Ready for the new year and planning on achieving new goals? When planning for the future, you can use this guide to help you create a vision board that gets you your dream life.

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Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

At the beginning of every year, millions of people create resolutions or goals that they would like to accomplish throughout the year. Significantly, a lot of those people never reach their end goals and often find themselves further away from the life they want for themselves.

Admittedly, creating a vision board provides a visual representation of your dream lifestyle. Looking at this display can give you the motivation you need to keep on track. According to the writers at Psychology Today, positive emotions often create opportunities and increase the chances of success.

The purpose of having and maintaining an adaptable, effective vision board is to make yourself believe that you can actually obtain a better, happier way of living. Whatever that looks like to you, you can have it. You just have to think that enough until you attract and manifest what you have been working towards.

Are you ready to begin a new journey of personal growth? Keep reading to discover how we recommend you create the best vision board for attracting your dream future.

How To Create A Vision Board To Attract Your Dream Future

Here are some practical tips on how to create a vision board for the future:

Find Inspiration

Prior to the start of putting the pieces together, it’s important to find inspiration. Pinterest, Instagram, and other forms of social media are great tools for discovering your personal wants and needs. Ask yourself, what is missing from your life currently? What do you want to be doing differently in the years to come?

Essentially, the images you choose should reflect answers to the personal questions you ask yourself. Find ways to access those photos whether you cut out photos from books or magazine spreads or save them to your phone and computer for the time being. Regard this step as not necessarily the easiest but the most therapeutic.

Lastly, keep in mind that this step is not meant for you to be envious of others and find new excuses as to why you can’t provide for yourself. If others can do it, then you can to because you can visually see that it’s possible. Even the simple act of you seeing an image that pleases you aesthetically provides a good start to becoming motivated while creating your new vision board.

Choose A Method

There are multiple different ways to make a display of your dream life. Vision boards come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be created physically or electronically. It is really important to discover which method would be best for your most successful self.

You could go with the classic, physical board where you find inspiration from pictures in magazines or printed from the internet. Or you can choose the electronic route and make a digital vision board use across platforms. Regardless of what you choose, there will be tips and techniques mentioned to make the process more practical and more fun.

Here are 3 methods that you may want to try:

Physical Technique #1: The Classic Board

One type of this particular method is the most known type of vision board where you generally place pictures onto a board-like surface, but i can serve a more effective purpose. Here your materials include:

• some kind of poster board or big sheet of paper
• a collection of pictures
• really strong pair of scissors
• long lasting glue

1. Create Categories

After you have gathered your inspiration, organize the photos into separate categories of your life. Some things you may want to improve and others maintain. It still takes some manifestation and visualizing to wish yourself the fortune of maintaining a certain aspect of your lifestyle. Certain privileges like being able to get your favorite coffee at your favorite coffee shop every other day are small yet appreciated.

Categories can include work, health, friendships, relationships, financial well-being etc. Choose anywhere from 2-4 for a focused outlook, or include a little of everything to simply attract a more positive and happy situation.

2. Collect And Organize

Collect your images into one place, print them out, and proceed to cutting the pictures out. Once you have your pictures cut out, you can place them into your respective categories of life. Notice things like colors and patterns that show up repeatedly, as they can tell you more about the specific lifestyle you desire.

You can also include images that are just quotes you like or travel destinations you would like to one day visit. There are genuinely very few rules when it comes to making. vision board. It is all in your hands to be creative and intentional.

3. Make It To Your Aesthetic

Pro-Tip: You may want to place around with the arrangement of the pictures for a minute before gluing in the pieces. Doing so will make it more aesthetically pleasing once your finished creating your vision board. Pasting everything onto your desired surface is the easiest part as well as the final aspect of creation.

Enjoy this masterpiece or continue to find out other ways to create a vision board.

Physical Technique #2: Put Your Vision Board In Your Journal

This method is very similar to the first physical technique mentioned being the classic vision board. For this one, you will follow steps one to three almost exactly. However, there are a few aspects of putting the vision board into your journal that require a few extra, well-intentioned steps.

For instance, you will want to make your images smaller in some form or another. You can either cut out smaller pictures or make the jpeg files more compressed and compact. Most journals are about 5 inches by 8.5 inches. Therefore, you really should be mindful of how big your particular would be. Will you use half a spread, or a whole spread?

Notably, there are a few more things you could easier do in a bullet journal. You could draw doodles on top or use washi-etape which is less messy than glue. Also, you could easily add your arrangement of stickers for a scrapbook effect. On the other hand, you could keep it simple with a few photos and deliberately placed doodles and decorations.

Creating your vision board in your choice of journal also ensures that you would have access to it regularly. Especially if it was a daily habit like bullet journaling, that is the case. Nonetheless, this process is likely less time consuming and worth a decent try for those who wish to be more efficient when manifesting their dreams.

Electronic Technique: Use Canvas To Manifest Your Dreams

In continuation, the least time consuming process out of all and equally the easiest is creating an electronic or digital vision board. The only material required for this method include an electronic device that has access to the internet.

Then all you need to do from there is find your favorite collage making app, take the inspiration you have downloaded, and copy then paste. Out of all the apps you could utilize, my personal favorite would have to be Canvas. It is easy to navigate, comes with templates and stock images, and is best of all free.

Other great apps to create a vision board include Phonto, Bazzaart, and Adobe Photoshop. This one is really hard to mess up, so failure isn’t really an issue. Whenever you don’t like the way something looks, you can simply delete and paste in something else that fits better.

Where Does Your Vision Board Go?

If you made a physical vision board, you should place the board someplace where you can see it on a daily basis. Some people put it on their wall as their personal piece on mental health art, and others keep it by their workspace.

Perhaps you made an electronic vision board, then you could place it wherever you have the file downloaded for the best efficiency. Think about which devices you use the most that also has access and place your vision board on your tablet, phone, or computer as a wallpaper.

Important thing to remember is that no mater what you choose to put onto the board, or how badly you want this dream life. In order to utilize you personal tool to it’s fullest potential, you mus be willing to work toward your goals everyday, Looking at the vision board you created is a step in a motivated direction. But it is up to you to continue on that that path.

Good luck and good fortune. Tell us down below in the comments if you guys feel inspired to create vision boards and how you think they help you live the life you desire. We look forward to the positive vibes and well-placed intentions.

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The post How To Create A Vision Board For Your Dream future appeared first on HiSensitives.

With the new year quickly approaching, highly sensitive people should reflect on the past year of their lives and look forward to the future. Everything you want to accomplish is within your grasp using these 23 tips to create new years resolutions in 2024.

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Every new year comes with new and sometimes daunting expectations of changing your entire life around. However, highly sensitive people need not get overwhelmed or feel intimidated by the intensity of this time of year.

The important themes to keep in mind when you create your new year’s resolutions are to let go of what was, accept what is, and look to the future of who you want to be. Also, you have a lot more power and say in the future you want to create for yourself. So, learn how to take control, and perfect it using these 23 tips to create new year’s resolutions for 2024.

So, How Do You Actually Create New Years Resolutions

You may wonder how exactly you can create the perfect new year’s resolutions as a highly sensitive person. Here are ways to do that.

#1 Set Aside The Time

The absolute first thing to do is set aside the proper time to sit down and go through the process of creating new year’s resolutions. Thoughtfully, you should be able to complete this on your “reset” day of the week.

Moreover, choose a time where you feel motivated and inspired. If you choose to break into segments to make it easier to accomplish that would also be a great idea for highly sensitive people especially.

#2 Focus Your Mindset On Creating New Year’s Resolutions

What are new year’s resolutions meant for? The only true answer is your personal growth. Any other purpose for creating your new year’s resolutions will most likely contain bias or a people-pleasing initiative. Doing this process is for your personal betterment. Try your best not to forget that.

#3 Reflect On The Past

Ask yourself, what happened this year? What were the highlights and the rough times? Notably making an outline of all that has happened can remind you not to focus on either all good or all bad. These ups and downs are what contribute to your personal growth.

#4 Think About How You Feel

What emotions came up when reflecting on the things that happened this year? This can pertain to your personal life or things going on in your country or community. Often, the things happening around us can have a drastic effect on our mental and physical health. Admittedly, this step is for discernment and grounding.

#5 Write Your Thoughts Down Freely

Getting things down on paper is in your absolute best interest. Hence, place yourself in the present moment and let your brain flow freely from pen to paper. Make sure to invest in a journal where you can jot down all your thoughts.

For instance, you may like this leather journal.

#6 No Room For Judgement While Creating New Year’s Resolutions

Being vulnerable is probably not going to feel the most comfortable for you. When it comes to being honest, that is another battle to prepare for. However, judging yourself through this process will only detract from your energy.

#7 Acknowledge Your Present State

Think about where you are mentally, physically, and spiritually if this applies. Take this time. to notice every detail and bring attention to what needs improving.

