The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast 1KHO 669: Happiness Lives in the Present Moment | Dr. Greg Hammer, The Mindful Teen
Jan 4, 2026
Dr. Greg Hammer, a Stanford physician and mindfulness expert, dives into essential strategies for combating teen stress and burnout. He discusses the unique pressures teens face today, such as social media and eco-anxiety. Greg introduces his GAIN framework—Gratitude, Acceptance, Intention, and Nonjudgment—as a practical approach to rewiring the brain for joy. Highlights include the importance of gratitude, the benefits of time outdoors, and the impact of small habits on family culture. This conversation is a refreshing guide to building resilience and happiness.
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Practice GAIN With Small Steps
- Start gratitude, acceptance, intention, and nonjudgment (GAIN) as a daily practice to rewire the brain toward steadiness.
- Use small, regular steps to build resilience rather than big, rare efforts.
Modern Teen Stress Is Unprecedented
- Teens today face unique stressors like smartphones, social comparison, and eco-anxiety that prior generations didn't.
- These new pressures make deliberate resilience practices more necessary than ever.
Negativity Bias Undermines Present Joy
- Our brains have a negativity bias and wander away from the present, which fuels shame and anxiety.
- Neuroplasticity means we can change those patterns by practicing present-focused habits because happiness lives in the present moment.
