happiness - Ceed

Why Friendship is Important for Your Mental Health

Posted on 28 March 2022 - 12:00 pm by admin

Friendship is a magical chain that binds and bonds us as humans.

It’s one of the most important aspects of your mental and social life and influences quite a lot of your life. With the countless advantages of friendships, it isn’t something you should take for granted or lose.

YouGov reported that in 2019, Millennials were the loneliest generation, with 22% of participants believing that they have no friends. This statistic stands out as showing how important friendship can be for our mental health.

This article will show you the advantages and help that come with the power of friendship.

Friends can come in many shapes and sizes, but the importance is all the same!

Physical

Having friends comes with being able to physically hang out with them and see them in person. This also comes with losing that physical loneliness in your head, as you have always got someone to rely on with your feelings. This then further helps you emotionally, and mentally.

Venting to your friends also has huge benefits for your mental health. Having someone that listens to your problems will lift your mood significantly and lets you lose this sort of darkness in your head.

This provides boosts such as:

Reducing Depression
Reducing Stress
Motivation
Reducing Sadness
Improving Happiness

It’s not only you who gets to have these feelings; your friends will also feel these for themselves, so a great bond between us allows us to feel happy to be with other people. Having other people can allow you to become the best you can be, it can push you and drive you to succeed.

Read Now: Can you be Content and Happy as an Introvert

Emotional

Emotionally, knowing you have friends who rely on you, and like you, can divert away feelings of self-hatred and loneliness. If you remember you have always got people to watch your back and be there for you then you will ultimately be at the peak of happiness.

A friendship is bonded mostly by being emotionally attached, this will make you care more for your friends when things are going well, or bad and expand your support. This can help you assist them when they need help. It feels almost like having friends is the equivalent of having a mechanic fixing your brain.

Being alone isn’t healthy and can damage you internally in your mind. It is better to have people around that you can rely on. That could be a pet, family member or a stranger on the internet. This will push your mental health to healthier lengths.

Even if you don’t see your friends physically in person, you can still always talk to them over the phone, on the internet, or facetime and harness the same effects.

Mental

Mental health is very important, and if it gets too unhealthy it can cause serious problems for us that can damage us permanently.

As you can guess, having friends also has a big advantage to your mentality; although sometimes this can be a bad thing if you are more lenient to “copy” or be influenced by people a lot more. This can cause a really bad effect if your friends aren’t the most “well-behaved”.

A strong mental fortitude allows you to have a circle of friends that are all different and unique without you ending up becoming more like one or the other. A sense of self-uniqueness is important depending on the friends you have; it allows you to avoid adopting any bad habits that may cause a loop in your mental health.

This loop can push you down a dark abyss of mental loneliness that can be very difficult to get out of and can pull you away from your friends.

Read Now: 8 Quick and Small Changes to a Better Life

Gaining Friends

You gain friends from just general connection towards each other, maybe you have a lot in common or you just enjoy each other’s company. It can be very daunting to find friends after you have completed education as there aren’t generally a lot of opportunities out there to find them.

However, there are quite a few places, and scenarios to find them:

Online
At Work
Pubs
Nightclubs
General Entertainment Venues

It can be very scary to approach people to become friends but usually, after spending a small amount of time together you end up realising if they are friend quality or not. All you need is a bit of confidence and courage to be able to approach.

Diagram

Description automatically generated — You can meet friends anywhere! All you need is courage!

Conclusion

In conclusion, the importance of friendship is very valuable to your physical, emotional, and mental fortitude. Having friends makes you a much better person. You no longer are alone in a prison of your mind; friends free you from this.

Hopefully, this article helps you see why your friends are more valuable than you think. They are always there for you and help you in so much more than you think.

If there is any further help you need regarding friendships and mental health, then feel free to contact us here at Ceed today.

Why Being Spontaneous Can Make You Happier

Posted on 17 March 2022 - 12:00 pm by admin

Be Spontaneous

Spontaneity can have enormous payoffs for mental health and wellbeing. It can make you feel happier and more creative – it can even rewire our brains.

When was the last time you ditched your plans and did something completely spontaneous?

With our overfilled diaries and online planners, our lives are often packed to the brim, leaving little or no time for a sudden whim. But, although routines can help us get through everyday tasks, like cleaning our teeth, filling every single moment with planned activity can badly affect us.

