Podcast Summary
Boosting happiness with Apple Card and travel: Apple Card offers daily rewards and financial management, traveling to sunny places like San Diego can improve mental health, and addressing languishing through setting tech boundaries and prioritizing rest can enhance overall happiness
There are various ways to enhance our happiness and wellbeing. Apple Card, with its cashback rewards, can help manage finances and earn daily rewards. Traveling to places like San Diego, known for its sun, sand, and welcoming vibes, can provide a much-needed break and boost our mental health. Additionally, understanding and addressing the feeling of languishing, a state of lethargy and joylessness, can help improve overall happiness. As Adam Grant, a renowned psychologist and scholar, noted in a New York Times article, languishing is an often overlooked but significant emotional state, especially during times of disruption and uncertainty. To combat this feeling, setting boundaries around technology use and prioritizing rest can be effective strategies.
Struggling with unproductive habits despite expertise: Understanding the complexity of human behavior and the importance of self-awareness and adaptability in dealing with unproductive habits.
Even experts on behavior change can struggle with unproductive habits and feel frustrated when they can't explain why. The speaker shares her experience of binge-watching TV shows late into the night, despite her knowledge of the negative effects on her productivity and well-being. Initially, she felt frustration, guilt, and understood the feelings of procrastination. However, she did not fit the diagnosis of depression or burnout as she still had hope and was active. Instead, she suggests that it might be a result of the unusual circumstances and the need for a change in routine due to the pandemic. This experience highlights the complexity of human behavior and the importance of self-awareness and adaptability.
Understanding Languishing: The Middle Ground Between Mental Health and Mental Illness: Languishing is an emotional state of emptiness, aimlessness, and joylessness, increasing risk for depression and anxiety. Often overlooked, it's a significant mental health concern.
There's a middle ground between mental health and mental illness, known as languishing. Unlike burnout, which is characterized by exhaustion and depletion, languishing is a sense of emptiness, aimlessness, and joylessness. It's not a disease or a disorder, but an emotional state that can have significant consequences. People who are languishing are more likely to cut back on work and become distracted, and they're at greater risk for depression and anxiety in the future. This concept was first introduced by researcher Corey Keyes over two decades ago, but it gained renewed attention during the pandemic. Languishing is often overlooked because it's less visible than other mental health issues, as it's characterized by an absence of emotion rather than intense feelings. Despite its prevalence and potential consequences, languishing remains a less well-known concept in the mental health discourse.
Understanding and Addressing Languishing: A Key to Happiness: Recognizing and addressing languishing, a feeling of meh or blah, is crucial for overall well-being and happiness. Prioritize self-care and seek solutions to prevent it from developing into something more serious.
While depression and anxiety often motivate people to seek help or find solutions, a state of languishing can be more insidious. It's a feeling of meh or blah that can go unnoticed until it develops into something more serious. Contrary to trying to force oneself back into engagement, understanding and addressing languishing is key. Adam Grant's article on the topic resonated with millions as it captured the dominant emotion of 2021. His personal experience with languishing and the realization that many were struggling with it led him to write about it, resulting in an article that went viral. Hosting on Airbnb can also be a way to earn extra money and feel more at home while traveling. Overall, prioritizing physical and mental wellness, as well as recognizing and addressing languishing, are essential steps towards happiness.
The power of labeling emotions and experiences: Labeling emotions and experiences can help reduce guilt and frustration, provide understanding and acceptance, and spark generative conversations when different perspectives are brought to the table.
The power of labeling emotions and experiences can have a profound impact on how we process and respond to them. The author's article on the concept of "languishing" resonated widely due to its ability to give a name to a feeling many were experiencing during the pandemic. However, the author was initially disappointed that the reaction seemed to be one-note and didn't lead to the generative conversations she had hoped for. One exception was a critique by Austin Kleon, who offered an alternative perspective on the concept, emphasizing the importance of recognizing that difficult times may call for rest and patience rather than immediate productivity. This exchange highlights the potential for dialogue and growth that can arise when different perspectives are brought to the table. The author's experience also underscores the psychological significance of labeling emotions, which can help reduce feelings of guilt and frustration and provide a sense of understanding and acceptance. The research of Matthew Lieberman on phobias further illustrates this point, demonstrating how naming and acknowledging fears can be an essential first step towards overcoming them.
Recognizing emotional states: Labeling emotional states like languishing can give us power, understanding, and insight, helping us learn from past experiences, gain wisdom, and take action to improve our current situation.
Recognizing and labeling our emotional states, such as languishing, can provide us with a sense of power and understanding. This realization can help us learn from past experiences, gain wisdom, and take action to improve our current situation. The act of labeling our emotions also allows us to better understand the underlying psychological processes and potentially find ways to alleviate them. For instance, recognizing languishing as a state of emotional stagnation can help us identify the absence of dopamine and motivation, leading us to seek out activities that bring us joy and fulfillment. Overall, acknowledging and understanding our emotional states is a crucial step towards overcoming them.
Understanding and Overcoming Languishing: Labeling feelings of languishing can help individuals seek resources, embrace honest emotions, and improve mental wellbeing. Practical tips include engaging in physical activity, setting proactive goals, and considering hosting on Airbnb.
