Our SCI family understands that it can be difficult to stay positive when life becomes stressful. Beating stress with positivity is key to your success in continuing your education.
When life knocks us down, we can become frustrated and distracted or we can choose to become focused and determined to succeed.
In a nutshell, if things aren’t going well, it is very easy to take a negative approach to life and everything in it. But, we don’t have to.
Keep in mind, feeling overwhelmed when everything seems to be spinning out of control is nothing to be ashamed of.
We are all in this together and that’s why we must help each other.
Luckily, there are steps you can take when you’re having a hard time seeing a bright side. Here are 10 tips on how to stay positive even when you’re stressed out.
1. Express Your Gratitude
When you’re feeling down, it can be hard to be grateful for anything. Set a goal to think of or write down five things you are thankful for each day.
Forget about what is not going right at the moment. If the sun is shining, that’s one thing to feel good about. Trees blossoming in the springtime or a cooling afternoon rain shower are other treats we get to enjoy.
You’ll feel better about your life when you remember and give thanks for your blessings.
2. Substitute Negative Thoughts with Positive Ones
Any time you have a thought that has the potential to send you spiraling down into a pool of negativity, immediately change your mindset and think about something happy.
Visualizing pleasant images rather than negative ones can stimulate calm.
What was something you enjoyed doing as a child? Plan an opportunity to enjoy that activity again, if possible.
Dream about an exciting adventure. You can visit international museums and monuments virtually online. Think about a piece of art you’d like to create or redecorating you might like to do.
Is there a recipe you’d like to try? Search cookbooks and magazines for a new menu item you can fix at home.
Develop a mental arsenal of uplifting thoughts and pictures to think about whenever you might need them.
3. Get More Exercise
A good way to stay motivated and optimistic is to get some exercise. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), exercising releases endorphins into the bloodstream.
Endorphins are the chemicals in our bodies that make us feel happy. If you’re confined to the indoors, get moving with a fun exercise video.
Dancing or walking/running in place while listening to your favorite music is a good way to keep your body fit and help you stay happy.
4. Spend Time Outdoors
One of the best tactics on how to stay positive? A breath of fresh air. A breath of fresh air can do so much for one’s mental well-being.
A walk or just sitting outside in the sunshine is good for your body and soul.
Vitamin D is very beneficial for a positive mood and a healthy body. Even if you only spend a minute outdoors, it can help to cheer you up.
5. Encourage Others to Stay Positive
If you are telling others how to stay positive, you will find that you’re being more positive yourself. It’s a win-win situation for all involved.
Try to encourage a positive environment in every situation. You won’t have time for negativity.
6. Learn to Meditate
Meditation can help you stay positive. This ancient practice shows promise as a treatment for those suffering from depression and anxiety.
There are many different kinds of meditation. Some that may help to lift your mood include:
- Loving-kindness meditation. The goal of this form of meditation is to foster an attitude of love and kindness toward oneself and others. Practitioners report fewer negative emotions, a more positive outlook, and greater compassion.
- Mindfulness meditation. Considered the mother of all meditation, mindfulness meditation is the moment-to-moment awareness of the present moment. The breath is used as an anchor to bring the attention back to the present moment.
- Transcendental meditation. Also known as TM, transcendental meditation uses a sound or personal mantra as the anchor.
- Walking meditation. Combining aerobic walking with meditation, walking meditation is good for both physical and mental health. Meditation happens before and after walking for as little as ten minutes.
7. Try to Get Enough Sleep
Staying positive is a lot easier when you have had a good night’s sleep.
Studies show that individuals who are sleep deprived tend to be angry and negative more often than those who have no trouble falling asleep and staying asleep through the night.
Developing a sleep ritual helps with getting your brain to turn off when you get into bed. Consider drinking a glass of warm milk or chamomile tea to help you get sleepy.
Listening to soft sleep-inducing music can help you become drowsy at night.
8. Learn Something New
An idle mind will tend to worry. There are a lot of educational opportunities online. Scour the internet for classes that can help you enjoy your day while developing your mind.
When you are busy thinking about new ideas, mastering a topic, or nurturing a talent, you are more likely to be in a positive mood more often.
9. Eat Healthy Foods
Eat fresh, wholesome food as much as you can. A good way to do this is to grow some of your own vegetables.
Even if you only pot lettuce on your patio, the enjoyment you will get from growing it yourself plus getting to eat something so fresh is immeasurable.
Trying to eat things that are minimally processed is best for your health and if you feel good physically, you’re more likely to feel optimistic mentally.
10. Forgive Yourself
Get off the guilt train once and for all. Feeling bad about things you did or didn’t do helps nothing and all it will do is make you sad. Let it go.
It’s okay if you just take time for yourself and rediscover who you are. The time is now to make a fresh start.
Join the SCI Family
Southern Careers Institute offers online classes and on-campus programs for those who want to take on a new path.
If you are ready for a fresh start, take a virtual tour or contact us at 1.833.SCI.TEXAS today.
Remember that we are here for you! We will all get through these trying and uncertain times together!
Sources
- https://medlineplus.gov/benefitsofexercise.html
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6091217
- https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/
- https://www.health.com/condition/depression/types-of-meditation-for-depression
- https://www.sleephelp.org/mood-emotions-sleep/
This article was published on: 04/30/20 9:30 AM
* SCI does not guarantee employment or a starting salary upon graduation, completion, or withdrawal from SCI. As an accredited post-secondary institution, SCI has various federal financial assistance programs available for students who qualify and are enrolled in SCI programs. This does not apply to seminar students.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
