Written by Geoff posted 4 years ago

The pursuit of happiness is arguably something we all think about and want. Most of us think about happiness in terms of conventional goals like having a good job, or working for ourselves, a family and money. But while these goals are important, they won’t necessarily increase our happiness.

Unlike the following 4 steps that are scientifically proven to help your pursuit of happiness and success. They’re guaranteed to at least put a smile on your face!

So are you ready for the challenge?

Step 1 = Get Physical

Image Credit: naama

Exercise. Exercise. Exercise.

We often want to hear about the benefits of exercise on our bodies, but what about the effect it has on our emotions? Exercise not only makes us feel physically great, but has also helps treat a range of mental conditions from depression to improving memory.

We often hear that when we exercise our body releases endorphins, but how many of us understand what this means?

Endorphins are produced as response to stress, fear or pain. They originate in various parts of your body – the pituitary gland, spinal cord, and various parts of your brain and nervous system.

Here comes the science bit. When we begin exercising and our heart rate increases, our body recognises this as stress and sends signals to the brain saying that we might be under attack. To protect ourselves from this ‘attack’ our body releases a protein called Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) which then works to protect the neurons in our brain and stimulate the growth of new ones. The BDNF proteins boost the production of Dopamine and Serotonin, which are released to make us feel good and calm.

Exercise can improve our mood and make us feel good about ourselves. Scientists recommend doing five sessions of moderate exercise for 30 minutes each week to maximise the benefits of exercise on the production of Dopamine and Serotonin.

However, not having enough time to do any exercise is not a valid excuse. Science comes to the rescue with scientist from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, who have developed a mere 7 minute workout that works almost every part of your body.

Image Credit: Mailonline

So what are you waiting for? Take the first step in the pursuit of happiness and get away from the desk for at least 20 minutes each day (maybe even grab some fellow colleagues as well) and reap the benefits of this quick workout.