Look on the bright side: Win or lose, March Madness makes you happy

Mental health experts explain why the annual NCAA March Madness college basketball tournament is more than just a game.

(Photo: CNET News)

According to a press release from Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the ever-popular NCAA March Madness tournament has been proven to reduce stress, increase vitality, and even stimulate productivity in the workplace.

Part of the reason for this is because the unpredictable nature of the tournament is appealing and satisfying to our basic human nature. In contrast to other sporting events, in the March Madness tournament any team can win on any given night, so even someone with the least expertise can make a reasonable prediction as to who will win.

“People are hardwired to enjoy the predictions inherent in March Madness,” explains Robert Sobut, a psychiatrist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. "It’s in our nature to predict things, as it helps us to survive. So when we’re correct in our predictions, people find it really intoxicating.”

Experts also indicate that tuning into the tournament can boost efforts in the workplace. Our productivity takes a hit when we get bombarded with stress, lack of sleep, and other negative issues, but when we get exposed to things that enjoy and excite us, we become more efficient in the long-run. The tournament adds a unique excitement to our everyday life, which enhances our mood and increases our drive and focus.

According to the release, what is exclusive to the March Madness tournament is the concept of "excitement building on excitement." The enthusiasm only amplifies as the tournament goes on, and even if your team is ousted, the excitement still trumps the disappointment. "Even if your team falls short, you can latch onto other teams to follow and root for throughout the rest of the tournament," Sobut explains.

Whether you were rooting for Butler or Connecticut, or, if your bracket was axed from the get-go like mine was (I had UT winning it all--but hey, being a student here should at least put them in the Final Four by default, right?!), the good news is that March Madness will likely increase smiles across the board regardless.