Karen Keung

Elle Kaplan is smart AF. I’m painfully average. So I’ll let her take it away from here: “Research has shown that ... negative attitudes can also affect your intelligence and ability to think … negativity compromises the effectiveness of the neurons in the hippocampus — an important area of the brain responsible for reasoning and memory.”

In short: your negative, uncomfortable social circle is bringing your mood and cognition down. Who you chill with affects your level of chill.