#alternate alternate [view-mobile-icon.png] View mobile site January 24, 2015 Huffpost Healthy Living Edition: U.S. (BUTTON) Show/Hide + Brasil BR + Canada CA + Deutschland DE + España ES + France FR + Ελλάδα (Greece) GR + India IN + Italia IT + 日本 (Japan) JP + 한국 (Korea) KR + Maghreb MG + United Kingdom UK + United States US * * Follow * Newsletters Get Healthy LivingNewsletters Email address ____________________ Enter Email Address Go * Huffington Post Search Search The Huffington Post Enter Search Terms ____________________ Submit Search Go * * iOS app * Android app * More * Desktop Alerts * Log in * Create Account $USERNAME + Desktop Notifications + Profile + Settings + Logout * FRONT PAGE * Women o 17 Changes Every Woman Goes Through In Her Late 20s 21 o Emma Watson Says Women's Potential Is 'Astonishingly Untapped' In Davos Speech 15 o This Is What Masculinity Really Means To Men 50 o Instagram Takes A Step Towards Embracing Women's Body Hair 168 o The Funniest Tweets From Women This Week 0 Go to Women More in Women o Love & Sex o Career & Money o Women's Health You Might Also Like o Style o Weddings o Divorce o Parents o Healthy Living o Black Voices o Latino Voices * Taste o 15 Things You Should Put On Your Peanut Butter Sandwich Instead Of Jelly 107 o The Recipes You Need To Cook This Weekend 2 o Famous Food Critic Reviews McDonald's, And It's Wonderful 22 o What Could Be Better Than Ramen Fried Chicken? 2 o Gwyneth Paltrow Wants You To Eat 'Sex Bark' 13 Go to Taste More in Taste o Recipes o Baking o Entertaining o Healthy Eating o Taste Tests o Thanksgiving You Might Also Like o Food o Healthy Living o Travel o OWN * Good News o Tender Photo Captures Moment 102-Year-Old Woman Fell In Love With A Shelter Cat 133 o Woman Tattoos Her Own Face To Cover Scars, Starts Business To Help Other Burn Victims 6 o Dedicated 'Humans Of New York' Fans Raise Money To Send Underserved Kids On Harvard Visit 6 o Groups Place Free Hats And Scarves Around Cities, Spread Warmth To Those Who Need It Most 3 o Obama: More Women And Minorities Should Take On STEM, And This Student Is Proof 5 Go to Good News You Might Also Like o GPS for the Soul o Weird News o Comedy o Impact o Green o Healthy Living o Comedy o Books o Arts * Parents o 21 Honest Instagram Photos That Show The Messy Side Of Parenting 35 o A Playful Reminder That Judging Other Parents Is Absurd 75 o Students Told To Stay Home Because They Are Not Vaccinated 106 o The Funniest Tweets From Parents This Week 1 o WATCH: Lion Tries To 'Play' With Laughing Toddler 6 Go to Parents More in Parents o Parentry o Moms o Dads o Screen Sense You Might Also Like o Education o Food o Taste o Arts o Teen o Post 50 * Style o Tia Mowry Is Our New Favorite Style Star. Here's Why... 10 o 30 Different Ways To Tie A Tie That Every Man Should Know 52 o Miss Canada's Hockey-Themed Miss Universe Costume Is Totally Bonkers 10 o 6 Times Kanye West Was So Serious About Fashion, We Had No Idea What He Was Talking About 4 o 37 Emma Stone Hairstyles To Inspire Your Next Makeover 3 Go to Style More in Style o The Beauty Page o Fashion Trends o Celebrity Style You Might Also Like o Home o Women o Parents o Weddings o Travel o Divorce o Post 50 * Post50 o This Is What Saturday Morning Used To Look Like (Before Life Got In The Way) 30 o Seniors Play 'Grand Theft Auto V,' And Their Reactions Are Priceless 10 o The Single Most Critical Ingredient For A Lasting Relationship 7 o This Snack May Protect Against Memory Loss 2 o The Surprising People That Helped Me Heal From Anorexia 0 Go to Post50 More in Post50 o Reinvention o Retirement o Parenting o Health o Love o Alzheimer's Awareness You Might Also Like o Parents o GPS for the Soul o Women o Money * Religion o Christian Rock Band's Co-founder Is Now An Atheist 665 o Here Are The Least Bible-Minded Cities In The U.S. 0 o Word Of Caution On 'Oldest Gospel Found In A Mummy Mask' 270 o Anti-Muslim Acts Are Out Of Control In France 425 o Queen Rania Speaks Out On Charlie Hebdo 93 Go to Religion More in Religion o Buddhism o Christianity o Hinduism o Islam o Judaism You Might Also Like o Arts o World o Healthy Living o Impact o GPS for the Soul * Weddings o 6 Things Men Secretly Love About The Women In Their Lives 42 o 20 Awesome Photo Ideas For Wedding Parties Who Know How To Have Fun 0 o Keith Urban: Struggling With Addiction Strengthened My Marriage 23 o 5 Myths Of Happy Marriages 16 o 17 Weird But Endearing Things Couples Do To Annoy Each Other 0 Go to Weddings More in Weddings o Planning 101 o Etiquette and Advice o Indiebride o Honeymoons o Destination Weddings o Weddings 2.0 o After the Wedding You Might Also Like o Style o Travel o Food * HuffPost Live o Next Top Stories For Monday, Jan. 26 o Next DAVOS: The Key Takeaways o Later Finding Pleasure In Weight Loss o Later White House Promotes Rape Documentary o Later 'Ace of Cakes' Baker Duff Goldman LIVE Go to Huffpost Live * All Sections o News # Politics # WorldPost # Business # Small Business # Money # Media # Sports # Education # Crime # Weird News # Good News o Entertainment # Entertainment # Celebrity # Comedy # Arts & Culture # Books # TV o Life & Style # Healthy Living # GPS for the Soul # Style # Home # Taste # Weddings # Travel # Parents # Divorce # Huff/Post 50 # Marlo Thomas # OWN # Dr. Phil o Tech & Science # Tech # Science # Green # Code o Voices # Women # Black Voices # Latino Voices # Voces (en español) # Gay Voices # Religion # College # Teen # Impact o Local # Chicago # DC # Denver # Detroit # Hawaii # Los Angeles # Miami # New York # San Francisco Our Mobile Apps: o iOS o Android o HuffPost Live (iOS) o GPS For The Soul (iOS) o GPS For The Soul (Android) * Healthy Living * Health And Fitness * GPS for the Soul * Health News * Sleep * Healthy Living Videos * Moments Not Milestones * Lifestyle * Third Metric * Thrive * Image for 7 Surprisingly Effective Ways To Lose Weight 7 Surprisingly Effective Ways To Lose Weight 2015-01-23 08:00:40 * Image for He Asked 1500+ Elders For Advice On Living And Loving. Here's What They Told Him. He Asked 1500+ Elders For Advice On Living And Loving. Here's What They Told Him. 2015-01-21 08:30:43 * Image for Changing the World From Within: An Interview with Eckhart Tolle Changing the World From Within: An Interview with Eckhart Tolle 2015-01-21 19:24:10 * Image for What a Month of Yoga Did for a Regular Person What a Month of Yoga Did for a Regular Person 2015-01-20 12:17:11 * Image for Here's Why Lululemon Is Charging $108 For Meditation Beads Here's Why Lululemon Is Charging $108 For Meditation Beads 2015-01-22 15:49:36 * Image for The Crucial Ways Our Friends Make Us Happier The Crucial Ways Our Friends Make Us Happier 2015-01-23 08:01:16 * Image for 5 Things No One Tells You About Living With Insomnia 5 Things No One Tells You About Living With Insomnia 2015-01-22 08:02:00 * Image for 'There's No Shame' In Talking About Mental Illness 'There's No Shame' In Talking About Mental Illness 2015-01-24 09:51:18 * Image for Melinda Gates Speaks Out Against The Anti-Vaccine Movement Melinda Gates Speaks Out Against The Anti-Vaccine Movement 2015-01-22 15:37:59 * Image for How An Enormous Failure Changed Rainn Wilson's Life How An Enormous Failure Changed Rainn Wilson's Life 2015-01-23 08:01:25 * Image for How To Run Faster By Spring How To Run Faster By Spring 2015-01-23 08:00:51 * Image for The Incredible Impact A Few Hours Of Mindfulness Has On The Brain The Incredible Impact A Few Hours Of Mindfulness Has On The Brain 2015-01-23 10:49:30 * Image for I'm Not Pregnant. It's Just My Belly I'm Not Pregnant. It's Just My Belly 2015-01-20 12:50:55 * Image for This Breathing Exercise Is Strange, But Full Of Big Benefits This Breathing Exercise Is Strange, But Full Of Big Benefits 2015-01-23 18:19:51 (BUTTON) Previous Story (BUTTON) Next Story The Incredible Powers Of Nostalgia Posted: 10/05/2013 9:50 am EDT Updated: 10/05/2013 9:50 am EDT NOSTALGIA Getty + + Share + Tweet + 0 + Email + Comment + Share on Google+ + tumblr + stumble + reddit By Jeanette Leardi for YouBeauty Remember basking in the glow of your senior prom and never wanting that night to end? And what about the excitement and joy you felt when you landed your first job? More From YouBeauty: How To Wallow Safely In Sadness The Science Of Scent And Memory How To Fight With Your Partner If you find yourself recalling a fond memory and wishing you could recapture that moment, give in. It may give you the boost you need to deal with a current challenge, or to simply feel better -- not just about your past or present, but also about your future. Nostalgia is much more than mere reminiscing; it’s a feeling. "Nostalgia is the warm, fuzzy emotion that we feel when we think about fond memories from our past," explains Erica Hepper, Ph.D., a lecturer in the School of Psychology at the University of Surrey in England. "It often feels bittersweet -- mostly happy and comforting, but with a tinge of sadness that whatever we’re remembering is lost in some way." According to Clay Routledge, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at North Dakota State University, reminiscence is the behavior of reflecting on your past, and nostalgia is the emotional response that it sometimes triggers. Hepper and Routledge agree that nostalgizing is a very natural human tendency, and a common one. On average, people engage in it about once a week, set off by such things as a familiar scent, piece of music or old photo. It is most common in young adults in their teens and 20s who are coping with important life transitions, such as leaving home and beginning college or new jobs, and in adults older than 50 who are looking back and reevaluating their lives. But you don’t have to have a lot to look back on in order to feel a nostalgic wave; children as young as 8 years old get that wistful feeling, too. A lot can be said for nostalgia’s benefits. In a 2012 study published in the journal Memory, Routledge and his colleagues showed that nostalgizing helps people relate their past experiences to their present lives in order to make greater meaning of it all. The result can boost their mood and reduce stress. "Nostalgia