5 Tips For Better Body Language – Benefits of Smiling
Body Language is the non-verbal communication that we are conveying to others through the facial expressions or body positions. Since it constitutes up to 90% of the actual communicated message, we need to master it.
Here are 5 tips that will help you in improving your body language
- Smile: It’s the most noticeable aspect of your face gestures
- Look straight: Look in the eyes of your speaker – not up nor down on them
- Stand and sit upright: Without slouching to convey confidence
- Extend open arms: Instead of crossed ones to convey openness
- Pace the person in front of you: By being in sync with the speed and actions that they portray
The above tips can be applied by anyone at any time to help create better, more effective communications. Remember, it’s what you don’t say that counts.
11 Science-Backed Benefits of Smiling
Smiling is one of quickest ways you can improve your body language and non-verbal communication. Proper body language increases your confidence and helps our communication skills. A survey actually found that 48 percent of adults say a smile is one of the most memorable features of a person when they first meet them.
Though a smile can go a long way when communicating with others, it also has many other health and psychological benefits you may not have known. Here are just a few of the health benefits of smiling, backed by science:
Alleviates stress
When we smile, our bodies naturally release endorphins—also known as happy hormones. These happy hormones allow us to feel feelings of happiness and joy, which directly impact our mood. Because of this, smiling has the ability to relieve stress. A study from the University of Kansas found that smiling during periods of stress, even when we’re not actually feeling our best, can help reduce the intensity of our body’s stress response. So, the next time you’re feeling stressed, try focusing on smiling if you can.
Reduces blood pressure
High-blood pressure is brought on when our heart rate increases, which can happen when we’re experiencing high levels of stress or worry. Similar to how smiling can help alleviate stress, it can also help reduce our blood pressure levels. Smiling can also help reduce your risk of heart disease, since high-blood pressure is one of the leading symptoms causing this disease. Not only does smiling help keep our mood balanced, it also is a way to improve our overall health.
Boosts mood
Studies have suggested that the physical act of smiling has the power to trick your brain into thinking you’re happy. Creating these positive emotions can not only help boost our mood, but others around us as well. Laughing and smiling really is contagious, so remember that the next time your friend or colleague is feeling down.
Strengthens relationships
Studies and research have shown that those who express happy emotions, like smiling, are more likely to achieve goals in their personal and professional lives. Also, studies have found that people who smile more are perceived as “more likeable,” which can directly influence the relationships they build, whether professionally or personally. This helps us in social settings and professional settings when using non-verbal communication strategies.
If you’re looking for more ways to actively smile throughout your day, here are just a few ways you can turn that frown upside down:
- Practice daily gratitude
- Begin your day with a mindful meditation
- Do one good thing for someone else
- Watch a funny movie or TV show
- Spend time in nature
A smile can go a long way, and studies show that laughter(and smiling) really is the best medicine. To learn more about the health benefits of smiling, check out the infographic created by Auraglow below:
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