Would you spend 10 minutes, sitting down, reliving the bright spots of your day, to improve your health in a significant way? Seriously, would you? Here’s what research has discovered—if you spend 10 minutes at the end of your workday writing about three things that have gone well for you today—it improves your health and well-being…by fifteen percent! Sounds too easy, right?According to findings from the University of Florida, what they call ‘positive reflection intervention’ helps reduce stress levels and physical complaints. Independent studies confirmed a 15% improvement…on both counts! That’s serious. Writing down what was good does just that—it reduces stress while reducing physical complaints. It calls to mind Ben Franklin's day’s-end question: What good have I done today?According to the Mayo Clinic, this relaxation technique: slows your heart rate, lowers blood pressure, reduces muscle tension and chronic pain; improves concentration, boosts confidence…and you think and reason better! They’ve also discovered that writing about positive things helps you learn to notice more positive things. What you keep in your face improves. Go figure!I look for ways to simplify my life while improving it. This one is simple and easy. It’s an effective way to document the good in your life, feeling better while you do it. Caution: What’s easy to do, is easy not to do. Let’s make it easier for us. Schedule 10 minutes at the end of your day. Write about 3 things that went well. Keep it so you can look at it anytime you want. Add to it the next day. It’s an easy way to improve your health…and something we all can do while sheltered in place.
