We’ve all got those snap-happy friends who seem to broadcast their life all over social media, with a couple hundred selfies in tow. But despite the minor annoyance from followers, those selfies can actually give you a mood boost and improve your overall health.

Yes, you heard right, taking selfies can help to improve your health! According to a recent study done by the University of California, taking and sharing photos with friends can make you a happier person. By conducting smartphone photo exercises, researchers monitored the psychological and emotional states of 41 college students over the course of a four-week period. The study involved three types of photos to help researchers determine what photos were actually beneficial. The first was a selfie where the user was smiling, the second was a photo of something that made the user happy and the third was of something the user believed would bring happiness to another person.

Researchers collected nearly 2.900 mood measurements during the study and found reports of increased positive moods and self-confidence as a result of taking these photos. Check out the press release here!

So selfies can actually improve your mood and self-confidence! That’s great news for those growing up in the digital age where social media and smartphones are virtually everywhere. But why? Why are selfies good for you? Well, let’s break it down.

Smiling is Good for You

Smiling lowers stress and anxiety levels, releases endorphins and can even strengthen your immune system! Endorphins are those chemicals that you get from working out or running, that makes you feel happier. Those same chemicals are released when you smile and can help you combat daily stress and anxiety. Smiling can also boost your immune system by causing your body to produce more illness fighting white blood cells. Case in point, smiling can give you a mood boost and even keep you healthy, so keep that in mind for your next selfie session!

Selfies Teach You to Love Yourself

Let’s be honest, we’re all guilty of nit-picking our own photos. Whether it be a small blemish or maybe you’re not thrilled with your hair in that one photo, we’re super harsh on ourselves. Surprisingly, selfies can help with this, especially when you take a selfie that you actually like. Yes, sometimes that actually happens! When you like your selfies or photos of yourself, it’s usually because you feel that you look good in them. This means you’re focusing on the positives in yourself. Instead of saying “oh my hair is a mess…” you’re saying something like “I look great in that photo!” So try to love yourself a little more with every selfie you take!

They Can Boost Your Confidence

In a time where stick thin models are everywhere and body shaming is unfortunately a thing, it’s common for us all to feel a little insecure at times. But selfies can be used to combat that mentality. Usually when you decide to snap a quick photo of yourself, you feel good or you’re doing something you enjoy. Capturing this confident moment and even sharing via social media can help keep your confidence boost going, especially when sharing results in likes and positive comments from friends. That said, you shouldn’t rely on social media as reassurance. Whether you share or not, taking a selfie is a sign that you’re feeling confident so never be ashamed to smile for the camera!

Do you feel happier and more confident when you take a selfie? Let us know in the comments!