What is ‘Savoring’— And How Does It Make Us Happier?

As we approach the darker days of winter, many of us will be seeking ways to brighten up our lives. Although there isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula for happiness, there are certainly easy and doable methods you can use to welcome joy into your life. 

Ever been reminded to “stop and smell the roses”? That is essentially what ‘savoring’ is. A positive psychology tactic, savoring is a way to uplift the good in your life. 

What is ‘Savoring’?

You have probably heard savoring most often associated with a delicious meal — “ to savor every bite.” But it is not just food that can be savored. Moments, from the past, present, and even the future can be savored; and it’s good for our mental health too.  

At its core, savoring is when you grant yourself some extra time to enjoy a happy or pleasant moment you are experiencing. The aim is to deepen your connection to that moment and prolong the positive feelings it brings. It could be taking a stroll in a green space on your lunch break, or sitting down with the perfect cup of tea. It is about really paying attention to, and caring for, the moment — nourishing our present, and future selves.

Savoring is seen in the positive psychology space as a route to enhance and prolong experiences that elicit positive emotions such as pleasure, gratitude, joy, love, and acceptance. Like mindfulness, savoring becomes a technique to deal with trying times. When we fully attend, and pay attention to, a joyful moment, we are able to summon these positive feelings back when we need them. Savoring is actually linked to a reduction in depression.

Often in traditional therapy procedures, a person is advised to sit and face uncomfortable emotions and memories. With savoring, it is the opposite — one sits with the positive and happy moments you have kept safe in your mind, allowing them to fill you up.

Savoring Does Not Mean Ignoring Negative Emotions

That is not to say savoring is about pretending negative emotions do not exist, or not facing them when they arise. ‘Toxic positivity’ this is not. Keeping a treasure chest of positive experiences to raid during a hard time can help you work through your issues with resilience and a steady base. Savoring is about acknowledging the good and bad of life. If you didn’t, how would you be able to recognise the ‘good bits’ to savor?

Sometimes it’s hard to give yourself permission to take time to savor the moment. It is a symptom of our rise-and-grind culture that has made us believe that all time is money. Your time is not money. Your time is all you have, when you think about it. So why not savor it?

How Microdosing Can Help You to Savor

Microdosing psilocybin is a way to open yourself up to the savoring mindset. The practice of taking a teeny-weeny (non psychedelic) dose of magic mushrooms or truffles is known to:

• Improve focus and concentration
• Make it easier to get into the ‘flow state’ 
• Help you to be more present in the moment
• Enhance empathy and emotional connection
• Increase creativity
• Balance overall mood
• Facilitate a more positive mindset
• Increase awareness of self, environment, and other people. 
• Increase feelings of gratitude
• Foster a sense of unity and belonging

As you can see, microdosing fosters similar effects to the aims of savoring. By starting a microdosing routine, you open yourself up to savor the world more freely. By acknowledging you are starting a wellness practice to help you to savor the good moments in life, you will give yourself the permission to take the time. 

How To Introduce Savoring Into Your Life

As well as microdosing, there are other methods that can help you incorporate savoring into your life. Why not combine them all? 

How to savor the past:

Savoring the past and future is the easiest way to start. You can savor the past by simply recalling a happy memory, maybe telling a loved one about it, visualizing it, or writing it in a journal. By doing this you are extending the life of this memory, bringing it forward to take space now — it is part of who you are, and always will be. 

How to savor the present:

To savor the present moment, try noticing when pleasant things are happening and acknowledging in the moment. If you are having a nice conversation with a friend, stop and tell them you are enjoying it, and are happy to be with them. If you are going for a walk and think the view is beautiful, pause and really take it all in. You can make notes in a notebook or your phone of small joys as you go about your day. This helps you to notice the good things in your day-to-day life, and primes you to notice them again next time. 

How to savor the future:

Often, people can feel a level of anxiety when imagining the future. It is the unknown, after all! However, when we have our store of positive moments, it becomes easier to foresee more on the horizon. A feeling of anxiety can turn to one of anticipation, as we envision future good times ahead. To help you on your way you can make a vision board, or write about your goals and wishes that you are looking towards. 

Learn that you are worth it:

For some people it can be tough to sit with positive motions, just like negative ones. If you have experienced trauma or have low self esteem, savoring pleasure can be difficult, even if you want to. If this is the case for you, introduce the practice slowly into your life. Get advice from a qualified therapist, or ask friends or loved ones to accompany you on savoring walks, or cups of coffee, until the concept feels less unfamiliar. 

Everyone deserves happiness, and learning to savor what is good in our lives is a way to secure that warm glow within, even when the going gets tough.