By: Emily Squance, Blog Projects Assistant
Let’s be real, the past two years have been nothing short of chaotic and eventful-to say the least. When you start to feel the weight of the world on your shoulders, it can be hard to keep a positive mindset. Here are tips on maintaining a positive mindset in 2022.
Many of us have heard the saying, “you are who you surround yourself with.” Whether you’ve heard this from your parents or teachers, there is a lot more truth to it than you realize. Oftentimes, your friends can either make or break your attempt at a better life and mindset.
Growing up most of us are taught to gravitate towards people who we admire and bring out the best in us. We are conditioned to surround ourselves with people we share interests with, but that doesn’t always mean those interests are having a positive impact on your future.
This year surround yourself with people who encourage you to go outside your comfort zone and discover new versions of yourself you may not have known existed. Value the friends who make the tough times easier and inspire you to find the good in every situation despite how hard it may be.
There are around 41 primary genres of music and within those genres there are over 300 subcategories. Meaning, there is a wide range of options for people to find the right kind of music for them.
Whether we realize it or not, music can have a major impact on your mood and more importantly, expressing your emotions. Finding music that validates your feelings while also encouraging positive emotions can help boost your mood. There are so many stresses that we encounter during everyday life, music can allow you to take a break from reality and get lost in your own world. Try experimenting with different playlists and don’t be afraid to look up that song you heard while you were in your favorite coffee shop.
How we begin our day can determine the outcome of the rest of the day. If you wake up in a bad mood and project it onto those around you, the odds of you having a bad day are very high. Instead of being upset when your alarm goes off in the morning, think about things you are looking forward to that day or create an exciting morning routine. In order to maintain a positive mindset you have to actively seek out the positives. Acknowledge the negatives but don’t let them ruin the rest of your day.
There are typically two types of people. The people who see their glass half full and the others who see it half empty. Trying to see your glass as half full when you have been living as if it’s half empty can be hard. Keeping a gratitude journal can help you shift your negative thinking into positive.
Taking 5-10 minutes out of your morning everyday to list the things you’re grateful for can have a huge impact on your outlook of life. When you take the time out of your day to focus on the good things in your life you are more likely to become more positive. Practicing gratitude can change your perspective on what you truly value in life and find what makes you feel fulfilled.
According to a study from 2019, Americans spent more than an average of 1,300 hours on social media. Social media can be a useful tool to stay up to date on what our favorite musicians, artists, designers, and creators are up to. It can be used to showcase your talents and passions, while also finding a community of people with similar interests as you. However social media can be both a blessing and a curse. Many people get so focused on what their followers are doing and get caught in a loop of comparison and jealousy. It can be easy to forget that most of the accounts we follow and look up to only focus on the good. We all encounter obstacles and setbacks in life but we don’t feel the need to broadcast them to the world.
Limiting your screen time on social media can allow you to dedicate more time to yourself. Instead of constantly comparing the pace of your life to the pace of your followers’ lives, you’ll be able to value the present moment and the opportunities that come your way. It’s important to note that you should use your time on social media to consume content that makes you feel good and inspired. Try taking some time out of your day to do a social media detox, unfollowing people that make you feel self conscious.
Being positive doesn’t always have to mean being happy, sometimes it can consist of accepting what is, while being optimistic of what will be. Take the time in 2022 to appreciate.