This post was written by ScIU Undergraduate Intern Jackie Williams.
It’s been over a year since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and staying positive this past year has not been the easiest. Despite what your greatest instincts say, going on your phone could be the cause of your blues. After a year of foregoing family and friends, we crave connection now more than ever. While social media may initially seem like a good way to engage with others when we’re apart, research has shown that social media can negatively impact our mental health and lead to a more sedentary lifestyle. Like social media, a sedentary lifestyle often harms your mental health. Luckily, researchers have discovered small hacks that you can do everyday to increase your levels of serotonin (the mood and happiness hormone).
![A photograph of at home workout equipment. It includes a blue set of dumbbells, a black pair of sneakers, a scale, and a blue exercise ball laid out on white flooring.](https://blogs.iu.edu/sciu/files/2021/04/image2.jpg)