The 'boring' weather that boosts your happiness

hạnh phúc - Ảnh 1. — Rain affects people's moods in really obvious and measurable ways - Photo: FREEPIK

According to Times of India , rain affects human moods, increasing happiness levels in tangible and measurable ways.

The feeling of peace after the rain

While we tend to stay indoors, dismissing rainy days as gloomy and “boring,” for many people they can be surprisingly pleasant. The gentle rhythm of falling raindrops, the cool breeze, and the familiar smell of earth can bring an unexpected sense of peace.

If you feel refreshed when you step outside after a rainstorm, it may be thanks to negative ions—tiny, invisible particles released when raindrops hit hard surfaces like soil or pavement.

According to Dr. Niek Buurma, a chemistry researcher at Cardiff University (UK), there is evidence that people feel more positive after inhaling negative ions.

They help reduce stress, elevate mood and increase energy levels, especially in natural environments such as waterfalls, oceans or rainstorms.

Some studies suggest that negative ions have the ability to stimulate the production of serotonin in the brain, a chemical that plays a key role in mood regulation and emotional balance.

This may explain why many people feel calmer, clearer-headed, and mentally “reset” after a storm has passed. So, the next time you’re caught in the rain, take a deep breath—it may be nature’s way of “recharging” your mental batteries.

The smell of earth after rain helps relieve stress

On the other hand, the familiar earthy smell that permeates the air after rain is called petrichor – a term coined in 1964 by two Australian researchers, Isabel Joy Bear and RG Thomas.

Although there hasn't been much clinical research on the direct psychological effects of petrichor , scientists believe the scent can trigger relaxation, evoke positive memories, and bring about a sense of peace.

According to Dr Iain Fraser, a chemist at the UK's Natural Environment Research Council, petrichor often evokes nostalgia and emotional warmth, possibly because our brains associate the scent with the pleasant sensations of rain, greenery and change.

In a 2020 study published in Frontiers in Psychology , researchers highlighted that nature-related scents like rain, earth, and grass can help reduce stress by activating the brain's limbic system—the part responsible for emotions and memories.

This explains why many people feel more relaxed or “refreshed” after smelling the air after rain. While petrichor is not yet recognized as an official therapy, the smell acts as a form of natural aromatherapy , soothing the senses and uplifting the spirit – especially when we need a quiet moment to connect with nature.

The sound of rain relaxes your brain

Listening to the sound of rain is not only peaceful, but can actually change the way your brain works.

A scientific study using electroencephalography (EEG) has found that the sound of rain can increase alpha wave activity in the brain.

These alpha waves are associated with a relaxed and peaceful mental state, helping you feel less anxious or stressed.

According to researchers, when people listen to the sounds of rain and water, especially in hot and humid environments, their brains show more alpha wave activity. The sound of rain helps shift the brain from a high-alert “fight-or-flight” mode to a calmer, more mindful state .

Rain helps you think more clearly and calm down

The soothing sound of rain is not only pleasant, but actually activates relaxation pathways in the brain, helping to reduce stress hormones like cortisol and support emotional balance. That's why rain sounds are so popular in mindfulness activities, meditation, and sleep routines.

An interesting study published in the journal Psychology of Music explored how different background sounds, including rain, affect our ability to concentrate on tasks like math problems.

Researchers found that when participants had to solve difficult math problems, silence made them slower and less accurate, while the sound of rain improved their concentration and performance.

Interestingly, introverts generally performed faster than extroverts, except when it was raining. The sound of heavy rain helped extroverts perform at the same level, perhaps because the steady rhythm of rain increased alertness without being distracting.