Six science-backed ways to lift your mood on busy days
Renowned happiness researcher Sonja Lyubomirsky shares six daily, science-backed habits she uses to maintain a positive mood even during hectic schedules.
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Daily Habits
All articles tagged with #daily habits
Brains Can Grow Across the Lifespan, Study Finds
A large, multi-year study using the BrainHealth Index tracked about 4,000 adults aged 19–94 and found that consistent brain-healthy habits, cognitive training, and personalized coaching correlate with cognitive gains across the lifespan. Those with lower baseline scores improved the most, younger adults benefited as much as older ones, and the BrainHealth Project supports a personalized, scalable approach to enhancing brain health globally.
Two Minutes to Realign Your Life With What Matters
Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider and TIME propose a simple nightly habit: spend two minutes asking, if today were my last, what would I want to have done differently? This mortality check-in helps clarify what matters, nudging people toward meaningful relationships, personally important goals, and daily choices that reflect core values. Research on mortality salience suggests benefits occur when people feel stable and supported, with the practice usable as a weekly, daily, or monthly cue to live more intentionally. The method is straightforward: acknowledge finiteness, orient to priorities, and set one small, actionable aim, with journaling boosting visibility of shifts over time. It’s not about fear, but about creating a practical reset that can improve overall life meaning and happiness.
Move for Life: 10 everyday habits that keep you fit after 60 without formal workouts
People who stay physically capable after 60 aren’t chasing workouts—they stay moving through everyday life: they do physical work with their hands, walk everywhere, get down on the floor and back up easily, treat sleep as non-negotiable, carry loads, keep a simple relationship with food, move while talking, maintain obligations that give them a reason to show up in shape, keep enjoying physical play, and always use the stairs. Over decades, these small, consistent acts add up to substantial mobility and strength, far more reliably than sporadic gym sessions.
Move for life: how NEAT habits keep people fit after 60 without workouts
A VegOut piece highlights non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) as the key to staying fit after 60 without formal workouts. It outlines ten daily habits—cooking, home upkeep, gardening, walking for transport, using stairs, carrying objects, standing rather than sitting, active social life, doing errands, and having a purpose that requires movement—that weave movement into everyday life. Based on Mayo Clinic researcher James Levine’s NEAT findings, these small, consistent activities can dramatically raise daily energy expenditure (potentially up to ~2,000 extra calories) and explain why some older adults stay healthier than younger gym-goers. The message: build a life that moves, not a separate exercise plan.
Secrets of SuperAgers: 6 Habits for a Younger Brain and Longer Life
A neuroscientist, Dr. Majid Fotuhi, shares his daily routine of physical exercise, a Mediterranean diet, mental challenges, and stress management to promote brain health and increase the likelihood of becoming a super-ager with youthful cognition into old age.
Top Daily Habits to Keep Your Brain Sharp and Age Gracefully
This article emphasizes that consistent daily habits like quality sleep, regular exercise, healthy eating, continuous learning, spending time in nature, practicing mindfulness, nurturing social connections, managing stress, and embracing boredom are more effective for long-term brain health than supplements, highlighting the importance of lifestyle choices for cognitive longevity.
Top Strategies to Maintain Brain Health and Reduce Dementia Risk After 40
To maintain brain sharpness after 40, incorporate habits like regular exercise, eating brain-healthy foods rich in omega-3s, challenging your mind with new activities, ensuring 7-8 hours of quality sleep, and staying socially connected, all of which can help delay cognitive decline and boost mental health.
Common Daily Habits That Could Be Damaging Your Health and Brain
A fitness educator highlights common daily habits such as late-night eating, excessive salt intake, skipping meals, physical inactivity, and screen time that are linked to serious health issues like diabetes, heart disease, and more, emphasizing the importance of mindful routines for better health.
Top Neurosurgeon Reveals 3 Daily Habits to Keep Your Brain Young and Sharp
A seasoned neurosurgeon shares three simple daily habits—challenging the brain, practicing breathing exercises, and maintaining social connections—that can help keep the brain young, healthy, and sharp, emphasizing the importance of mental activity, stress reduction, and social engagement for lifelong cognitive well-being.
Top Tips from Physical Therapists to Prevent Injuries
Physical therapists emphasize that avoiding injuries involves balancing activity and rest, avoiding sudden increases in intensity, and being mindful of daily habits to prevent strain and overuse injuries.
8 Daily Habits for a Youthful and Radiant Look into Your 70s
The article highlights eight daily habits—such as reframing stress, staying socially connected, moving gently, cultivating curiosity, practicing gratitude, prioritizing sleep, laughing, and nurturing purpose—that contribute to a radiant and youthful appearance and vitality into old age, emphasizing that psychological practices and lifestyle choices play a crucial role in aging well.
5 Science-Backed Habits to Boost Brain Power and Keep It Young
Just 10 minutes a day of simple habits like reading, mindfulness, puzzles, journaling, gratitude, physical activity, or learning new facts can significantly boost brain health, improve memory, focus, and resilience, and protect against cognitive decline.
Why Our Minds Feel Overwhelmed Today, Says Cancer Expert
A cancer doctor explains that modern overstimulation causes widespread cognitive fatigue, manifesting as forgetfulness, distraction, and emotional exhaustion. He recommends five simple habits—exposure to sunlight, deep work, embracing boredom, eye movements, and digital resets—to help restore brain clarity and resilience, emphasizing that these changes are rooted in neurology and can significantly improve mental well-being within a week.
10 Hidden Daily Habits for Youthful Looks After 60
The article highlights 10 underrated daily habits that help people in their 60s and beyond look and feel younger, including walking daily, eating calmly, staying curious, protecting sleep, managing stress, engaging in joyful movement, socializing, using sunscreen, hydrating, and expressing themselves. These habits focus on consistency and intention rather than extreme measures, emphasizing that small, mindful actions can significantly impact aging gracefully.