increases feelings of social connectedness to others," he says. "Nostalgia makes people feel loved and valued and increases perceptions of social support when people are lonely." "When we experience nostalgia," Hepper explains, "we tend to feel happier, have higher self-esteem, feel closer to loved ones and feel that life has more meaning. And on a physical level, nostalgia literally makes us feel warmer." In addition, in an August 2013 study published by Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Hepper and her colleagues showed that nostalgia can produce increased optimism about the future. And consider this: Your nostalgia can affect those around you. Hepper says after nostalgizing, people donate more generously to charity. And sharing a nostalgic conversation with a friend, family member or romantic partner makes you more supportive and considerate, and less argumentative. Making Nostalgia Work for You People tend to nostalgize when they are in a negative mood or feeling lonely. Strategically using nostalgia may be just the thing to give you a welcomed fresh perspective. "Everyone has at least a few fond, precious memories that can be used as a source of nostalgia," says Hepper. "Make the most of them by bringing them to mind when you need a little boost of positivity, warmth or meaning in your life." Here are three ways to do it: Let the past inform your future: Feel your motivation flagging? Recall personal milestones and past achievements in order to reinvigorate your energies and stay focused on achieving your current goals. The most common subjects of nostalgia are the cherished or significant people, places and events in a person’s life. However, nostalgia doesn’t always involve positive memories. It can include negative experiences that, Routledge explains, "have positive or meaningful endings." Hepper points out that a sad memory can be recast as a valuable learning experience. Focus on the sweet of bittersweet. "Imagine," she says, "how you might feel a few years after moving to a new area where you didn’t know anyone and finding that, despite the anxiety, you could go it alone." Make nostalgia a group activity: Asking others to share their nostalgic memories with you is likely to give you all a psychological boost, says Hepper. "And you might be surprised what you learn about your friends or family members," she adds. Indeed, keeping in touch with loved ones from all the stages of your life is a great way to maintain the connection between where you’ve been and where you are today. Routledge suggests taking a trip with old friends to bring you back in time and make you feel more youthful and energized. "Even a little contact on sites like Facebook can bring back memories," he adds. Create new memories and keep traditions alive: "Make deposits into the nostalgia bank that you can draw on when you need a boost in the future," advises Hepper. What happens today will become the memories you hold onto forever. Also on The Huffington Post Close  Black And White Stillness of   * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  Share  Tweet  ✖ Advertisement Share this ✖ close ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ [ ] Current Slide More: Childhood Memories Positive Thinking Looking Back Less Stress, More Living Facebook Nostalgia Memories Happiness Suggest a correction Around the Web [favicon.ico] 5 Things We Need to Stop Feeling Nostalgic For | Cracked.com [favicon.gif] Nostalgia Does the Brain Good Click here to view Conversations Conversations From Our Partners Suggested For You FOLLOW HUFFPOST * (BUTTON) Email Email Address Email Address_______ Sign me up! Please check the checkbox to indicate your consent Options [X] The Morning Email [X] Healthy Living Get top stories and blog posts emailed to me each day.. * (BUTTON) Facebook + HuffPost Healthy Living * (BUTTON) Twitter + HuffPost Follow Healthy Living Follow * (BUTTON) Google Plus + HuffPost Healthy Living * (BUTTON) RSS + Most Popular on HuffPost + Latest News + Healthy Living + All RSS / Feeds * (BUTTON) Phone + Available on the App Store + Android App on Google Play + Get it at Blackberry App World Search The Huffington Post Enter Search Terms ____________________ Submit Search Go + Advertise + Log In + Make HuffPost your Home Page + RSS + Careers + FAQ + User Agreement + Privacy + Comment Policy + About Us + About Our Ads + Contact Us Copyright ©2015 TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. "The Huffington Post" is a registered trademark of TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. All rights reserved. Part of AOL Lifestyle Use this form to alert a HuffPost editor about a factual or typographical error in this story. Notify message * Required * ____________________ * ____________________ * What kind of error is this? [Choose an option__________] * What is the correction? 0 count Describe the error her ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ * Type the words below so we know you are not a cyborg [ ] Sign me up for The Morning Email Send Thanks for your report!