Doing Things that Make You Happy
When times inevitably get rough, one of the best tools we have to stay optimistic and deal with stress is doing things that make you happy. In life, we may not be able to control the events that happen, but we can always control how we react and respond to them. Just because something goes wrong, doesn’t mean we have to let it affect us negatively– and that is a fact that kids especially may have trouble remembering. Doing something that will cheer you up will actually help you clear away negative mindsets, and get you feeling better in no time! This practice helps relax and ground us, which is essential to start managing stress. Children may not be the best at controlling their emotional and physical responses, so continue reading for a few tips that will be sure to help kids learn the importance of this process!
There are a few different outlets that we can employ this optimistic tactic through, including:
- Hobbies and Passions
- Entertainment and Media
- Creative Endeavors
Hobbies and Passions
Hobbies and passions are a great place to start when thinking of things to do that will make you happy. Whether your passion is gardening, learning new languages, or even knitting, they are all sure to help you unwind when dealing with stress. A hobby or passion is something you enjoy, meaning it will help take your mind off the negative things. Furthermore, it requires focus and perseverance, which are skills that will also help you deal with struggles. So, not only are you honing a skill you enjoy, but you’re also practicing stress-management skills as well. So, help your kids find a hobby that they are passionate about, and have them work on that to relax when times get tough!
Entertainment and Media
Another great outlet for relieving stress is through indulging in some entertainment or media. You can rewatch your favorite movie, catch up on new episodes of a thrilling TV show, or finally listen to that new album that your favorite artist just dropped. All of these things will help boost your mood, and put you in a positive mindset. However, make sure that you use moderation when it comes to this strategy. For example, if you want to play video games to ease your mind, only play for 30 minutes to an hour max! Don’t spend all your time submerged in media and entertainment, because then you won’t have any time for other things in your day. Moderation is key, but it’s ok to indulge every once in a while!
Creative Endeavors
The final outlet for optimism is by being creative! Whether it’s art, music, or literature, creating new things can be a fantastic way to let off steam and relax. The best part is, you don’t have to be the World’s best artist, musician, or author to do it. All you need is your mind, and the materials to create whatever it is you want. A simple and fun way to start utilizing this strategy is called Body Mapping. Start by printing out an outline of a body (like this one here), and then grab your markers or other coloring instruments, and start drawing out how you feel in different parts of your body. You can make up your own symbols or patterns that represent different feelings and emotions, so you can get as creative as you want. However you go about it, Body Mapping is a great tool that helps us not only encourage creativity, but also allows us to better understand how we feel inside.
The beauty of creating is that you can control exactly what your end product looks, sounds, and feels like, which can help us regain our sense of control over ourselves! Creativity is a great outlet, and can help us come up with new solutions for managing stress. Additionally, creativity creates a source of optimism that grows the more you use it, so the more you make, the more happy you’ll be!
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In Our Classes…
In our classes this week, we will be working on helping our kids find time to do things that make them happy. We will show them how to use hobbies and passions, entertainment and media, and creative endeavors to help them work through stress and create optimism. Optimism is a very important skill that we believe everyone can work on through these strategies. Our goal is to help our students to be able to use these outlets themselves to do things that make them happy, in order to relieve stress and anxiety. Listen in during classes for our character talks to learn more about this awesome strategy!
Conclusion
In conclusion, life can often get us wrapped up in undesirable situations that can cause stress and anxiety. Without any ways to mitigate those negative effects, life becomes very challenging. Fortunately for us, we have a bunch of great outlets that help us manage and reduce the bad impacts of the stresses of life, including hobbies and passions, entertainment and media, and creative endeavors. Utilizing any one of these strategies will be sure to help you and your kids unwind and relax, and think more clearly about how to improve your situation. Let’s all try them out with our kids at home, and see how optimism can truly change our lives!