I was feeling down recently, even though life had been pretty good. It occurred to me that I hadn't been making time to do things that made me happy. Happiness isn't usually something that happens by accident - you need to make a conscious effort to create it. I know it's hard to make time for fun when you're busy at school or uni and there seems to be no end to the assignments and study that need to be done. But by making time to do things that make you happy, you may find that you are more productive and less stressed.
I know one thing that doesn't make me feel happy - scrolling through Instagram for an hour or more. It just leaves me feeling frustrated and inadequate. It's part of self-care and self-love to do things that bring you joy. Exactly what those things are will be different for everyone. For some people it's singing loudly, for others it is going to the beach. I like to get creative and make things - I'm currently knitting a jumper. I also enjoy reading, eating gelato and getting out in the fresh air. You don't have to set aside a whole day - half an hour watching an episode of your favourite tv show is enough, or soak in the bath or paint your nails is enough.
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Spending some time alone each day helps you to unwind and reduces stress. Life can get hectic and noisy so it's important to slow down and take a break from it all. You can create a cozy spot in your room to hang out or get out of the house. My favourite things to do during "me time" are to read, write, get crafty and listen to music.
If you need something to cheer you up or lift your spirits try making a mood board of your favourite things full of photos, magazine cut-outs or drawings of your favourite things. Alternatively, print out our free Favourite Things list and fill in the blanks. Teens who spend less time in front of screens are happier. The Sydney Morning Herald recently reported that, according to research in the US, the more time teens spent on their devices, the more their psychological well being decreased. Increased mobile phone use has also been linked to depression and anxiety. Teens who spent 20 hours or more on their devices each week were least happy. So basically, teens who spend less time in front of screens are happier. You can find out more here.
David Hamilton's book, The Five Side Effects of Kindness, is a very interesting read. Being kind makes you happier. The science behind this is that, when we are kind it boosts our levels of oxytocin, dopamine and serotonin which are the body's happy chemicals. It even produces endorphins which are the brain's natural versions of morphine and heroin. So you can get a totally legal high by being kind. The book is full of examples of acts of kindness too. If you don't have time to read the whole book, you can check out his blog post here.
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