How has your gut health been? Given the effects of your gut on your mental health and sleep, it is something that should take priority. Prior to thinking about the more superficial things when creating your new year’s resolutions.

#8 Did You Accomplish The New Year’s Resolutions You Created Last Year?

This question isn’t for the intention of making you feel bad about not completing everything you set out to do this past year. It is only there to place yourself at a certain point on your life path. Hence, show yourself grace and gratitude for all that you have and haven’t accomplished.

#9 Were Any Of The New Years’ Resolutions You Created Unrealistic?

Sometimes highly sensitive people overestimate their abilities and unintentionally put too much on their plate. Were your eyes bigger than your stomach this year? This honesty will benefit you long term once you adjust your personal expectations.

#10 What Can You Now Accept?

Throughout this past year, it is understandable to assume that you had at least one or two realizations about life. What limits of your highly sensitive person have you discovered? Take note of them and remind yourself of the lessons you learned.

#11 Remember To Keep Things Organized

Try out using a goal planner if that works best for you. The answers to these questions will become cluttered if you try to squeeze everything into one spread. Therefore, it’s best to just dedicate a few pages in the notebook of your choosing and give the effort to actually keep organized.

#12 Begin Creating New Year’s Resolutions By Setting Intentions

Truthfully, understand what kind of lifestyle you are seeking. What kind of feelings do you want to invite? After all, you can’t begin to create goals without first focusing on the energy you are intending to attract. New year’s resolutions need the intention behind them. Otherwise, they are just wishful thinking transformed into words on some random paper. You could also consider creating a vision board to visualize your intention in an inspiring way.

#13 Think Small

When trying to incorporate the habit of sticking to the new year’s resolutions you create, it’s imperative that you start small. although it may feel like underestimating your potential, it feels a lot better to exceed expectations rather than never meet them.

#14 Create Measurable Attainable Goals

After setting your intentions and knowing which direction to go in, you should be able to easily create measurable goals to keep track of your progress. These goals are merely a tool to act on your intentions to create new year’s resolutions that work.

#15 Try Making Your New Year’s Resolutions Quarterly

Admittedly, breaking down the new year’s resolutions you create can make them feel easier to accomplish and tackle. The more feasible you make the goal, the more motivation you will likely have. For instance, quarterly is a great division for your goals as you have 3 whole months to reach a certain accomplishment, and it’s easier to acknowledge your progress throughout the year.

#16 Check In Periodically

During these quarterly goal-setting periods, you should prioritize checking in with yourself as well. This way, you can try to prevent and tackle feelings of overwhelm and anxiety before they get too out of hand.

#17 Rewrite Your Goals If You Need To

If at some point during the year you realize that things aren’t working out, then change your plan around. This can happen at any time you feel inspired to do so. The sooner you allow yourself to change, the more change will feel welcome to work.

#18 Use Realistic Habits To Accomplish The New Year’s Resolutions You Create

Accomplishing resolutions for the long term starts with implementing habits in the short term. Perhaps you can pick up reading for 20 minutes every day, or simply make it a habit to make your bed every morning. Prove to yourself that you are capable of implementing smaller habits in daily routines.

#19 Half-Way Point

At this time in your life, you should sit down and take the time to reevaluate your goals, intentions, and dreams. It’s okay if you decide to change something halfway through the year as long as you give yourself grace and create a new meaningful plan for the path you want to now take. This can typically happen around summertime and before the autumn season.

#20 Create A System For Accountability

Essentially, accountability can come in many forms. You can provide consequences for yourself when you don’t commit to certain habits. On the other hand, you can also give yourself rewards for motivation. Or, you can even clue in a friend on your new year’s resolutions to create a collaborative system of accountability.

#21 Show Gratitude Often

Notably, gratitude is grounding. This technique calmly reminds you why you choose to keep going. There are things you love and appreciate and you show gratitude to them on a consistent basis. This includes showing gratitude for yourself and others.

#22 Take Vacations or Extended Breaks

You really do have all the time in the world. Absolutely, you can afford to take a week or two off from work. The art of productivity is to prioritize your downtime for its purpose as well. Consequently, if you continue on the path of always keeping busy, you may experience things like burnout.

#23 Be Kind to Yourself

Oftentimes, we tend to let go of our new years resolutions because we didn’t 100% succeed at keeping up with them. However, even the tiniest steps towards reaching your new years resolutions should be celebrated. If you forgot your routine for a day, try to pick it up again the next day, even if it only is for 10-20 minutes. Any progress is progress! Therefore, be kind to yourself in the process.

Wishing You The Best of Luck With Your New Year’s Resolutions

There is no need to rush your life path. Sometimes, things weren’t meant for you in the current moment and that’s okay. All you have to focus on is what is going on right now, be grateful for your past, and have hope for your future. Make sure to comment down below, your favorite tip for 2024.

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The post 23 Tips To Create New Years Resolutions For 2024 appeared first on HiSensitives.

Do you want to live a happier life? Slow living can help you to achieve that. Here’s how to live a happy life through the art of slow living.

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Throughout the past years, I’ve discovered that many of my life decisions and internal thoughts revolve around ideas that were imprinted on me by society.

“You have to hustle 24/7.”

“Rest is for losers.”

“Only lazy people work less than 8 hours a day.”

Our culture tries to make us believe that we only are good enough if we are productive throughout most of our time awake. However, it is this mindset that almost caused me to end up feeling burnt out at the age of 26.

Thankfully, I know better now and there is one particular lifestyle that helped me to live my happiest life; slow living.

In this article, I’ll share everything you need to know to get started with slow living as a highly sensitive person or empath.

What Is The Art Of Slow Living?

While there are many definitions circulating the internet of what slow living is, it comes down to this; slow living is all about learning to consume less and start taking a slower approach to life.

Instead of rushing from milestone to milestone, memory to memory, or purchase to purchase, you start living more in the here and now. It is all about learning to approach your daily life at a slower pace.

Before I learned about slow living, I’d easily schedule 3 or 4 appointments in one day, focusing on using my time as efficiently as possible. However, as a highly sensitive introvert, this approach exhausted me!

After becoming a slow living enthusiast, I learned that my time only can be spent once and that I should spend it on things that align with my values.

And that is what slow living is all about; living your life with meaning. More meaning and less stress and rushing. It includes letting go of the idea that you have to be productive 24/7. It involves not scheduling every minute of your day, but rather going with the flow. Also, it means to let go of the idea that you only are good enough if you are doing. Rather, it is all about being.

Why Is Slow Living Valuable For The Highly Sensitive Person?

This lifestyle can be very beneficial for a highly sensitive person. After all, highly sensitive people are well-known for the fact that they seek a higher purpose in life in order to feel happier.

Our sensitive nervous system needs downtime. In order to function properly, the highly sensitive person needs to relax and slow down.

Slow living is all about living your life more slowly and with more meaning. For the highly sensitive person, this means to be conscious about how you spend your time and who you spend it with.

Applying this lifestyle in your daily life is a wonderful way of honoring your needs and becoming more present in the here and now.

Moreover, the slow living lifestyle reduces stress, which is highly beneficial for your overall health and well-being. Therefore, make sure to consider living this lifestyle for a while to see what it does for you.

How To Start Slow Living

Living a slow life can feel challenging at first. After all, you may be so used to the fast way of living, that it can be hard to let go of the hustle mindset.

I get it, as I faced the same struggles a couple of years ago. It is easy to stay in your comfort zone. However, your future self will thank you for daring to choose the slow-living lifestyle.

With the right mindset, it is possible to learn how to practice slow living. Rather than trying to change your life drastically, try applying the slow living lifestyle step by step.

For instance, begin by looking at your social obligations. What is the ideal amount of times you’d like to meet up with friends per month? Or how often would you like to go to parties? What are your social boundaries and how good are you listening to your boundaries right now?

After mapping that out, try to see how you can apply changes to your schedule to create a more slow lifestyle. What helped me, was to clear all social appointments and talk with my friends.

I expressed that I felt the need to live more day by day rather than filling up my schedule weeks ahead. Thankfully, my friends were very compassionate in this process and they actually felt a sense of relief to live that way too!

After clearing my social schedule and mastering slow living there, I made more changes within my career, household, and finances to be more aligned with the slow living lifestyle.

Slow living should not cause you any stress. Therefore, start applying it to one area of your life first. Once you master that, move on to the next aspect, to see how you can live a slower, more happy life.

5 Slow Living Ideas For A Happy Life

Here are 5 slow-living tips for beginners. These slow living tips are ideal for the stressed soul and can be applied no matter where you live – whether it be in the countryside or in the city.

#1 Meditation

As mentioned, slow living is all about being present in the here and now. Consequently, one might conclude that slow living and mindfulness go together very well.

Becoming more mindful through meditation helped me to learn to live a slower life. Every day, I try to meditate for at least 5 minutes to ground my energy and bring my mind back to the here and now.

