THINKING POSITIVELY Positive thinking is a life hack
E
veryday life can feel exhausting, with pressures from social media and parents making us feel worse. Here are Tag’s tips for staying mindful and thinking more positively.
A new headspace
Thinking more positively is a change of mindset. Being able to approach stressful or uncomfortable situations with a positive attitude is crucial. For example, when our parents are nagging us, the positive way of looking at this problem would be to see that our parents care. This isn’t always easy, but it is worth it. There are always two sides.
Break your social media addiction Whether it’s 10 minutes or a whole day, taking time off social media is a great way to stay positive. You will notice that you have missed very little. The videos you want to see will still be there. Often, we find ourselves invested in all the numbers and politics that social media brings. It is essential to remind ourselves that there is more to our lives than screens.
You’re
late for School!
HALF ? EMPTY
day!
Satur
Albert Einstein
HALF FULL? We can’t control everything
Believe it or not, there is very little that we can control. It is believed that there are only two things we can: our opinions and attitudes. Everything else is said to be out of our control and, in turn, not worth over-stressing about. For example, you can’t get all your work done; you can’t control time, but you can control what you do and how you react.
Self-talk
“I’m so stupid”, “No one will ever love me” or “I’ll be alone forever”. These are common phrases that teens say to ourselves. The language we use is very important and has a massive impact on us. When other people come to us with problems, it can be easy to reassure them with words of encouragement and advice. The same, unfortunately, cannot be said about us. When we struggle with things, it can be easy to think badly. Listen to what your internal voice is saying, stop and challenge it.
Focus on today
It’s
Design: George Walker
“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new“
Nobody is perfect
When you see someone happy on social media, it may make you wonder why you feel different to them. Taking a look at someone’s Instagram or Snapchat and wanting what they have is something we all do. We compare ourselves. This makes us want to change ourselves to fit in or be liked. It is important to remember that we are only seeing an edited version of someone. Like us, this person is not perfect. It is important not to hold ourselves, or anyone else, on a pedestal.
Dan Middleton
It is easy to overthink the future. These thoughts can stop us from doing tasks in case something bad happens. But the future is unknown. We don’t know what is going to happen. We recommend focusing on today because tomorrow will come eventually.
Learn something new
Have you ever wanted to become a photographer, drummer or rock climber? Investing time in a new hobby can also be a healthy distraction. Trying something new is a great way to step out of your comfort zone. You can boost your confidence and make yourself feel better.
It’s OK to fail
Many athletes will testify that failure is a part of success, but it is something that most of us fear. There can be immense pressure put on us to have success through things like good grades without failure. It is okay to fail. We shouldn’t let failure put us off from doing something that we want to do and chasing our dreams.
Talk to someone
Another perspective can help to get us out of a bad headspace. No matter how alone we may feel, there will always be someone to talk to. Reaching out doesn’t make us weak and can help us immensely in the long term. 27
