The psychology of celebration

In related news: Happy Birthday Well Well Well!

Do you make a big deal of your birthday? Do you gather friends together and blow out candles and enjoy celebrating? Or are you more the type of person who plays it down and doesn’t want a fuss, either because you’re embarrassed by the attention, or you see it as “just another year” and not worth making a song and dance about? 

If you’re in the celebratory former camp, then science shows it’s good for you!

Celebrating supports key feelgood hormones in the following ways:

Endorphins

The body’s natural painkillers kick in when we feel connection to others, and can be activated by laughing and listening to music.

Oxytocin 

This chemical is released during calming physical contact, such as a hug. It lowers stress and reduces cortisol, increasing a sense of wellbeing. Of course, you don’t need to be celebrating to give someone a hug, but it’s as good a reason as any.

Dopamine

Known as the brain’s reward system, dopamine has had a bad rap recently, blamed for our addictions to everything from social…