We often pack our schedules so full that we leave little room for unplanned actions, but doing so means you may be missing out on moments of joy.

Read Now: 4 Mindful Ways to Help You Live in the Moment

The Benefits of Being Spontaneous

Being open to spontaneous events and allowing our mind time to reflect on things, rather than rushing from one planned activity to the next, can benefit our emotional health.

Keep Your Life Fresh

Spontaneous people are always up to try something new. They’ll spice up the day any way they can. It could be as simple as ordering something new from a local restaurant for lunch. Because they’re always trying something new, spontaneous people never get bored and stay fresh.

Be More Flexible

Be ready to try and do something new. And if plans change, adapt to them. Spontaneous people don’t feel tied down to one goal and will be more than happy to accommodate a contingency, as long as it leads to an exciting adventure.

This “go with the flow” attitude helps them avoid conflict and confrontation. Instead, they can ride the wave of excitement that continuously exists within their life.

Be More Creative

Spontaneous people aren’t constantly thinking about their next move – they do whatever comes to mind. This mindset means that they don’t set boundaries for what they can accomplish, and they can be more creative.

Read Now: How to Better Your Mental Health by Getting Creative

Less Stress

People that are spontaneous tend to not stress out over much. They understand that life goes on, whether it goes as planned or not. And, of course, when life gets stressful, as it does every so often, spontaneous people know how to shake things up to relieve the stress and get over the hurdle they’re currently facing.

Read Now: 4 Effective Ways to Clear Your Mind of Stress

Be Happier

Spontaneous people have a mindset that allows them always to see the bright side of things which optimises their ability to maintain a positive outlook on life, making them happier.

How To Be More Spontaneous

Becoming a more spontaneous person is certainly not easy, so here are simple things that you can do to live a more spontaneous life. Hopefully, these steps will encourage you to do something more when you’re finally ready to.

Shake Up Your Routine

It doesn’t have to be something drastic. You could start with something simple, like going somewhere else for your morning coffee or taking a new route home from work.

When you do something different, you open your eyes and mind up to new possibilities. You’ll then feel more inclined and less afraid to try new things.

Do Something New Everyday

Whether placing a different order when you’re out at your favourite café, or putting on that shirt that you never had any confidence to wear, you need to break out of your comfort zone. There’s no need to plan for it; go with the flow. When the opportunity presents itself, don’t hesitate and do it.

Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone!

Do What You Want

Forget the rules, and do whatever makes you happy. Life is for living, so live it loud and proud. Focus on what makes you happy, and incorporate it into your life as much as possible. don’t get stuck doing things that don’t work for you just because it’s become your routine. Just be sure you don’t hurt yourself or anyone else.

Start Saying Yes

Whether it’s an invite to a party where you don’t know many people, an invitation to have drinks with co-workers you’re not very close with, take a risk and say yes. Something as simple as this can make a big difference to your day-to-day lifestyle. Once you start saying yes, you will notice more great opportunities arising that you otherwise might have rejected.

Stop Doubting Yourself

The more you feel like you can’t do things, the more likely you won’t. When you psych yourself out to try something new that you’re uncomfortable with, you’ll likely break out of your monotonous routine. Spice up your life by telling yourself that you can do it, and you will.

Read Now: How to Overcome Fear of Failure

Turn Off Your Gadgets

When you don’t have any distractions in the way, you will be more willing to get up and get something done. Taking a break from your phone or computer can force you into new situations that are likely to be more rewarding.

Speak To a Stranger

More often than not, we tend to retreat into our comfort zone when we’re in unfamiliar territory and faced with unfamiliar faces. Don’t hesitate to speak to a stranger. You’ll be surprised at what you may gain.

Your life is meant to be lived and not wasted doing things that bring you no joy. Despite your responsibilities, there’s no reason why you can’t inject some spontaneity into your life to make it that much more worthwhile.

For further advice from our professional lifestyle coaches, contact us at Ceed today! 

8 Quick and Small Changes to a Better Life

Posted on 25 November 2021 - 12:00 pm by admin

It’s the little things we do that allow us to live a better life. You don’t need to go making big changes in order to see improvement. Small changes build over time and are less daunting at first. This can encourage you to continue and stay consistent in your changes.

Science supports this theory. For example, research from Cornell University has found that small, easy changes are better for promoting weight loss. Making small initial changes can help motivate you to take on further changes to help better your life in the long run.