Especially highly sensitive people – who oftentimes are overthinkers – can benefit from meditation. It helps calm the mind and thereby reduces stress and anxiety. Keen on getting started with meditation? You may want to try these meditations for beginners.

#2 Slow Cooking

Another way to apply slow living for a happy life is to practice slow cooking. Instead of purchasing microwave meals, try purchasing fresh ingredients and cooking your own meals from scratch.

It is slower, but that is what slow living is about, right? To not rush from one to do to the other and rather focus on a slower approach to life.

What helped me, was to find new, inspiring recipes that I always wanted to try but never took the time for. Trying new dishes is such a fun activity and the focus on using the right ingredients definitely grounds you in the here and now.

#3 Monotasking

One of my slow living essentials is monotasking. Rather than doing everything at once, I focus on one task and reduce the noise around all the other tasks on my to-do list.

In the morning, I prioritize the tasks that are the most important. Then, each task gets my full attention. Rather than checking e-mails or notifications on my phone while working on a task, I turn off all distractions and devote my presence to that specific task.

Doing so, helps me to be more productive and be more present within each task. It also helps me to calm my highly sensitive nervous system and reduce stress.

#4 Unplugged Weekends

Another powerful slow living tip that I love, is to do an unplugged weekend every now and then. Our phones and computers oftentimes distract us from being in the here and now.

Many of us struggle with feeling bored and need to be entertained 24/7. However, our minds need the silence of the present moment.

Unplugging your phone and computer for a weekend can help you to calm your mind and practice slow living. You’ll be surprised to see how your weekend goes when you make little to no plans and don’t stimulate your mind through connection with the internet.

#5 Declutter Your Life

Finally, I highly recommend you declutter your life. In order to be more present in the here and now, it is important to get rid of all the things you actually don’t use or value anymore.

You’ll be surprised how many items in your kitchen or your closet you don’t use anymore when you start decluttering your home.

Also, decluttering can go as far as letting go of social connections that don’t serve both parties anymore, cleaning up your digital environment, and clearing your schedule.

By focusing your attention solely on items that you still use, rather than continuously being on the hunt for more, more, more, you’ll be more present in the here and now and live a more grateful life.

Mindset Tips To Maintain A Slow Living Lifestyle

Now that you’ve received these practical tips to start a slow living lifestyle, you may wonder how to embrace slow living. After all, it is easier said than done. Your mind is probably already trying to convince you that this is a bad idea.

“My work won’t allow this”.

“My friends will ditch me if I see them less”.

“I can’t live a fulfilled life without shopping all the time.”

I get it. Embracing the slow living lifestyle can be quite exciting. After all, it is a major life change. What helped me, were a couple of mindset changes, which I’ll happily share with you below:

You Can Only Create Impact In The Present Moment

The first mindset change that helped me to embrace slow living, was the realization that I only can create an impact in the here and now. The past is in the past and the future is not here yet.

I only have the power over the present moment. Therefore, it is so crucial to allow my mind to be present in the here and now, rather than drifting off into what I could have done better in the past, or what I could do in the future.

The here and now is what counts when you want to create change.

Does It Make You Happy?

Another important mindset change that I applied to live more consciously, was to ask myself “does this make me happy”? Before committing to a new project, a new friendship, a social obligation, or other to-do’s, I always ask myself, how doing that contributes to my happiness.

As an empath, I oftentimes committed my time to obligations because I had poor boundaries and wanted to please others. This resulted in me feeling burned out and exhausted.

However, after I started asking myself whether something makes me happy, I managed to be more conscious of what I commit my time to.

Some Final Remarks

Now that you’ve discovered how to live a happy life through slow living, I highly encourage you to start applying slow living in one area of your life!

Choose the area that you currently find the most exhausting and try to make the needed changes there.

Where will you start applying slow living?

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The post How To Live A Happy Life Through The Art Of Slow Living appeared first on HiSensitives.

Are you overstimulated? Learn why a relaxing bath is a perfect way to soothe, comfort, and restore the senses for a Highly Sensitive Person.

Estimated reading time: 123 minutes

Highly sensitive people understand the value of having a peaceful and safe place to retreat to. After a long day of tension, it’s critical to develop a tranquil habit.

Taking a bath is as much about self-care and relaxation as it is about getting clean! You want to get the most out of your bathing experience as possible. This article explains how to create the most relaxing bath ritual as a highly sensitive person. It also highlights the mental and physical benefits of including this activity in your routine.

The Ways Taking a Bath Promotes Restorative Relaxation For the Highly Sensitive Person

Taking a relaxing bath provides countless health benefits for a highly sensitive person. Below, I listed some of the main advantages of bath time:

Reduces Stress

When it comes to Self-Care and Stress Relief, baths are usually near the top of the list. But I’d like to go over this process in greater depth.

For starters, a bath can improve your mood just as much as physical activity. Bathing can activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which is the part of your body responsible for relaxing, according to studies.

As your nervous system adjusts to the warming influence of the environment around you, you will notice a reduction in stress levels. A bath might literally compel your body to adjust how it handles worry if you’re feeling anxious. Because the nervous system of the Highly Sensitive Person is particularly reactive, the soothing warmth has a nice relaxing effect.

Second, bathing, like exercise, releases endorphins, or what I call “positive peps.” Exercising and taking a relaxing bath as a highly sensitive person both give you a pep in your step. Dr. Bobby Buka, a dermatologist, explains that “your skin releases endorphins in response to the soothing warm water in the same way that endorphins are released when you feel the sun on your skin.” “Submerging ourselves in hot water can be both therapeutic and reinvigorating because blood flow to the skin increases,” he explains.

Finally, warm baths were linked to lower levels of stress hormones such as cortisol. Cortisol interacts with neurotransmitters, which are chemical messengers that carry signals from the brain to the rest of the body. Neurotransmitters are important in mood regulation.

Warm water immersion, on the other hand, can raise levels of serotonin, a chemical produced by the brain that is associated with happiness and well-being. This may appear to be a lot of brain talk, but it all points to one thing: bathing improves your mood and happiness!

Relieves Aches and Pains

Because our bodies are 70% water, moist heat can penetrate deeper into muscles and tissues, allowing them to relax. Soaking in a warm bath a few times per week can also help with muscle soreness and tension, making it easier to exercise on a daily basis.

If you are hesitant to engage in strenuous exercise, stretching and moving in water has been shown to have a low impact on the joints, muscles, and bones while still providing an adequate workout. Pain and inflammation can be reduced by immersing in warm water for a short period of time. Relaxing baths, like using a heating pad, can also help relieve the pains of menstrual cramps.

You may also enjoy reading: How To Synch Your Life With Your Menstrual Cycle

Improves Circulation

A warm bath not only improves blood flow but also improves oxygenation by allowing you to breathe deeper and slower, especially when taking in steam. (Hello, at-home facial!)

Baths, when taken on a regular basis, may also help prevent heart attacks and strokes, according to several studies. “The high temperatures in a warm tub or sauna cause your blood vessels to dilate, which lowers blood pressure,” says Dr. Adolph Hutter, a Harvard Medical School professor of medicine.

“The volume of blood your heart pumps will also increase, particularly in a hot tub.” “This is due to the pressure of the water on the body, which increases the workload of the heart,” he explains.

Helps Strengthen Immunity

Bathing can kill bacteria and boost immunity. It can also help to alleviate the symptoms of a cold or flu. While a bath will not cure an illness, it may be soothing and calming to the body while you are fighting it.

A relaxing bath may also help the highly sensitive person to temporarily relieve symptoms such as congestion, aches, or fever, thereby assisting the healing process.

Moisturizes

Bathing cleans and hydrates your skin, hair, and eyes. Taking a bath (and also the steam) exposes you to fluid, which is a great way to stay hydrated.

We are always encouraged to drink plenty of water because the human body is mostly made of it. However, soaking in water is also extremely beneficial. Bonus points if you drink water while you take your relaxing bath!

Why Taking a Relaxing Bath is Beneficial for the Highly Sensitive Person

After discovering these benefits, you may wonder why taking a relaxing bath is particularly valuable for a highly sensitive person. Below, I listed some of the main advantages:

High Body Awareness

The Highly Sensitive Person is naturally motivated to pay close attention to practicing self-care. It’s a positive impact of the trait because if they don’t, they’ll suffer the consequences of neglect quite severely.

Because the highly sensitive person has an innate ability to be affected by relaxing stimulation, taking care of yourself with a relaxing bath will benefit us even more than our Non-HSP counterparts.

Serenity

A bath’s tranquil atmosphere is ideal for meditation, thought processing, and escape from the overstimulating hustle and bustle. Meditation has numerous advantages, particularly for the Highly Sensitive Person. More information can be found in this blog post. A guided body scan is another way for HSPs to connect with their inner selves. However, any method you choose to achieve mental serenity will be wonderful.

