Tip of the Week: Savor the Good Stuff

A Sneaky Feature of the Mind

There’s a sneaky feature of the mind that gets in the way of happiness: We get used to stuff, and we don’t realize it.

The technical term for this is hedonic adaptation. It kicks in for the good stuff and the bad stuff.

It’s useful for getting us through disappointments and set-backs. We get used to the circumstances and, over time, we go back to our happiness set point.

But hedonic adaptation is not helpful when it leads us to take the good things for granted. We become numb to simple everyday pleasures, robbing ourselves of enjoyment - and joy.

Not surprisingly, science confirms that being more aware and appreciative of positive experiences improves our mood and well-being.

So how can we dial up our appreciation?

Savor the Good Stuff

Savoring is the act of enjoying something slowly and deliberately, in order to enjoy it as much as possible:

1) Give what you’re doing your full attention

2) Actively engage your senses. What do you see, hear, smell, taste, feel?

3) Take in the details with a beginner’s mind - what new details can you notice?

You can do this when eating delicious food, smelling something good, feeling a fresh breeze or cozy blanket, hearing birdsong, seeing the colors of a sunset, snuggling your pet...the list goes on - and on.

In the moment, savoring boosts enjoyment. Over time, through neuroplasticity, savoring can re-wire your brain for greater well-being and resilience.

Next time you encounter something good, slow down and savor it

Want to learn more?

We Get Used to Stuff But Don’t Know it, Yale’s Science of Well-Being for Teens

The Art of Savoring, Psychology Today

Savoring w/ Mel Robbins, Instagram

A Scientific Reason to Stop and Smell the Roses, Greater Good Science Center