When in doubt, turn up the music.
—Anonymous
You can be happier right now (ok within an hour), you just need to get moving. In general, teens who are more physically active are happier over the long run. But there’s also an immediate benefit.
In one study,1 researchers in the Netherlands followed more than 1,480 teens who were given a so-called “wearable lab” that included a wrist fitness tracker and a smartphone. The fitness tracker was used to count steps and track physical activity, minute by minute, for a maximum of 5 days. The smartphone allowed the teens to reply to randomly timed requests to rate how happy they were at that specific moment.
Turns out, the number of steps accumulated in a given hour predicted happiness in the next hour. In fact, adding as few as 1,000 steps to typical daily activity level was enough to shift into happier state of mind for that day (more was better).
For physical health, experts recommend teens get 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous activity every day.2 Adding a few more steps could also mean a happier day.
4 ways music helps you move more
If you need inspiration to get moving to boost your happiness, add a little music to your routine. Here are four research-backed ways music makes it easier for you to stay active every day:3
1. Music helps improve your physical performance. Tunes with a fast tempo exert a stronger benefit than those with a slow-to-medium tempo. In other words, you move with the tempo of the music.
2. Music makes exercise more enjoyable. For most teens, this is one of the most important benefits of listening to music while exercising. Why? When exercise is fun, you’re more likely to keep at it.
3. Music reduces perceived exertion. Music has the ability to distract you when you feel fatigued or have minor physical discomfort. That is, music makes exercise feel easier.
4. Music helps improve oxygen consumption. Being more efficient at using oxygen allows you to delay fatigue and improves your ability to exercise longer.
What are your favorite workout songs?
Every day, move more for a boost of happiness!
You’ve got this!
The EatingFor Team
Adapted from:
Feel Good Tip #15 in You’ve Got This! 45 Doable Tips for Teens to Feel Good, Look Good & Succeed. Available at IngramSpark, Amazon.com and other online retailers.
References:
1. van Woudenberg TJ, Bevelander KE, Burk WJ, Buijzen M. The reciprocal effects of physical activity and happiness in adolescents. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2020;17(1):147.
2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd ed. US Department of Health and Human Services; 2018.
3. Terry PC, Karageorghis CI, Curran ML, Martin OV, Parsons-Smith RL. Effects of music in exercise and sport: a meta-analytic review. Psychol Bull. 2020;146(2):91-117.