SmileFile: mental wellbeing

Life is complicated. Sometimes it leaves us feeling low, stressed, anxious or inadequate. In need of some mental relief.

Use SmileFile to boost your happiness with daily slideshows of those special things that uplift and inspire you. Maintain a positive mindset and create an upward spiral of well-being.

HOW DO SMILE FILES WORK?

Psychological research shows that viewing certain types of pictures can help. Our brains are biased towards processing visual information and we can use this for our benefit.

• When we look back at precious memories, our brains re-live the events, evoking feelings of joy, gratitude and self-worth.

• When we respond to pictures with a smile that act of smiling in itself is good for us.

• Just viewing images such as nature scenes and seascapes can calm our minds.

Furthermore the feeling of well-being created by these important moments of happiness persists even after we stop viewing these images.

When we are feeling good we are more resilient to difficult situations. Life's challenges don't seem so bad. And indeed studies have found that the areas of the brain involved in emotion regulation and cognitive control became more active when people recalled positive memories. So maintaining a positive mindset helps create an upward spiral of well-being.

CREATE YOUR SMILE FILES

Build up collections ('Smile files') of your special photos, videos and affirmations. There are separate 'Happy', 'Calm, 'Brave' and 'Good Stuff' Smile files. Lots of ideas for what to add are provided in the SmileFile app.

Then schedule regular slideshows of your collections and start that upward spiral of positivity. See a different selection of items each time or filter by emojis such as ‘grateful’ or ‘achievement’.

Help your friends and family too. Use the SmileFile Sharing feature to send them photos to save or view as a mini-slideshow in their SmileFile.

SOME WAYS TO USE SMILEFILE

• Create a Happy File of things you love, your blessings and celebrations. Add positive affirmations. Use the scheduler to wake-up to a different selection each morning and start every day on a good note.

• Breathe away those stressful thoughts with the SmileFile Breathe Bubble and your Calm File of soothing views and relaxing sayings. Schedule in some regular, well-deserved Calm breaks into your routine too and feel better all day.

• Feeling anxious before an event or activity? Your Brave File affirmations will boost your self-confidence. Remembering your achievements and appreciations will help you go in standing tall.

• Want to say 'thank-you' or 'well done' to a friend? Send them a tagged picture and message for them to load directly into their Brave File

• Don't forget to be kind to yourself: there’s a Good Stuff File so you can schedule personal health and well-being notes and reminders and anything else you want to add!

SmileFile is completely free to download and to use. All features and functions in SmileFile are available free. There are no Ads.

For more information see https://smilefile.uk/smilify/index.html