Recognizing and acknowledging feelings of languishing – a state of feeling stuck and unproductive – can help individuals take action to improve their mental wellbeing. The label of languishing provides a name to a common experience, allowing individuals to seek out resources and self-compassion. Additionally, challenging societal expectations of constant positivity and embracing the normalcy of sharing honest emotions can lead to greater mental health. The article's author, Adam Grant, shares personal experiences and practical tips for overcoming languishing, including engaging in physical activity and setting proactive goals. Considering hosting on Airbnb as a source of extra income and a way to connect with travelers can also contribute to overall happiness.
Unexpected sources of happiness and motivation: Find joy in unexpected places like family bonding, job search assistance, or travel to revitalize your spirit
Finding happiness and overcoming feelings of languishing can come from unexpected sources. In the case of the speaker, it was through the social connection and engaging experience of playing Mario Kart with family members during the pandemic. Meanwhile, for those seeking employment, Express Employment Professionals offers personalized assistance in job searches, ensuring a trustworthy and supportive process. San Diego, with its welcoming people and beautiful scenery, is another source of rejuvenation. So whether it's through a fun activity, a helping hand in your job search, or a trip to a vibrant destination, remember that there are resources and experiences out there to help you feel reenergized and motivated.
Experience flow to escape languishing: Flow, a state of complete absorption, provides feelings of competence, mindfulness, and mattering, helping individuals avoid languishing. Distinguish good flow from junk flow for optimal benefits.
Flow is a state of complete absorption in an activity that leads to feelings of competence, mindfulness, and mattering, which can help individuals escape languishing. Flow is not a one-size-fits-all concept; it can be found in various activities, from reading Harry Potter to playing video games or writing. It's important to distinguish good flow from junk flow. While junk flow can provide a temporary escape, it often leaves individuals feeling drained and unsatisfied. In contrast, good flow activities, such as those that offer a sense of mastery, can lead to positive emotions and forward momentum. Mastery refers to the feeling of competence that comes from improving or accomplishing something, no matter how small. It's not about becoming an expert but rather experiencing small wins that boost self-confidence. Engaging in activities that offer mastery can help individuals avoid languishing and feel a sense of progress.
Balancing mastery and mindfulness for personal growth: Focus on manageable challenges for mastery and mindfulness, avoid distractions for mindfulness, and prioritize focused activities for both.
Finding a balance between mastery and mindfulness is crucial for personal growth and well-being. Mastery comes from setting and achieving manageable challenges, giving us a sense of accomplishment and confidence. Manageable difficulties are tasks that are not too easy, but not too hard, allowing us to push our limits and grow. Mindfulness, on the other hand, is the ability to focus all your attention on the present moment and the task at hand. It's essential for reaching a state of flow and achieving mastery. In today's world, with the constant distractions of technology, it's more important than ever to consciously allocate time for focused activities and avoid multitasking. By prioritizing mastery and mindfulness, we can improve our productivity, reduce stress, and live more fulfilling lives.
Dedicate uninterrupted time for deep work or fun activities: Deep work and immersive activities can lead to a sense of mattering, counteracting feelings of languishing. Focus on these to make the most of your time and foster meaningful connections.
Constantly checking emails and phones can fragment valuable time into insignificant pieces, leading to hours and days lost. To counteract this, we should dedicate uninterrupted time for deep work or fun activities. This immersion, as seen in video games, can lead to a sense of mattering, which is crucial for combating feelings of languishing. Mattering stems from both being noticed and cared for by others, as well as relying on and making a difference in their lives. Even small acts of kindness can have a significant impact on our mood and sense of contribution. By focusing on deep work, immersive activities, and random acts of kindness, we can make the most of our time and foster meaningful connections.
Overcoming Languishing: Helping Others and Finding Meaningful Activities: Helping others and finding meaningful activities can help individuals overcome languishing during challenging times. Instead of waiting for answers, try offering advice to those who are struggling and engage in activities that bring a sense of flow, mastery, and mattering.
Understanding the concept of languishing and implementing strategies to overcome it can help individuals during challenging times, such as global pandemics or personal struggles. However, the challenge lies in putting this knowledge into action. Instead of waiting for answers from others, try helping someone else who is languishing and giving them advice. This not only benefits the other person but may also help the giver. Additionally, identifying activities or projects that bring a sense of flow, mastery, and mattering can help individuals overcome languishing. In the upcoming episode of The Happiness Lab, Laurie Santos will discuss burnout and evidence-based ways to recover from it. If you're interested in bonus content and uninterrupted listening, consider subscribing to Pushkin Plus for access to guided meditations and other perks.
Investing in physical and mental wellness in San Diego: San Diego's ideal environment, Canva Presentations' AI tool, and BetterHelp's online therapy platform contribute to overall happiness by improving physical and mental wellness.
Investing in both physical and mental wellness contributes significantly to overall happiness. San Diego, with its sunny weather, beautiful scenery, and friendly vibes, offers an ideal environment to recharge and find joy. Meanwhile, in the professional sphere, Canva Presentations' AI-powered tool simplifies the process of creating engaging work decks, allowing you to focus on the content without distraction. Lastly, prioritizing mental health is crucial for everyone. BetterHelp's online therapy platform offers flexible, affordable, and accessible support from licensed therapists, making mental wellness care more accessible to all.
