Happiness researcher, Shawn Achor, says Happiness researcher, Shawn Achor, says email can make a difference in the quality and length of your life.  No kidding!  He suggests taking two minutes each day to write and send an email to another person – a direct report, a colleague, your boss, a customer, a supplier, a friend or family member – praising or thanking them.  His promise:  you’ll receive an instant emotional boost, and Achor says, if you send one email a day, to a different person each day, it could even extend your life.

His claim is research-based and discussed in his writings about happiness.  It’s all about increasing your social support system.  Achor says that the strength of your social support system is as important to life-expectancy as negatives like obesity, smoking and other diseases.  A strong social support system made up of friends, family and peers can help you through stressful times, according to the Mayo Clinic.  Your sense of belonging, sense of self worth and feelings of security are all tied to the strength of your social network.

In addition, helping others and making them feel good goes a long way in making you feel good about yourself and your life.

Why not experiment:  schedule a time each day to write a two-minute email – just a couple of sentences – to a co-worker, customer or loved one, expressing your appreciation or acknowledging some aspect of their greatness.  Notice how good it makes you feel.  And know that you’ve just bonded with that person on a level that benefits both of you.

Of course, if you prefer sharing your words of praise and gratitude voice-to-voice, or face-to-face, even better!  Pick up the phone or stop by for a brief visit for even greater impact.

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