How to Set Up the Perfect Relaxing Bath Environment for the Highly Sensitive Person

Now that you are well aware of the many benefits of taking a relaxing bath as a highly sensitive person, here are some ways to get the most out of your bath time:

Colors and Items Promoting Calmness

Using spa-like paint colors is one of the simplest ways to create a peaceful bathroom. By using soothing paint colors on your bathroom walls, you will create a space that you will enjoy using.

Cool and tranquil colors such as grays and neutrals are excellent choices for a relaxing bathroom. Keep it light with blues or greens, or warm it up with richer hues like a deep taupe. Whether you choose blue, green, or white, the softer tones will undoubtedly promote calmness and relaxation, both of which are important considerations when choosing the best paint colors for your space.

In order to truly enjoy a relaxing bath, the highly sensitive person needs to feel comfortable in their environment. Part of that includes bringing natural, comforting colors into your home.

If you are renting a space and are unable to paint the walls, go with harmonious decor! Use the colors described above to make a shower curtain, towels, or mats. Decorate with smooth materials or items that bring back memories of your happy place. Given that you’ll be using this space to unwind, a fluffy mat, water feature, happy photo, or fun shower curtain are all excellent choices.

Remove Clutter

It can be distracting to have too many items crammed around you or in your space. Especially for the highly sensitive person, it is important to remove clutter in order to have a relaxing bath time.

According to a Princeton Neuroscience Institute study, having a lot of visual stimuli present while trying to concentrate results in those items competing for your attention. Simply put, if there is too much going on in your line of sight, you will have to concentrate harder to complete a task. And who wants to concentrate on unwinding?! Not for me!

Maintain a Clean Space

Just because your tub appears to be clean does not mean it is. If you enjoy taking regular baths (which hopefully you will after reading this article), it is recommended that you clean your tub once a week to avoid bacteria buildup and mildew. Or the distraction of unclean things… looking at you, hair in the drain. Gross! Check out these time-saving cleaning hacks for a gleaming tub. An easier process works for the majority of people who aren’t thrilled with the aspect of cleaning- after you shower or bathe, use a cleaning spray and give your tub a quick rinse. Voila!

Apply the Right Lighting

HSPs are extremely sensitive to light. Fluorescent lighting in the workplace, as well as blue light from computer and phone screens, aggravates the situation. While taking a relaxing bath, close the blinds or dim the lights to please your needs as a highly sensitive person. Any way to make those precious retinas go “ahhh.”

Candles are a popular way to achieve a soothing light effect. Helpful Hint! Beeswax candles burn longer, smell like honey, and purify the air. Just be careful where you place the candles; no one wants their bath to be interrupted by a falling flame!

Inviting Aromas

Speaking of candles, what a great way to invite alluring aromas into your relaxation space! HSPs prefer scents that can relax the central nervous system, reducing stress and anxiety.

Popular essences include Lavender, Jasmine, Vanilla, Peppermint, and Ylang Ylang, among many others. You could also use a diffuser, room spray, plug-in, or potpourri instead of candles.

Room Temperature

The temperature of the room should be chosen based on the specific feelings of each Highly Sensitive Person. You want it to be “not too hot, not too cold, but just right,” like Goldilocks and her porridge. Before you get in, find the sweet spot temperature and set the thermostat.

Tranquil Music

Playing music during your bath is a lovely addition to creating a relaxing bath environment for the Highly Sensitive Person.

According to research, “listening to music appears to be able to change brain functioning to the same extent as medication… dominant brainwave activity frequencies associated with conscious states such as concentration, anxiety, and sleep… Slow beats promote the slow brainwaves associated with hypnotic or meditative states.”

So, basically, you want the experience that Phoebe from FRIENDS describes: “(in a soothing voice) Relax every muscle in your body. Listen to the plinky-plunky music. Okay, now close your eyes, and think of a happy place.“

There are a variety of fun waterproof speakers that can be used in the tub area these days. To play soothing playlists, simply connect your Google Home or Alexa. One I have created specifically for bath time can be found here.

Beverage of Choice

Adding your favorite drink to a bath can make it even more enjoyable and relaxing!

With the addition of a bath tray, glass holder, or side shelf to place your beverage on, you can sip splendidly on a Spritzer, Lemonade, Sparkling Water, or a nice glass of wine in style. (Of course, a water bottle should be nearby to keep you hydrated.)

Eliminate External Stimuli (As Best You Can!)

Close the bathroom door and say “no” to constant interruptions for maximum relaxation for the Highly Sensitive Person.

Now, I say “as best you can,” because we all know that there are distractions beyond our control, such as loud neighbors, street noise, a partner watching TV, or children who require attention.

However, in order to make the most of this sacred time to unwind those overstimulated nerves, eliminate any and all potential distractions.

One of the best ways to eliminate external stimuli is to turn off your phone while bathing. The goal of a relaxing bath for a Highly Sensitive Person is to eliminate distractions and overstimulation while focusing on wellness and replenishing your overall well-being.

This is not the time for your phone’s ring-ring alerts, the overwhelming effects of social media scrolling, the never-ending work email notifications, or the harmful blue light emitted by the screen. Instead, read an uplifting book, concentrate on your meditation, or simply sit and listen to soothing music… we want to be in a happy place.

Detoxification

Bathing is an excellent way to start the detoxification process and help the body’s lymph drainage system. We all know how important lymphatic system care is for high sensitives! Those illnesses must be fought.

Dry brushing beforehand for additional exfoliation, for example, is a tip for assisting with this process. Brush your lymphatic areas with long, vigorous strokes using a brush with firm bristles. Begin with your feet and progress to your legs, stomach, arms, and underarms. Here’s a fun video that shows how to Dry Brush the upper areas as well:

How To Enhance Your Bath for Maximum Relaxation As A Highly Sensitive Person

Is your environment set and ready? Here are some ways the highly sensitive person can create the ultimate relaxing bath time:

Ideal Water Temperature

You want the bathwater to be between 90 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit (32-40 degrees Celsius), but a thermometer isn’t necessary; simply hold your wrist in the water with your fist facing upwards. You’re in the right temperature range if it feels comfortable to you. Although scalding hot is ideal for some, too much heat removes your skin’s natural oils, leaving you dry and itchy.

Furthermore, some people may experience dizziness or weakness when taking a bath that is too hot. Stick to warm water to protect your skin. This is especially important if you are a Highly Sensitive individual with a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis.

Oils, Bubbles, and Salts, Oh My!

SO. MANY. EXCITING. ADDITIONS. Yippee! Let us begin with essential oils. Adding essential oils to your bath may be the perfect addition to a relaxing bath ritual for a highly sensitive person. Here are some pointers on how to enjoy them properly:

Salts are another way to add relaxation to your bath. Epsom Salts aren’t actually salt, but rather a combination of essential minerals. They contain primarily magnesium, an essential electrolyte that aids in muscle, nerve, and heart function.

According to research, Epsom Salts can help relax muscles and relieve pain. To reap the benefits, simply soak 300 grams (1+1/4 cup) in a tub of warm water for at least 15 minutes.

Who says bubble baths are only for kids? A layer of bath bubbles, in addition to being more FUN, acts as an insulator, keeping the bath water warmer for longer. Also, it’s difficult to not exhale a huge, gratifying sigh while immersed in a bubble bath… relaxation at its finest.

Head Rests

There’s no better way to pamper yourself than with a plush, luxurious bath pillow. Bath pillows come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but their purpose remains the same: to cradle your head, neck, and back against the uncomfortable ledge of your bathtub.

If you really want to spoil yourself, there are full-body bath pillows available. Another tried-and-true method is to place a rolled-up towel behind the neck. Anything works if it makes you feel more at ease.

Length of Bath Time

As tempting as it is to stay in your relaxing bath for an extended period of time, the ideal time for taking a bath is 20-30 minutes. Allow the effects to sink in, especially if you added extra goodies to your bath, but don’t stay in the water for too long or you’ll become prune-like.

If that is a bummer for you, I have included best practices for after you get out of the bath to keep the relaxing mood going!

Finished Your Relaxing Bath? Try These Best After Bath Practices For The Highly Sensitive Person

Here are some ways to take the relaxation out of your bathtub with you into your daily life:

Keep Treating Yourself

To begin with, you don’t want to ruin your superb relaxing time by getting out of the tub and frantically searching for your towel!

You should place it in an easily accessible location ahead of time. It also isn’t ideal to not thoroughly dry off, resulting in wet hair drips and chills.

A Highly Sensitive Person would benefit from investing in that fluffy big towel if they are prone to preferring certain textures. Purchase one that feels luxurious against your skin rather than scratchy or rough.

Continue your post-bath ritual in an equally plush robe, and you’ll feel like you’re at the spa.

