Intro:
Whether it be triggered by recent events, such as the news, academic stress or disruptions in your personal life - it is easy to slip into a negative mindset and worsen your outlook on life. Although this may seem like a small thing, having a negative mindset can be extremely detrimental to both: your mental and physical well-being, making it important to be able to maintain a positive mindset.
Health benefits:
Though it’s unclear why, maintaining a positive and optimistic mindset can reduce your risk of contracting illnesses and increase your lifespan. It has also been linked to people being able to cope with stress better and having lower rates of depression. A study conducted in 2017 followed 70,000 women over the course of 8 years and reported that those who made a conscious effort to maintain a positive mindset had a significantly lower risk of developing an array of conditions - including respiratory issues and strokes.
What is meant by having a positive mindset?
It is important to note that having a positive mindset doesn’t mean that you should just ignore the unpleasant things that are happening in your life. Instead, it means that you should try to make the most out of unfavourable situations and try to work towards solving them with a positive outcome. Having a positive mindset can also mean seeing the best in other people and acknowledging yourself, your needs and your skill set in a positive way.
How to maintain a positive mindset:
There are many methods that you can apply to help build a positive mindset. It is important to note that this isn’t something you will develop overnight; you will need to consistently use these methods until they become a part of your routine.
1. Keep a gratitude journal
Keeping a gratitude journal is a great way to keep track of what made you grateful on a specific day and will help you start (or end - depending on when you decide to use it) your day on a positive note. Once a day, completely up to you, write down three things in your journal that you are feeling thankful for. This could range from being general (i.e your family) or something specific to what happened on the day
2. Take breaks
Whether you're working long hours at your job or spending 8 hours every day studying at school, it is important to remember to take short breaks. These breaks could just be 30 minutes to yourself when you come back home or even a couple of hours just to sit and de-stress. Whichever one it is, taking real breaks can be greatly beneficial and will leave you feeling energised and more motivated to work afterwards
3. Surround yourself with positive people
Surrounding yourself with people who have a positive mindset will make it easier for you to develop one. Moreover, being with people who will lift you up helps increase your self-esteem and may even improve your outlook on life. Remember, negativity and positivity are said to be contagious.
4. Have a positive self-outlook
We are known to be our own worst critics, and being able to think positively about ourselves will have a drastic impact on how you interact with the world and other people. It is important to remember not to go too harsh on yourself - never say anything about yourself that you wouldn’t say to others,
5. Remember to laugh
It is widely known that laughter is the best form of medicine. Laughing helps move people out of a state of negativity and into a state of happiness and elation - even if it's only for a few seconds. If you're having a hard day and feel yourself slipping into a negative mindset you might want to put on a comedy show, listen to a funny podcast or connect with a funny friend to help lift your spirits, which will subsequently lead to developing a more optimistic outlook
Sources:
https://blog.hubspot.com/service/positive-attitude
Written By : Anvita Verma
Edited By : Rin Kimura
Graphics By : Ariel Suen
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