Why Looking Back Might Be Good For Your Mental Health

As a kid you can't wait to grow up and get older so that you can experience all that life has to offer.

Then as you get older, you wish you could go back and relive some of those experiences that have passed you by.

Feeling Stressed? A Trip Down Memory Lane Could Help

Maybe I'm just speaking for myself here, but it seems that these days everyone is carrying a lot more stress with them.

It's not just what is happening here in Montana or America, but all around the world that is making people become more and more anxious.

Over time all of this can add up and begin to feel overwhelming to people, which then leads to many of us longing for "better days" or "calmer times."

A yellow road sign that says "better days" on it
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The Montana Cure For Modern-Day Burnout Might Be Nostalgia

While I don't think it's a good idea to detach or check out from the "real world" completely, taking a trip down memory lane to calm yourself is worth your mental health.

Reflecting on moments from a less stressful time in our lives can provide significant health benefits.

Psychology Today states that recalling positive memories from our past can help reduce depression and anxiety. Additionally, it can improve cognitive functions in Alzheimer's patients as well.

They also say by reliving these positive memories we crowd out the thoughts that bring us down, so let's take a few minutes to reduce some stress and take a trip down memory lane.

List Of Experiences That Will Make Montanas Feel Nostalgic

Take a trip back to summer in the ’70s and ’80s — when Ring Pops ruled, bikes meant freedom, and Press Your Luck kicked off the day. These photos hit all the nostalgic notes.

Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz

LOOK: 7 Things We'll Be Nostalgic for in 30 Years

I know the superficial things that I love, and what is true of all of them, is they don't stand the test of time. Basically, the more I like, the more likely it is to be phased out by new tech or a system I like far less. Blockbuster Video was one of my favorite places to go, and now we look back at it in one way, it's a distant memory. Most of the following list is things I like or love so you can bet, they'll be long gone in 20 years, and long gone in 30 years. When that time comes, we will sit around and talk about how much we miss them.

Gallery Credit: Lou Milano

KEEP SCROLLING: Pictures of Yellowstone Park that will Make You Nostalgic

"The good old days," captured in photographs from Yellowstone National Park.

Gallery Credit: Kolby Fedore, Townsquare Media; Photos collected from Getty Images

LOOK: See Photos of 1930s Missoula, Montana

See if you can recognize these iconic locations in downtown Missoula, Montana.

Gallery Credit: Angel

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