Nostalgia is a universal experience — even children enjoy revisiting the past.

In times of loneliness, dialing into memories can help temporarily satisfy the human need for social bonds. And it can motivate people to strengthen current friendships.

Scientists are learning that nostalgia can even help us all derive meaning from difficult experiences.

To tap into nostalgia, pull up past selfies with friends, dig into favorite family recipes or listen again to one of those angsty songs you played on repeat in high school.

Making art involves a series of small decisions. Just drawing a simple plant brings up questions — what tool to use: crayon or pencil? Which plant: a spiky cactus? Smooth succulent? Some imaginary combo?

Focusing on these little, low-stakes choices can help unlock a creative mental state that scientists call “flow” — it’s when you’re so absorbed in a task that time, space and any worries seem to disappear.

Flow is seen as a positive state of mind, where deep focus, skill and productivity harmonize.

Many hobbies or activities can spark flow as long as they have a clear goal and reward, give you immediate feedback and a sense of control, and allow you to tune out distractions.

Playing with art is just one easy way to take a short break and create. It doesn’t even matter if you like what you make. The point is the process.

Instant gratification might feel good in the moment, but sometimes delayed pleasures are even more rewarding.

Why? Well, we know exactly what we’re getting when we buy new shoes online. But when we wait for an experience, we savor the abstract idea of what’s coming.

And it doesn’t have to be a big adventure like a far-flung trip — anticipating simple, ordinary experiences such as the growth of a new garden — can also bring joy.

So plan ahead for some fun to look forward to. Get a weekly game night on the calendar. Or you know, plant some seeds and kick back. Your present and future self might thank you.

Why does gazing into the cosmos give such a feeling of … “Wow”?

Awe is a difficult emotion to define. But researchers are learning it lifts our mood — by shifting our perspective outward, beyond the self and toward something extraordinary.

Awe makes you pause. The fight-or-flight sympathetic nervous system dials back a little. You might feel more calm.

It can come from something grand such as the shifting hues of an aurora borealis. Or the tiny geometry of a fragile insect. Scents, sounds or tastes can spark it, too.

If you want to experience more awe, go looking for it. One easy way? Take a walk and notice what moves you. Let yourself be astonished. Pretty awesome, right?

Struggling to define what you feel?

Some therapists in hospitals are now helping staff and patients turn to narrative writing or poetry when they’re going through difficult experiences.

Research shows putting thoughts to paper in this way can reduce the stress, pain and feelings of isolation that accompany illness or an emotional loss.

Two doctors at Harvard Medical School led Zoom poetry workshops during the pandemic. They found that writing and sharing poetry helped participants cope with uncertainty and connect with each other through common feelings.

Now, an easy way to try it out is by crafting a blackout poem.

How to do it yourself? Find any passage of text. Using a black marker, mark out words you don’t want from the text. The words you leave behind become your poem!

Like watching videos of cute animals? Who doesn’t?

One study in Japan found that the “cuteness-triggered positive emotion” that comes from watching puppies and kittens even improved focus and attention.