Give us a smile! Four Reasons to Smile every day
National Smile Month is upon us and we’re giving you four reasons to smile every day. Back in December of 2020, we launched Birchwood Smiles. It was a difficult time for us all, with the pandemic a major concern for many vulnerable people. With all staff in PPE, we wanted to make sure Birchwood House residents were still able to see a friendly face and so every team member wore a lanyard around their neck, with a large picture of their smiling face on it.
A big friendly smile is as important now than ever, and this National Smile Month we want to remind you why sharing a big grin is incredibly important.
Four reasons to smile every day!
Smiling helps you live longer
It might sound hard to believe but a 2010 study found that genuine, intense smiling is associated with longer life. (Smile intensity in photographs predicts longevity).
Overall, happy people seem to enjoy better health and longevity. Maintaining a happy, positive mood may be an important part of a healthy and happy lifestyle. Positivity is important to us at Birchwood House and, as we believe that mental health is just as important as physical health, smiling regularly is a great way to encourage a positive mindset.
Smiling improves your health
Not only does smiling offer a mood boost but also helps our bodies release cortisol and endorphins that provide numerous health benefits. It can strengthen your immune system, reduce stress and pain, increase endurance and even reduce blood pressure.
Smiling strengthens relationships
Smiling is contagious. Not only does it boost our own moods, but it also boosts the moods of those around us. A smile goes a long way in strengthening our relationships and spreading positivity. Smiling makes us more likeable, approachable and warm.
Smiling is a lovely way for us to connect as human beings. Recent research has revealed a recognition bias favouring positive faces and other stimuli in older compared to younger adults. (Werheid, Katja et al. “Familiar smiling faces in Alzheimer’s disease: understanding the positivity-related recognition bias.” Neuropsychologia vol. 49,10 (2011): 2935-40. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2011.06.022)
Smiling is an act of kindness
A smile can mean more to someone than you think. A smile can say a lot of things:
‘You’re not alone.’
‘You’re appreciated.’
‘You’re loved.’
‘You make me happy.’
‘I understand you.’
‘I see you.’
At Birchwood House we understand the importance of a smile and you’ll often see our smiling faces in our photographs on our Facebook page and in person, if you’d like to pay us a visit.