Lock In That Moisture

“Applying moisturizer after a bath is absolutely critical because it provides an artificial barrier that can help prevent water loss and also keep out agents bacteria, viruses, and irritants that we don’t want to get into the skin,” says the American Academy of Dermatology.

“After taking a bath, apply moisturizer as soon as possible. Before applying the moisturizer, we like to gently pat the skin but leave it damp so that we don’t completely remove the moisture we receive from the water.” Lotion up quickly before all of that moisture evaporates, whether you prefer silky smooth hydrating lotion or thick body butter.

Stretching

A warm water bath will warm up your muscles and prepare them for stretching. Poses that stretch and open up your body on a regular basis can induce feelings of relaxation.

The physical benefits can also lead to a more relaxed state of mind. Doing this after a relaxing bath can help the highly sensitive person to unwind for bed now that your body is feeling better.

Bedtime

Something about the phrase “bedtime” makes a Highly Sensitive Person smile.

A growing body of research suggests that taking a warm bath before going to bed can help you sleep better. A person’s core body temperature naturally cools in the hours before bedtime, while the skin temperatures of the hands and feet rise.

Scientists hypothesize that immersing your body in warm water aids this natural temperature regulation process, resulting in better sleep. A warm bath also helps to strengthen and adjust the circadian rhythms, which affect every organ, including the brain and nervous system, by increasing core body temperature. What a relief for HSPs!

To read other helpful tips on improving sleep quality, check this out.

Now You Are Ready for Your Highly Sensitive Relaxing Bath!

Now that you have read everything you need to know about creating a relaxing bath as a highly sensitive person, it is time to put theory into practice. Head over to your bathroom, set the vibe, and dive in!

What is your favorite bath ritual?

Disclaimer*** All information in this article is my own opinion, and not to be taken as medical advice. Reliance on any information provided in this article is solely at your own risk. Please refer to your medical practitioner before making any medical decisions.

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The post How To De-Stress With Relaxing Baths As A Highly Sensitive Person appeared first on HiSensitives.

Are you struggling to find motivation as the year is coming to an end? Check out these practical tips to help you get back on track with your previously set resolutions. 

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Motivation can be relatively hard to come by as the year comes to a close. With vacations and holidays fast approaching, we are forced to acknowledge the hard truths of the past year. You could find yourself in a state of frustration with the realization that you may not be where you wanted to be already.

Highly sensitive people often put out an unrealistic set of goals for themselves. Throughout the year, they can feel overwhelmed by all of the new habits they are trying to implement. More often than not, highly sensitives may give up finding motivation for anything of relevance by the end of the year.

However, rather than roll over and give up, you found yourself on our website to find the motivation they have been looking for. Continue reading to discover the practical ways to find motivation at the end of the year.

1. Reflect On The Road So Far

One of the first things you should try is taking some time to reflect on the year so far. Yup, it’s time to grab your nearest journal and be really honest. These are some common questions to begin asking yourself:

• What goals were in the original script?
• Have you achieved any of your previously set goals?
• Which goals are left, and should you set new ones?
• What is stopping you from finding and keeping motivation?

Try to bring yourself back into the mindset of the person you were all the way back in January. Think about who that person was, what fears they had, and which dreams were important to them. Essentially, connect with yourself and reflect on the lifestyle you used to want.

2. Consider Your Conclusions

After you have answered the questions above, now it is time to think about the conclusions you came to. If you achieved your goals, then perhaps you should consider setting another small intention before the year is completely up. There are still a few months left for you to make the most of the rest of your year.

On the other hand, you may still have some things you have yet to accomplish. Make sure to rewrite them and set new intentions. What can you feasibly do in the upcoming weeks? Prioritize those objectives and you will begin finding the motivation you didn’t know you had. There is something therapeutic about allowing yourself another chance to accomplish things.

Lastly, you should really ponder why it is you are prevented from fulfilling your wants and needs. Are there any physical or mental blockages? In order to find your motivation, you should address these issues prior to creating any new plans of action. You wouldn’t want to continue your journey with a disadvantage, so contemplate what is in your control and make the plan to change that first.

This step shouldn’t be taken lightly, so find the time, to be honest and kind to yourself. As a result, you will discover that finding motivation isn’t as hard when you know what you should be striving towards.

So, How Do You Get Motivated?

Finding that motivation to jumpstart bettering your life is not as complicated you might think. It truly begins with what you are willing to change. Venture outside what is comfortable for you in order to break the chains of the cycle you are attached to.

Acknowledge that what you are doing currently, can be improved. Changing your mindset is better said than done, however, there are ways to combat your specific struggles.

3. Finding Motivation When Overwhelmed

Do you find that you often feel depressed and or even exhausted when it comes to implementing your goals into your life? This tends to occur for highly sensitive people in particular being susceptible to getting easily overwhelmed. Sometimes, even thinking about all the things you have to do can prevent you from actually starting.

That is your energy being depleted, and to combat this you should find ways to recharge it. Fill up your metaphorical cup before you keep endlessly pouring negative energy into the tasks at hand.

For instance, think about the energy it takes to mentally prepare for running a simple errand. You have to think about leaving the house and putting on “outside” clothes. It may be more beneficial to find acceptance for whatever chore you set out to do beforehand. By finding yourself less overwhelmed and more calm, you are unknowingly finding motivation in the process.

4. Discover Your Purpose 

Okay, that was a bit dramatic. I didn’t mean to cause a panic, but thinking about your purpose could absolutely help you find motivation. It isn’t even necessarily about a purpose that comes from something or someone else. The intent is to discover your purpose behind the need to find motivation.

To put it simply, this personal question inquires why you should be working towards that specific goal. When your goals are broad and unassuming, it may be a sign that you’re not taking enough risk for the reward you are seeking.

According to Fred Lunenburg, the most effective performance seems to result when goals are specific and challenging. They recommend evaluating performance and linking to feedback on results. The notion is to develop commitment and acceptance to the new routine.

By creating fervor and inciting purpose, you are tapping in to your core beliefs to find the motivation to reach your goals.

5. Find Motivation To Inspire Productivity 

Productivity for the sake of productivity is not progress and may not be healthy for a highly sensitive person. Extending the energy towards a couple tasks can be alright. but, what happens when we just keep adding things onto other plate whenever we have the slightest bit of free time?

The result, is far from mentally or physically stable. You may even be more drained than if you were to plan your productive states accordingly. What helps you stay productive? 

Do you prefer words of affirmation? Or maybe you might appreciate little gifts for yourself every time you do something to benefit your ultimate goal. These acts of love should sound familiar, as they can play a key role in productivity.

The idea is to show love and compassion towards yourself to encourage finding the motivation to be productive. When you do something because you have to, you could feel resentment to those tasks entirely. The purpose of your goals at the beginning of the year was to have a different lifestyle by the end of it. So, allow yourself to fall in love with the notion of a new you.

6. Develop A Healthier Lifestyle

Many doctors worldwide agree that good rest, eating healthy, and regular exercise can have short term and long term positive effects on you. If that many medical professionals agree on something then I bet it’s safe to say there is most likely some truth in it. Certainly, it should be easy enough to implement knowing all of the health benefits.

Of course, that was complete satire. If it were truly that easy than McDonald’s wouldn’t be so popular and obesity would pitfall. However difficult the process can be, highly sensitive people can make certain there are some qualities behind making a lifestyle change.

It doesn’t have to be a complete turn around given the small timeframe to get back on track with your goals. Contemplate drinking more water throughout your day and keeping up with your daily vitamin in take. A few extra health-focused minutes a day can boost energy levels and aid finding motivation.

How Do You Stay Motivated?

Admittedly, re-finding motivation is an interesting topic. There can’t be a be all end all, but you can try some new changes in your routine.

What works for someone else, may not work for you. Understanding and learning to move on from techniques that no longer better you will encourage you to finish the goal you started.

7. Keep Finding Motivation With Discipline

A stable routine can do amazing things for the disorganized, and overwhelmed person. Routines allow for a certain amount of control and stability that could truly alter your perspective in finding motivation and happiness.

You could begin waking up at an earlier time every day from now on until the rest of the year. This would enable you to get more things done in the day, or you could just finish your daily tasks earlier. You could most likely use the well-deserved rest, and this tip is practical enough to implement starting tomorrow.

Overall, deadlines have shown to improve the effectiveness of your goals. If you tell yourself that you have a month to read a book, it will take you the whole month to read the book. Meanwhile, if you only have a week then you trick yourself into being more disciplined. Knowing this life hack is sure to increase discipline and efficiency when accomplishing goals.

8. Remember That There Is Always More Time

Despite the feeling like there are only 24 hours in one day, we truthfully have the rest of our lives to reach our goals. Who says they have to be set in January and reached by December?

You don’t have to fit into the box, and highly sensitive people aren’t meant to. So even after the year is over, you can keep trying out the practical tips mentioned in this article. You can keep trying as long as you find the motivation to be determined.