Yes, we are all different. However, certain activities and behaviours have been shown to universally help people improve their overall well-being. If you’re searching for ways to help improve your life by making quick, small changes to your lifestyle – consider these eight tips and tricks.

Don’t be overwhelmed. You don’t have to try all of them. Pick a few and work from there. Little steps will get you far.

Implementing little changes can have a big impact!

Smile More Often

Smiling has been shown to significantly reduce stress, increase serotonin levels and even reduce how often we are feeling unwell. Smiling more often can also give the illusion that you look younger than you are – an added bonus!

A Psychology and Ageing study showed that when a group looked at photos of happy faces, they guessed the age of the person lower, while photos of the same person with neutral or angry expressions were higher.

Funnily enough, you don’t even need to mean it when you smile – you can fake it ‘til you make it. Research has shown that even a fake smile has positive benefits too! So, remember to get your smile on!

Take a Morning Walk

Going on a morning walk and building your routine around it can have amazing effects on your physical and mental wellbeing. Regular morning walks can even help you:

Feel better physically and mentally, clearing your mind
Lower the risk of heart disease, stroke diabetes and certain types of cancer
Lower blood pressure
Improve memory
Increase energy
Prevent weight gain

Morning walks in particular tend to start and end your day in a good mood. Walking also helps you to feel sleepy, meaning you’re more ready for bed when the time comes. This also results in an overall better mood the next morning!

Wear Suncream

Most of us will (hopefully) put suncream on when it’s a hot and sunny day. However, you might want to start getting into the habit of putting it on every time you go outside. Not only will this help to keep your skin looking young and wrinkle-free, but it also will protect you against skin cancer.

It’s equally as important as taking a walk in the first place! This habit truly only takes a few minutes to implement, but its benefits are long-lasting.

Make sure you use suncream to protect yourself on your walks!

Spend Time Away from Social Media

Social media is now an embedded part of our society. However, research has shown that social media can have a corrosive effect on mental health. For example, social media often causes us to produce an idealised image of ourselves and our lives. That action can indeed cause damage to our self-perception and happiness.

Many people search social media for approval from others and absorb an unrealistic perception of how their life should be. This often results in a higher chance of developing symptoms of depression. Therefore, spending some time away or limiting your exposure to technology can help prevent this and boost your mental wellbeing.

Drink More Water

So I’m sure you’ve heard about needing to drink eight cups of water a day, right? Does it seem like too much? Well, research shows that drinking enough water can reduce the risk of depression and anxiety.

Even a case of mild dehydration can take its toll on our mental and bodily health. Losing just 1% of your body mass, which might occur as part of everyday living, can lead to a dip in mood and anxiety.

Our brains are 75% water. It depends on proper hydration to function properly. So, it’s no surprise that a lack of water can cause our emotional processes to weaken.

Drinking more water every day can benefit your physical and mental wellbeing!

Set Reminders on Your Phone

Setting up reminders makes sense. We can’t remember everything! Offloading the responsibility of remembering certain tasks to your phone can free up mental space for other tasks.

Even better, studies have shown how reminders can help us save more money, keep up with medical treatment and even be more charitable. What’s not to like about that?

Learn How to Cook a Signature Dish

Cooking can help boost your mood and improve your mental health. Cooking has been known to actually be used a therapy. There are therapeutic cooking programmes, culinary therapies and culinary mindfulness.

All of these activities embody the same belief: the act of cooking at home can benefit your mental health. Cooking is an act of patience, mindfulness and an outlet for creative expression. You don’t need to be Gordon Ramsay – start small by learning one signature dish and practice perfecting it!

Eat Without Distractions

Distracted eating is incredibly common in our society today. Our lives have gotten so fast-paced that it seems indulgent to take time away from our day to eat without any distractions. Are you a distracted eater? Do these situations sound familiar?

Eating breakfast in the car on the way to work
Eating lunch at your desk
Watching TV during dinner

Reduce distractions while you eat for a more satisfying meal!

If you answered yes to any of these, you are a distracted eater. But you are definitely not alone! Try to stick to set meal times and eat without any of these distractions. It helps with mindfulness around food and can help prevent overeating.

Remember, taking small, achievable steps towards your goals makes you more likely to succeed in achieving your goals.