Wyoming was found to be the most optimistic U.S. state, and Vermont the least, in a recent survey of 5,000 Americans.
Baby Boomers were found to be the most optimistic generation, and Gen Z the most pessimistic, with Gen X and Millennials falling somewhere in the middle.
The research was carried out by Icelandic Provisions, in collaboration with Wakefield Research and behavioral scientist Dr. Deepika Chopra, also known as The Optimism Doctor.
"From Icelandic Provisions' 'Bowl Half Full' report, I was thrilled to find that, despite adversity, Americans are inherently optimistic, with an Optimism Index score of 6.7 out of 10," Chopra told Newsweek.
"Not only that; there are tons of really simple, practical steps Americans can take to increase optimism levels even further."
This was a nationally representative survey that took place in August, when 100 Americans were interviewed in each of the 50 U.S. states.
Participants answered optimism-related questions and were scored out of 10 for their positive outlook on life. They also provided information on their daily habits.
Wyoming was found to be the most optimistic state, with an average score of 7.2 out of 10, closely followed by California, New Jersey, Alabama and Maryland: the survey's top five, all with average scores of seven or more.
Habits that were associated with optimism included spending time outdoors, eating nutritious breakfasts, and sticking to regular exercise routines.
"This study...reveals how adopting some of these time-honored principles and incorporating healthy changes can empower Americans to foster a more positive outlook and tackle personal obstacles with increasing confidence," said Mark Alexander, the CEO of Icelandic Provisions, in a statement.
Some of Wyoming's winning statistics include the fact that 82 percent of its respondents said they woke up ready to own the day, compared with 62 percent nationally.
In California, 43 percent of respondents said they were well rested, compared with a national average of 35 percent, and 81 percent—versus 62 percent nationally—said they started their days with a nutritious breakfast.
Meanwhile, 45 percent of people in New Jersey indicated they felt they got enough exercise.
"Icelandic Provisions' 'Bowl Half Full' report confirms something I've been teaching for years—an optimistic outlook and healthy habits are intrinsically linked," said Chopra. "I firmly believe optimism is a mindset you can intentionally grow through small but impactful habit shifts.
"Something as simple as going outside for a few minutes can boost your mood and reduce stress. Past research shows that just spending two hours on average a week outdoors is greatly beneficial to our emotional health."
The survey found that 52 percent of respondents spent an hour or more per day outside, and 77 percent exercised at least weekly.
More than half of respondents said they listened to music outside to lift their spirits, and 71 percent said that listening to music cheered them up.
Meanwhile, the survey found that people who started their day with a healthy breakfast at least three times per week had a higher optimism rating than those who did so twice a week or less: 7.2 compared to 5.9.
"There are many ways to achieve health, and I encourage my clients to find what works best for them," said Chopra. "However, eating a healthy breakfast is a powerful way to jumpstart your gut health each day.
"When we choose a nutrient-rich breakfast, we provide our body with essential nutrients and fibers right from the start."
More than half of respondents also indicated that they ate probiotic foods every week. This habit was particularly strong among Millennials, 63 percent of whom said they included probiotics in their diets.
Probiotic foods are foods that contain live cultures of bacteria, which are believed to be beneficial to the gut, supporting digestion, nutrient absorption, mental health and immunity.
Sauerkraut, yogurt, miso, tempeh, kefir, and skyr—the flagship product of Icelandic Provisions, hence why this was a focus of the survey—are all probiotic foods, believed to support good gut health.
"Understanding the foods that impact gut health is crucial, because our gut plays a pivotal role in our overall health," said Chopra. "It's not just about digestion; our gut health influences our immune system, mood, and chronic disease risk.
"Foods can either support a healthy balance of gut bacteria or contribute to inflammation and imbalance. Everyone has a gut-brain connection, so eating foods that are good for your gut will also have a positive effect on your mental health."
The survey also found generational differences between the respondents. Baby Boomers, born 1946 to 1964, were found to be the most optimistic generation, with an average Optimism Index score of 7.1 out of 10.
Just 9 percent of Baby Boomers said they let daily annoyances get under their skin, compared with 34 percent of Gen Z, born 1997 to 2012.
Gen X—born 1965 to 1980—and Millennials—born 1981 to 1996—both performed similarly, with 28 and 29 percent of them indicating they let daily annoyances get under their skin.
A similar pattern was found when the generations were asked whether they started the day with a positive mindset. For Boomers, 71 percent said they did, compared with 61 percent of Gen Xers, 57 percent of Millennials and 51 percent of Gen Zers.
"Research also tells us that how we feel at the start of our day deeply impacts how we experience the remainder of our day," said Chopra. "Creating healthy rituals in the morning is very important for cultivating optimism."
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