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5 scientifically proven ways to be happier
Be Happier
5 scientifically-proven ways to be happier - photo by Katelyn Carmen
Katelyn Carmen
Deseret News National
Updated: Aug 5, 2014, 9:00 AM
Published: Aug 4, 2014, 2:05 PM

Pharrell William's song, "Happy", has topped the music charts and kept people dancing all summer long. But do those who "clap along" really know what makes them happy?

According to research, there are some scientifically proven ways to boost your happiness levels. Here are a few things you can do:

Limit your time on social media
Although Facebook is a fantastic way to connect with your friends and family, a study from the University of Michigan found that the more time you spend on social media, the more unhappiness you feel. Excessive use of social media can lead to depression and isolation.

Spending an afternoon stalking people on Facebook never makes you feel good afterwards.

Enjoy your life by making real connections outside of the internet.

Show consistent gratitude
Forgetting to show appreciation may affect your life more than you realize.

In a study done by Berkeley, researchers found that, "grateful individuals tend to be happy individuals, and that grateful thinking improves mood."

Shawn Achor, a lecturer on positive psychology at Harvard, suggests, "create a two minute daily habit of thinking of 3 new things you are grateful for each day."

Cultivating an attitude of gratitude is a simple way to turn an unhappy life into a happy one.

Focusing on the here and now
When researching the key differences between happiness and meaning, Dr. Jennifer Aaker discovered that people who focus on the past or future are less happy. Alternatively, if they think about the present, they are happier.

Instead of worrying about what is to come, or what may have been, focus on what is happening right now. Take the time to appreciate the day.

Work hard
In their study about achieving sustainable happiness, Kennon Shedon and Sonja Lyubomirsky found that, "effort and hard work offer the most promising route to happiness."

Put in the extra effort in a project for work and school. Going the extra mile pays off in the long-run. Choose to do a task the right way, and probably the long way, instead of a quick fix or shabby alternative.

In the same study, Shedon and Lyumbormisrky claim that the easy way out has, "little lasting effect on personal well-being."

Religious devotion
Catherine Sanderson, a psychology professor at Amherst College, warns that many people look for happiness in the wrong places.

Her research shows that people, "who have religious or spiritual beliefs are happier than those who don’t, no matter what their beliefs."

Making religion a part of your life is a key part of being happy. If you do not attend a church, go find one. Take the time each day to focus on your spirituality.

Boosting your happiness level not only improves your own life, but your family life as well. As we all know (it's true): "If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."

Katelyn Carmen is the International Content Manager for the FamilyShare Network. She completed her MBA at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University. She received her undergrad degree at Brigham Young University-Idaho in English.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
Deseret News
Published: Aug 13, 2018, 1:39 PM
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.