These tips will hopefully help you in finding the motivation to complete your goals. Did anything resonate with you? Comment down below which tip inspired you the most.

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The post 8 Practical Tips To Find Motivation At The End Of The Year appeared first on HiSensitives.

Are you a highly sensitive person who regularly struggles with anxiety? In this blog, you’ll find 10 foods that help you to reduce anxiety!

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

As a highly sensitive person, you may experience anxiety and stress on a regular basis. These feelings may overwhelm you and significantly impact your day.

If you struggle with anxiety and perhaps even depression, you may want to find ways to reduce these mental health struggles. While working on your personal growth and mindset is helpful, adapting your nutrition and reducing the intake of bad food may be worth a shot.

In fact, there are plenty of foods out there to help you calm your anxiety. In this article, we share 10 foods that help you as a highly sensitive person to calm your nervous system and thereby reduce your anxiety.

How Can Food Reduce Anxiety?

First of all, you may wonder whether food actually can help with anxiety. And more so, why does food reduce anxiety?

Throughout the years, researchers have found various correlations between food and mental health. After all, food is what powers our ‘engines’.

Our body needs a broad variety of vitamins and minerals. These fuel our bodies and help us to function normally in daily life. Moreover, each food contains different elements and impacts our bodies in different ways.

Have you ever had a cup of coffee in the evening and struggled with falling asleep? That’s your body reacting to the caffeine that is found in coffee.

Consequently, it is logical that you are what you eat. Therefore, focusing on what you consume on a daily basis has a significant effect on your overall wellbeing. Especially when it comes to reducing anxiety as a highly sensitive person, choosing the right foods can be beneficial for you.

Additionally, various studies show that specific food types reduce anxiety, while others actually trigger anxious feelings. By being aware of what you eat, you can impact your mental health in a positive way.

What Foods Are Good To Reduce Anxiety?

Now that you are aware of the benefits of focusing on good nutrition, you may wonder what food relieves stress and anxiety. There are many natural food alternatives that help you to reduce anxiety.

If you haven’t given them a try yet, we highly recommend you to experiment with these different food types:

#1 Nuts & Seeds

First of all, you may want to consider adding nuts and seeds to your daily diet. It is a healthy snack with wonderful health benefits to reduce anxiety as a highly sensitive person.

For instance, brazil nuts contain high amounts of selenium. Selenium is an element that helps reduce inflammation. Inflammation is often found among people struggling with anxiety. Also, selenium alters levels of neurotransmitters in your brain and thereby may help you to reduce anxiety and even depression. Hence, implementing more food with selenium in your daily diet may help you to tackle your anxiety.

Other nuts and seeds you may want to consider are walnuts, almonds, and chia seeds. These foods contain healthy elements that are positively linked to improving your mood and reducing anxiety.

#2 Fatty Fish

Another great food type to reduce anxiety as a highly sensitive person is fatty fish. Think of fish types such as salmon, mackerel, or tuna.

These fish types contain high amounts of omega-3, which is responsible for decreasing inflammation and stress on your body. In addition, omega-3 helps to increase serotonin and dopamine – the feel-good hormones.

Consequently, if you’d like to reduce your anxiety by eating specific foods, you should try to implement eating fatty fish once or twice every week.

If you are vegan, there are alternatives out there to increase your omega-3 intake. For instance, you may try plant oils such as flaxseed oil, soybean oil, and canola oil. Also, walnuts, flaxseed, and chia seeds contain omega-3s.

#3 Whole Grains

Different studies show that whole grains contain high amounts of magnesium. Magnesium deficiency may result in anxiety. Therefore, by increasing your magnesium intake by eating whole grains, you may positively influence your nervous system.

Additionally, whole grains contain tryptophan, which ultimately becomes serotonin. Ultimately, you’ll want to increase your serotonin levels in order to feel less anxious. Eating whole grains may help you with that.

Foods that contain whole grains are pasta and bread. Therefore, try to find recipes that include this ingredient on a regular basis. Eating these foods may help you to reduce anxiety significantly.

#4 Dark Chocolate

Do you love chocolate, but are you worried about the high amounts of sugar? Try to switch to eating dark chocolate instead. Dark chocolate contains high amounts of flavanols like epicatechin and catechin.

Studies show that flavanols benefit brain function and contain neuroprotective effects. What does that mean? It means that these flavanols increase the blood flow to your brain and thereby improve cell-signaling pathways.

Consequently, this helps you to be able to deal more efficiently with stressful situations that may trigger your anxiety. Therefore, try eating more dark chocolate to reduce anxiety.

#5 Avocado

Avocados are rich in vitamin B. This vitamin is crucial for the development of healthy nerves and brain cells. Moreover, a deficiency of vitamin B in your body may be causing your feelings of anxiety.

This vegetable is a must-have on your list of healthy foods for highly sensitive people. As it helps to reduce stress and lowers your blood pressure, avocado is an absolute superfood.

Hence, purchase some avocados and add them to your dishes. For instance, make a healthy avocado toast or avocado pasta – yummy!

#6 Blueberries

One of our absolute favorite foods to reduce anxiety is the famous blueberry. In this tiny berry, there are plenty of health benefits!

For instance, blueberries are bursting with antioxidants and vitamin C. These are components that help to provide anxiety relief and therefore great if you want to feel less anxious.

In fact, one cup of blueberries contains 24% of our recommended daily allowance of vitamin C. Therefore, if you are looking for healthy fruits that reduce anxiety, put blueberries on your grocery list.

You can include it in a smoothie, your morning cereal bowl, or eat it as a snack during your day.

#7 Tea

Besides foods, there are also certain beverages that you may want to include in your daily food pattern. For instance, drinking green tea, herbal tea and black tea is incredibly good to reduce anxiety.

Green tea includes a high amount of L-theanine, which is an amino acid that reduces anxiety. Studies have shown that people who drink green tea experience less stress compared to those who don’t.

Drinking black tea is beneficial for reducing anxiety, because it increases dopamine turnover in your brain. Due to its theaflavins, it is a healthy beverage to involve in your tea assortiment.

Finally, herbal teas such as chamomile tea, mint tea and lavender tea have the effect to reduce anxiety significantly and soothe your mind.

Therefore, drink a cup of tea every day and notice how your anxiety decreases. For instance, get started with these tea products to reduce anxiety as a highly sensitive person.

#8 Ginger

As a highly sensitive person who wants to experience less anxiety, you should definitely add ginger to your weekly diet.

Studies show that ginger may reduce anxiety as effectively as benzodiazepines drugs! Due to its influence on serotonin levels, this is a wonderful way to naturally feel less anxious.

Moreover, it contains more than 14 bioactive compounds and antioxidants – all providing you with health benefits such as sharpening your cognitive functions and protecting your brain. Therefore, it is a great ingredient to add to your tea and recipes.

#9 Turkey

Another powerful ingredient to relieve anxiety as a highly sensitive person is turkey.

Studies have shown that turkey contains large amounts of tryptophan, which is an essential amino acid that produces niacin. Niacin produces the neurotransmitter serotonin and thereby helps you to increase your mood.

Additionally, eating turkey may help you to regulate your sleep pattern and overall mood. These are helpful adaptions for people struggling with anxiety.

So, next Thanksgiving make sure to ask for some extra turkey on your plate. After all, it is anxiety-reducing!

#10 Oranges & Grapefruit

Finally, oranges and grapefruits should be added to your list of anxiety-decreasing foods! These fruits have the natural power to reduce your anxiety because of their high amounts of vitamin C.

As you know, vitamin C is a powerful stress reducer that also helps you to regulate stress levels and lower your blood pressure.

Therefore, include oranges in your daily diet. For instance, make yourself fresh orange juice or eat it as a snack during the day.

Foods That Trigger Anxiety As A Highly Sensitive Person

Now that you have discovered foods that reduce anxiety, it is wise to also discover foods and beverages that trigger your anxiety. Below, you can find a list of foods to consume in moderation:

As you can see, being aware of what you eat can be incredibly beneficial for you as a highly sensitive person. By eating the right foods, you can effectively reduce your anxiety. Therefore, try to implement some of the above mentioned suggestions in your diet and see how it positively impacts your overall well-being.

Good luck with eating healthier!

Would You Like To Learn More About How To Reduce Anxiety With Food? Have A Look At These Books:

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The post The 10 Best Foods To Reduce Anxiety As An HSP appeared first on HiSensitives.

Finding your happiness as an empath can be challenging when you feel everything so deeply. In this article, we share tips to feel happier.

Estimated reading time: 13 minutes

Did you ever ask yourself ‘Why was I born an empath’ or ‘Why can’t I just feel everything less deeply’? This is a thought that crosses many empaths’ minds sooner or later. Usually, this happens at a point in life where everything feels too intense.

