Scientists at the University of California, Irvine, found that participants who took a daily smiling self-portrait for four weeks experienced significant mood improvements, as well as increased confidence. In better news for the Instagram-phobic, it’s not imperative that you share them all, either.
However, if you’re loath to make use of your iPhone’s reverse function, there’s another way to score a similar mood boost. A third of study subjects were also asked to take a photo of something they believed would bring happiness to another person, then send the snap to them. This group reported feeling calmer and less affected by stress and anxiety throughout the working day.
So next time you find yourself fretting over a presentation or struggling to keep your cool when confronted with an admin onslaught, try WhatsApp-ing a droll photo to a friend or partner. Whether or not you choose to position your face in the foreground is entirely up to you – and somewhat depends on whether you can roll your eyes and smile at the same time. Hashtag? #sorrynotsorry
