Krystle Elyse

We all want to be happy, but trying too hard to achieve it could actually have the opposite effect. New research suggests that the more people try to pursue happiness, the less content they really are. For the study, a team of researchers from the University of Toronto surveyed hundreds of people and had them do a series of group tasks.

Can simply smelling a cup of coffee give you the same energy boost as drinking it? New research suggests it might. Waking up can be challenging, especially when cold winter mornings make it even harder to leave our cozy, warm beds, but it turns out, some specific scents may help us perk up faster. Dr. Supriya Rao explains that certain scents can stimulate the brain and “enhance alertness,” some of them even help us focus and boost our energy.

Committing to huge goals to improve your health can bring big benefits, but we don’t always stick with them long enough to see those. While deciding to follow a plant-based diet may be easy, lots of people who do may find themselves reaching for bacon at breakfast, and there’s a reason for that. Therapist Israa Nasir explains, “Many people struggle with motivation because they set goals that are too ambitious or require drastic lifestyle changes.” But something known as a micro-habit can help.