Especially when your surroundings do not understand your challenges as an empath or gaslight you, it may feel overwhelming to be an empath.

You may start seeing your trait more as a curse than a blessing. However, it is fully possible for empaths to be happy in life. In this happiness guide, you’ll discover how to be happy as an empath.

What Makes An Empath Happy? Five Core Aspects To Realize Happiness As An Empath

Happiness is not determined by just one or two factors in life. In fact, it consists of five core aspects that together contribute to your overall wellbeing as an empath. These five core aspects are described in the PERMA model as introduced by Dr. Martin Seligman.

Perma stands for Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning and Accomplishments. In this article, you’ll discover each of these factors and learn how you as an empath can utilize them the most.

If you’d like to deep dive into these five aspects of happiness, make sure to read the book ‘Flourish’ by Dr. Martin Seligman.

1. Positive Emotion

Positive emotion involves emotions such as interest, joy, love, gratitude, compassion, amusement and hope. Moreover, these high vibrational emotions positively influence your overall wellbeing.

Studies show that individuals who implement these positive emotions in their daily life, manage to improve their habitual thinking and acting. By consciously focusing on seeking positive emotion, you increase your happiness as an empath.

So, how can you as an empath evoke these positive emotions within you? Here are some practical suggestions:

Gratitude Practice For Empaths

First of all, you may want to consider implementing a gratitude practice in your daily routine. Expressing gratitude helps you to look at the blessings you have in life, rather than only longing for the blessings you don’t have yet. Here’s an easy gratitude exercise for empaths:

1. Grab a notebook and a pen
2. Write down 3 things you are grateful for
3. Tune into the emotions of each gratitude item you wrote on your list
4. End the practice welcoming more of these blessings into your life

This simple practice is incredibly powerful. By tuning into the different items on your list, you invite many different positive emotions to arise. Doing this consistently, may help you to feel more and more positive in your day to day life.

Listen To Uplifting Music

Another powerful way to evoke happiness as an empath is to listen to uplifting or inspirational music. For instance, you may want to start listening to affirmation music.

This is music that repeats positive affirmations to increase your vibration. There are thousands of different types of affirmation songs. For example, you may want to listen to money affirmation songs, health affirmation songs or positive mindset affirmations songs.

Start your day with these positive tunes and notice how your energy changes.

Spend Time On Your Hobbies

Spending time on your hobbies may have positive effect on your happiness as an empath. When we do something we love doing, our bodies feel relaxed and at peace.

Moreover, our hobbies inspire us. This inspiration is valuable in our other activities – such as work – as well. If you feel guilty for spending your time on hobbies, try to remember the benefits of evoking positive emotions. It will not only benefit you in that moment but also in the long run!

Protect Your Energy

As an empath, your happiness is influenced by the people you surround yourself with. Oftentimes, you may take on emotions that aren’t yours. Therefore, it is crucial to protect your energy field.

Begin your day with a energy protection meditation. This helps you to shield yourself from any unwanted negative emotions in your body that aren’t yours.

Moreover, end your day with an energy cleansing meditation. This helps you to get rid of any energies that ‘stuck’ to your aura throughout the day. Also, you may want to recall any energy that was taken from you without your consent. Simply say ‘I recall all energy that left my body without my consent now’.

Here is a powerful meditation you may want to try at the end of the day:

2. Engagement

Besides positive emotions, engagement is a crucial happiness factor for empaths. When you are truly engaged, you find yourself in a state of ‘flow‘.

According to happiness researcher Csikszentmihalyi, flow is “a state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience is so enjoyable that people will continue to do it even at great cost, for the sheer sake of doing it”.

Oftentimes, we find ourselves in a state of flow when we have a challenge at hand and our skill set enables us to find solutions to this challenge. Repeatedly working from a place of flow helps you to increase positive emotion and thereby increase your happiness.

So, how to achieve that level of engagement?

Practice The Power Of Now

One of the aspects of engagement is to let go of the past and the future and focus on the here and now. Oftentimes, empaths and also highly sensitive people find themselves overthinking.

Learning to focus your mind on the here and now, helps you to be more engaged with your current activities. If you struggle with this, reading the book ‘The Power of Now‘ by Eckhart Tolle may help you to overcome some of your challenges.

Regularly Participate In Activities That Make You Lose Track Of Time

Which activities make you feel like time passes by quickly? Try to make a list of all the activities you can think of. Whether it is going on a boat trip, apple picking or dancing – as long as it helps you to feel engaged, do it!

Doing these activities regularly helps you to increase your happiness hormones, which will positively impact your daily life.

Learn More About Your Strengths

If you want to feel more engaged and experience flow in life, learning about your strengths is incredibly helpful. There are many ways to learn what you are good at.

One personality test that is wildly popular amongst highly sensitive people and empaths, is the free 16 personalities-test. It provides you with an in-depth report of your strengths and weaknesses.

Knowing your strengths and using them can help you to increase your happiness as an empath and experience flow more often.

3. Relationships

The third aspect of the PERMA model is relationships – or to be more specific – positive relationships. This aspect involves all the people you interact with on a regular basis; family members, co-workers, friends, your spouse and other acquaintances.

However, we all know that not all relationships in our lives are positive. Positive relationships are those who make you feel loved, supported and valued by others.

Especially for empaths, this aspect is crucial! After all, you do not only feel your own emotions, but also those of the people around you.

Therefore, pay close attention to this part of your happiness as an empath. Here are some ways to improve positive relationships in your life.

Find Your People

While it is okay that everybody is different, it definitely helps to have a couple of people in your life who truly get you. Especially as an empath, having people in your life who understand you and your needs is valuable.

If you do not know many people who are on the same wavelength, make sure to join hobby classes or groups to get to know people with similar interests.

Also, as an empath you may want to join our Ideal Self Membership. Here, you’ll find many like minded souls whilst being able to work on your personal growth.

Let Go Of Negative Relationships

Life is too short to spend your time with people who do not respect you. If you have people in your life who constantly disrespect you and cross your boundaries, let go of them. It sounds very harsh, but these people take up space in your life energetically.

Sure, you can protect your energy every time you visit them, but what is the point? Why would you do that? If you do not really enjoy their company and they make you feel bad about yourself, it may be time to lovingly let those relationships go.

4. Meaning

The fourth aspect of happiness for empaths is meaning. Everyone desires to feel valuable and experience a sense of worth. That is what meaning is all about.

In the end, contributing to something greater than ourselves makes us feel appreciated and worthy. Therefore, it is crucial to seek a purpose in life and do everything you can to pursue that purpose.

Your purpose is widely defined by your personal values and research has shown that people who live their purpose experience greater life satisfaction and less health problems.

So, how to experience meaning in your life? Here are some practical tips:

Support A Cause That Matters To You

One of the easiest ways to experience meaning in your life as an empath is to find causes that align with your personal values. For instance, if you care about sustainability, try to support organizations who care about this as well.

Support comes in many different forms; whether it is financial support, helping the organization with your skills or spreading their message on social media. As long as you can help out in some way, this will provide your life with meaning and ultimately happiness.

Find Ways To Help Others With Your Skills

Another method to find meaning is to look at your specific skills and see how they can help others. All of us are good at something and when we utilize our skills to support others, this may result in great meaning in life.

For instance, you could share your knowledge about your skills on social media and write a blog, or you could help somebody who is in need of your skills.

Ultimately, helping others is a wonderful way to experience meaning and a sense of belonging in life. Especially empaths – who care deeply about others – seem to thrive when they can help others. Consequently, this is a great source of happiness for empaths.

5. Accomplishments

Finally, accomplishments is the last aspect of the PERMA model for happiness. When a child overcomes a hurdle, it smiles proudly and is happy. It accomplished something.

The same goes for us! When we overcome challenges, we feel proud and fulfilled. It feels like a true accomplishment. At the end of our lives, many of us will look back on this aspect. What have we accomplished in life? What have we contributed?

This emphasizes how important it is to look at your life and what you want to leave behind. Below are some ways to ensure that you as an empath can increase your happiness through accomplishments.

Look Back On Past Successes

First of all, it is important to look back on past successes every now and then. Oftentimes, we only look at the road ahead and forget to look at all the hurdles we’ve already overcome.

Therefore, try to regularly reflect on your past successes. Look at what you’ve overcome. Write it down. Feel the pride of overcoming these moments.

Doing this, will help you to feel motivated to reach your upcoming challenges!

Set Powerful Goals

Once you reflected upon your past achievements, you should work on setting powerful goals. A powerful goal is smart: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound.

By setting smart goals for yourself, it will be easier to keep track of your process and stay motivated.

Celebrate Your Milestones

Once you’ve achieved your goals, make sure to celebrate them! Don’t dismiss them as if it was nothing! You worked hard to achieve your goals and deserve to celebrate them.

Treat yourself with a nice flower bouquet or a dinner out with a good friend or your partner. Milestones should be celebrated, no matter how small!

