10 tips for Teenage Happiness

Caring about ourselves unfortunately is one of the last things on our mind and even if it was on your mind we usually do something that only gives us immediate pleasure not lasting JOY!

It is well known that teenagers who are creative and active are happier than those who aren’t. Anytime really is a great time to encourage teens to engage in activities that increase their happiness! They must spend their time doing something, so why not do something that will make them feel good. Sometimes replacing unhealthy or dangerous habits with activities that makes us happy are more likely to stick. Here are ten examples that will help...

1. Listening to music: Just about every kid I know wants to listen to music. However, when the music is meaningful and uplifting it can bring happiness. It’s unfortunately short lived and often time mixed with music that can tear us down or enrage us. Usually when teens find a good mix of music to listen to it promotes happiness.

2. Drawing or Painting: Expressing an artistic side and receiving some recognition for it, can play a major role in one’s happiness. More so it’s the feeling of creating something (putting in the hard work) and receiving praise or a complement when we display it to others.

3. Making a new recipe or baking: Ok this one is probable a lie! But the research does show that teens who invent new ideas feel unique and capable of creation. It give a sense of happiness when others like our creation similarly to art.

4. Dancing, sports, and exercise: This is no surprise but those who are more active and creative are shown to be happier. The combination of hard work, active exercise, and creativity are shown to have 3 times the effect in being happy. As we all have heard from the famous movie, Legally Blond exercise releases endorphins and yes, they make us happy. Again, creative achievement, and recognition and exercise has a compounding effect on our happiness.

5. Journaling or blogging: Many teens who write about their struggles feel relief because the get their thoughts are out on paper, those who took it a step further by publishing it felt like they could stop pretending, and it released major feelings of doubt, rejection, and judgment. Teens who talked about thoughts and feelings gained tremendous support because they found they were not alone in their thoughts or feelings. Overall, when teens did all three, improved their overall mental well-being and happiness.

6. Common interests. This is one of my favorites. Teens who join a group, enjoyed feeling connected to others. They feel acceptance from peers and gain a feeling of belonging. The feeling of belong is linked to happiness. Careful with this one though, teens who joined other groups simply due to a crush (like the captain of the basketball team) found themselves to be outcasts and in socially embarrassing situations when they mistook a free throw shoot as a field goal. Be comfortable with who you are and don’t change simply to fit in.

7. Trying new things or places: Going on a walk in the meadow or along a beach or trying a new restaurant can make us happier. It’s the scenes that are engaged with new sights, sounds, and tastes that leave us excited about the newness of an experience. Temperature change, elevation, exposure to sun light and so much more activates the pleasure region of the brain leaving us feeling good and wanting more.

8. Service: Giving back to others is a great way to feel happy. Knowing that you have increased someone life makes us feel good. Volunteering or doing something nice for someone else makes everyone feel good, including teens! It creates long lasting friendships and bonds that last a lifetime. When we do things for each other we release a hormone call oxytocin (in females) and vasopressin (in men). These hormones are said to be the “love hormones” that bond us and create connection.

9. Showing Gratitude: Gratitude is the quality of being thankful. However, it’s an action of readiness to show appreciation for ones and kindness. Starting a gratitude journal, and letting others know they are grateful for the things they have is a sure and fast way to feeling happier.

10. Core Mindfulness: Teens who regularly take time to just unplug from the world and do some form of mindfulness activity for 15 minutes a day are generally happier. These activities can range from listening to the ocean, doing yoga, meditation, prayer, or focus exercises. Benefits include lowering heart rate, increase in mental clarity, and abilities in mental concentration.

All in all, guys we need to start doing things (take action) that bring us joy. Happiness isn’t something that just comes to us. Happiness is purposeful and intentional. Most of us think that our phones, movies, and music (quick fixes) make us happy but really, it’s a short burst of happiness and that kind of happiness always leaves us wanting for more. It can’t make us feel full.

Good Luck!

Leave some comments below if you found this to be helpful or if you tried some of the ideas mentioned above.