreover, smiling can enhance social interactions by making individuals appear more approachable and friendly, fostering positive connections and improving relationships. Perhaps the most surprising aspect, though, according to a study published in Experimental Psychology in 2020, is that a fake smile can trigger the same benefits.
How to start the day smiling
With this in mind, here’s how to start every morning with a smile and encourage its warmth to linger all day:
- Draw a smiley-face on a Post-it and stick it to your mirror. This will ensure you’re greeted with a grin each morning, and be a reminder to enjoy some smile therapy.
- Standing straight, pull your shoulders down. Now with eyes closed or open, take a deep breath in for a count of four, then exhale for a count of four. Take another breath in, but this time blow the breath out as a big sigh.
- Draw your cheeks in and then puff them out. Then open your mouth wide and close gently. The idea is to get the face muscles relaxed. You could also pull faces or purse the lips and move the mouth from side to side. It’ll probably feel weird, but go for it – it helps to ease any tension.
- From here, draw up the edges of your lips, raise your eyebrows and break into a smile (that’s if you’re not laughing already).
- As you go about your day, allow your smile to break through, whether savouring that first cup of tea, noticing a flower in bloom, or as you approach passers-by on your walk to work. Recall it before an important meeting or phone call (you could even repeat the process if nerves have really kicked in).
- All the while, transform delays into smile breaks. A phone call on hold, at a red light, or as a lift moves between floors – any brief private moment can be an opportunity to smile.
