Ready to get happy? Here's how

PLUS: Your risk of catching omicron outdoors [View this email online]( [NPR Health]( January 23, 2022 by [Suzette Lohmeyer]( Happy Sunday, Health family! Need to find some joy? This week, we look at [new ways to cultivate happiness](. Plus, your [risk of catching omicron outdoors]( and how to [harnass the power of being ordinary](. --------------------------------------------------------------- New ways to cultivate happiness [cultivate happiness image]( Credit: Joy Ho for NPR and Meredith Rizzo/NPR You made the sourdough, you built the LEGO castle, you grew the vegetables. Now what? To help you find your next moment of joy, we asked our readers what creative ideas they've come up with to cultivate happiness, two years into pandemic life. [Read on for new ways to beat the pandemic blues](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- Embrace the ordinary life [ordinary life image]( Oscar Wong/Getty Images Be amazing! Achieve greatness! In fact, just be generally extraordinary. Sound familiar? That's because there's endless pressure from our culture, the media and loved ones to chase an extraordinary standard in every aspect of life. But that's not realistic — which means you end up chasing goal posts that don't actually exist. The solution? Ditch the extraordinary ideals and embrace the ordinary life. [Read on for how to harnass the power of an ordinary life (and that doesn't mean you have to think small)](. What's the risk of catching omicron outdoors? [omicron outside image]( Peter Kneffel/dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images With crazy-contagious omicron, do we need to mask up outside? The good news is that, so far, studies show omicron isn't any more transmissible outdoors than previous variants. But, experts say, since more people have the virus, there are certain outside socializing scenarios when you may want to throw on a mask. [Read on for when to wear a mask outside](. [BONUS STORY: How to talk to vaccine doubters](. [PLUS: How long will your COVID booster last?]( Good to know before you go [saliva image]( freemixer/Getty Images - Even babies and toddlers know that [swapping saliva is a sure sign of love](. - Why humans are losing the [race against superbugs](. - How are COVID-related expenses impacting your [household budget]( - There's now a phone line to order your [free at-home COVID tests](. We hope you enjoyed these stories. Find more of [NPR's health journalism]( on Shots and follow us on Twitter at [@NPRHealth](. All best, Suzette Lohmeyer and your Shots editors --------------------------------------------------------------- Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Listen Live]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [shots@npr.org](mailto:shots@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! [They can sign up here.]( Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Goats & Soda, Daily News, Best of NPR and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Health emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]