Recent studies suggest that the more unexpected a call is, the stronger its impact. For example, completing tasks that we have long postponed or executed poorly, we remember better than completed tasks. This psychological effect is called "the Zeigarnik effect."
It has been shown that initiating a visit to a therapist or having someone clean the carpet, in itself, has an impact on our psychological well-being. Yale University psychology professor Lori Santos points out that "we can feel better through the praise of another person." Even if you say something nice to someone that scares you, you will likely feel better after that, according to a 2020 study.
According to Santos, "telling someone else that you like their shoes or bag creates a cognitive distance that can take our attention away from completing other projects." Even completing the smallest tasks on a to-do list can reduce stress and stimulate productivity in your brain.
Faraon notes: "Completing something you've ignored lifts a burden and allows you to complete something that was weighing you down. There are many tasks we shy away from and that take only a couple of minutes. When your work schedules and family obligations are already weighing down your day, adding one more task to your to-do list can be extraordinarily relieving - even if such activity is presumably supposed to improve your mood.
But what about quick tasks that take no more than 10 minutes? There are plenty of scientifically backed strategies that can help improve your mood throughout the day, and all of them take less than 10 minutes, according to a CNBC report. For example, writing a text message or calling a friend.
Vienna Faraon, a psychotherapist and author of the book "The Origins of You," states that sending messages or calling someone to express what you think about them is an easy way to improve your positive relations in your life. She explains: "This makes us feel present happiness, and an additional benefit is that it creates a strong necessary connection." Interestingly, an unexpected call or message is received with great gratitude.
Many strive to make their happiness and mental well-being a priority in life, but amidst the noise of work and surrounding events, many of us do not have enough time to maintain this.
