Intentional Wellness: What is “Savoring” And How To Do It

Do you ever feel as though you aren’t genuinely immersed in a moment? You may think back on an experience and feel as if you didn’t appreciate what you felt at that time: the joy or serenity of being surrounded by people or things you love. Practicing savoring helps us fully value and reminisce on the emotions we feel in these moments. Learning the science behind treasuring significant moments, how to practice it in your everyday life, and its benefits may prompt you to try it out. 

Savoring is an essential habit to include in your daily routine that will improve your overall quality of life and appreciation for every important memory. Without it, life’s key moments will pass you by. 

Taking a step back in an enjoyable moment enhances overall well-being and a sense of appreciation. An expert on savoring, Fred Bryant, a social psychologist at the Loyola University of Chicago, describes in his novel, “Savoring: A New Model of Positive Experience,” what it takes to savor and how it affects our emotions. To relish is as easy as focusing on being in a moment, acknowledging what emotions you are experiencing, and determining what makes that moment special. 

Instead of letting moments pass quickly, savoring them increases the positive effects that an experience is contributing to your well-being. 

By luxuriating in a moment while you are experiencing it, you can later think back on the memory and feel the same emotions you felt at that time. This allows you to delight in the moment all over again. 

There are 10 significant steps to take in order to savor the positive moments in life. Reveling in moments can increase happiness for a short-term period of time and in the long run. According to “10 Steps to Savoring the Good Things in Life” by Stacey Kennely, some of these steps include expressing your good feelings to others, taking a mental photograph, congratulating yourself, taking the time to focus on using your sensory perceptions, staying away from killjoy thinking, and reminding yourself about how quickly time goes by. While these steps are easier said than done, savoring with the right intention is crucial to one’s happiness. 

For many people, it is very easy to get caught up in the idea of working extremely hard in school or in a job without experiencing any enjoyment. Many individuals do this with the intention of working very hard and not having any enjoyment in their current state because they think this will allow them to be happier later on. Although working hard and having goals is important, you might not realize that being happy in the present moment and treasuring the good times you are experiencing is equally crucial. If one believes they have to continuously overwork themself in order to be happy later on, then their happiness will never come. Therefore, savoring life’s current positive moments is unquestionably a key aspect of living with maintained joy and happiness. 

There are many benefits to the act of savoring life’s moments. These benefits that come out of indulging in moments come from the process, not solely from the nature of the positive moment. According to “Savoring in Positive Psychology: 21 Tools to Appreciate Life” by Daniela Ramirez-Duran, some of these benefits include counterbalancing the feeling of negative emotions during stressful times, helping people better balance career and family obligations, positively influencing romantic long-distance distance relationships, and higher life satisfaction. Furthermore, SLU President Kate Morris promoted savoring awareness in our FYP Intentional Wellness and especially emphasized its significance during our college years. 

Delighting in the special moments of your college experience will allow these memories to be engraved in your brain and give you the ability to remember to look back on these moments more vividly. Therefore, we encourage you to take part in the act of savoring and allow it to improve your life for the better. 

The simple but effective practice of savoring teaches you to slow down in special moments and recognize what makes that moment important. The science of luxuriating in moments states that practicing this habit increases the positive emotions you feel from a special moment, and even Morris encourages SLU students to incorporate cherishing moments into their daily lives. 

Adding the act of savoring to your daily habits is a simple way to enhance your quality of life and deepen your appreciation for cherished memories.