In the end, feeling happy as an empath is possible. By making sure to include positive emotion, engagement, positive relationships, meaning and accomplishments in your life, you can truly thrive.

I am curious; which of these aspects do you struggle with right now? What could you do to change that?

Do You Want To Learn More About Happiness For Empaths? Here Are Some Valuable Resources:

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The post The Ultimate Guide To Happiness For Empaths appeared first on HiSensitives.

Climate anxiety is a common struggle you as an empath may face at the moment. Learn how to overcome your climate anxiety with these tips.

Estimated reading time: 11 minutes

As an empath who feels everything deeply, you may currently struggle with an unexpected fear: climate anxiety. With the recent global developments and all the weather changes, this is a fear that many empathic people face.

The floodings in various areas of the world, the extreme heat waves and changing weather conditions stress out many of us. As an individual, you may feel hopeless and afraid of what is yet to come. Moreover, planning for the future when you don’t know what the future has in store is quite difficult.

In this article, you’ll discover everything you need to know about climate anxiety, how it may affect your well-being and how to calm climate anxiety as an empath.

What Is Climate Anxiety?

Climate anxiety – also called eco anxiety- is the fear that the climate will collapse and there is no future for humanity. It involves feeling helpless and stressed.

The rising sea levels, global temperatures and extreme weather conditions along with the pollution taking place are causing this type of anxiety within many individuals.

In recent years, more and more people report that they feel anxious about the climate and its future. Research shows that the amount of cases of this type of anxiety increase rapidly.

Especially the younger generations -who have to deal with the consequences of climate change- are suffering from climate anxiety.

Common Signs That You As An Empath Struggle With Climate Anxiety

You may wonder if your worries and fears are classified as climate anxiety. Below, some of the common signs of climate anxiety within empaths are stated.

Consequences

If you as an empath notice these signs of climate anxiety within you, it is important to be aware of the consequences of climate anxiety.

Not treating your eco anxiety may result in various health struggles. For instance, you may struggle with sleep problems. The increased amount of the stress hormone cortisol in your body may affect your sleep pattern negatively.

Additionally, your appetite may change and you may lose or gain weight because of the stress your body experiences. This change in appetite and nutrition may negatively affect your overall physical health.

Finally, you may struggle with concentration issues. The increased amount of stress and worrying about the future may occupy your mind frequently. As a result, this may affect your work productivity.

How To Calm Climate Anxiety

Many people struggling with climate anxiety find it hard to go about life and act normally while it feels like the world around them is breaking down.

It is an understandable challenge that also you as an empath may relate to. However, it is important to not let your climate anxiety affect your life negatively, as it is better to create change from an empowered state of mind.

There are multiple ways to learn how to manage your climate anxiety. Below, we listed 4 methods to calm your climate anxiety as an empath.

#1 Breath Work

While breathing is something all of us do automatically, it is important to consciously focus on your breathing when you feel anxious.

Breath work involves focusing on the pace and technique of your breath. Oftentimes, anxious people breathe quickly and from their chest instead of the stomach.

Therefore, it is important to practice conscious breathing when you notice your climate anxiety as an empath. For instance, you may try the following two breathing techniques whenever you notice climate anxiety arising within you:

#2 EFT Tapping

Another powerful way to overcome climate anxiety as an empath, is to practice EFT tapping. EFT stands for ’emotional freedom technique’ and involves tapping repeatedly on acupressure points on your body while repeating specific statements.

Through tapping, you activate your body’s natural anxiety response in the brain. While that center of the brain is active, you reprogram your mind by repeating phrases about the situation you are dealing with.

Nick Ortner created a relaxing and peaceful EFT tapping practice for those feeling anxious while facing climate crisis overwhelm. Give it a try when you are facing climate anxiety:

#3 Meditation

Once you reduced your anxious feelings, it is important to take good care of your overall well-being on a daily basis. One of the ways to do so, is to meditate.

Begin or end your day with a short meditation in order to stay grounded as an empath during climate change. Meditation provides your with many health benefits such as feeling calm, sleeping better and increased happiness.

Especially during tough times, it is a powerful method to keep your cool and feel inner peace. For instance, you may try this peaceful grounding meditation:

#4 Adapt Your News Watching Behavior

While social media is a wonderful way to stay up to date on your friends lives and the news, its algorithms may be causing you extra stress.

If you click on a specific news article one single time, the algorithm acknowledges your user behavior and shows you more of that type of content.

This way, you will constantly be fed with new information about the topics you click on. If you frequently clicked on climate articles on social media, the algorithm will show you more of it.

While it is good to stay informed, you as an empath constantly trigger your anxiety center when reading climate news. Hence, it is important to take charge of the moments you want to be confronted with climate news (and all other news articles).

Instead of reading news all day long, try to limit it to one moment a day. Instead of reading news through social media, note down your favorite news sources and go straight to their websites to read updates.

Additionally, adapt the algorithms on social media by unfollowing news sources that cause you stress. Also make sure to mark any climate articles on your feed as ‘uninteresting’. This way, you tell the algorithm that you want to see less of this type of content.

Taking charge of your own social media feeds may help you to reduce your (climate) anxiety rapidly.

How To Turn Climate Anxiety Into Action

While the above mentioned methods are wonderful to reduce your own mental health challenges with climate change, it is important to stand up and help create the change you want to see in this world.

Once your anxiety has settled, it is time to use your voice and resources to contribute to change. But how?

You may feel discouraged and helpless, but there are certain things you as an individual can do to turn your eco anxiety into action. Below, we listed 5 tips to contribute to the climate movement.

#1 Support Environmental Organizations

While we are made to believe that all the pollution in this world is caused by us, the consumer, it is crucial to realize that there are bad guys out there who want to avoid being blamed.

For instance, a recent report stated that 70% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions are caused by just 100 companies since 1988. Additionally, a new report shows that just 20 businesses are responsible for producing 50% of all single-use plastic.

In order to truly be able to reduce pollution, it is important to support organizations that bring this truth to life. They have, together with all its supporters, the power to create change on a big scale.

While adapting your own consumer behavior is important to show the organizations that we don’t want to live like this anymore, it is equally crucial to support bigger organizations who focus on creating changes in the climate policies.

Which organizations focus on fighting climate change? Here’s are three (of the many) organizations you can support:

1. 350.org: This organization stands up to the fossil fuel industry, by focusing on 100% renewables and a clean energy future for all.
2. Citizens’ Climate Lobby: This organization helps people to find their voice and stand up against climate change. With direct connections with members of the Congress, this organization aims to realize climate change politically.
3. Climate Alliance: Within this organization, the focus lies on taking local action on global climate change. By working together actively with European municipalities and realizing partnerships with indigenous people, this organization aims to reduce CO₂ emissions.

#2 Focus On Your Own Consumer Behavior

Supply and demand is crucial for the big corporations to succeed as businesses. Therefore, in order to create change and reduce climate anxiety as an empath, try to adapt your own consumer behavior.

Instead of using single-use plastic, try to use alternatives that are more friendly for the environment. Also, investigate your current recycling routine and see whether you can improve it.

Additionally, try to purchase products from brands that actively work on improving the environment. Spending money on these products will eventually change the market, when enough of us do it.

The bigger, less environmental friendly corporations will have to adapt their products, in order to move along with this positive change in consumer behavior.

#3 Save Energy & Water

How many unused devices are currently plugged in around your home? Try to save energy by unplugging devices which you aren’t using.

Also, try to be more conscious of the amount of water you use daily. There are many ways to save water around your home. In this short video, you will discover some methods to save water:

#4 Change Your Transportation Methods

Instead of using your car to go everywhere, try to reduce your carbon footprint by walking, riding your bicycle or commuting with public transportation. If you live in the city, this is an easy way to have a positive impact on your environment.

However, if you live in a more secluded location where you have to drive to run errands, make sure to combine errands and do them on one day, rather than driving daily. This way, you’ll save much gas in the long run as well.

#5 Consider Eating More Plant-Based Food

Studies have shown that vegans reduce their agricultural carbon footprint by 73 percent. Because a plant-based diet requires less energy, water and nutrients, it is a wonderful way to save the climate.

However, you may find it challenging to go fully vegan. Most of us do! Simply changing your diet somewhat by eating plant-based one or two days a week will already have a positive impact on the industry, if enough people do it.

In the end, fighting climate anxiety may be challenging for the empath who feels everything so deeply. It is logical that you are struggling with this.

By following the tips from this article and trying to take positive action as suggested above, you may be able to overcome climate anxiety as an empath.

We wish you good luck in this process. Together, we will be the change our planet needs today, tomorrow and in the future.

Do You Want To Learn More About Climate Anxiety? Here Are Some Popular Resources:

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The post How To Overcome Climate Anxiety As An Empath appeared first on HiSensitives.