Being a positive person is actually good for you.  There are many health benefits from lowered stress to living a longer life.  Another bonus is that other people are attracted to positive people.  The more positive y0u are, the more positive friends you will have.

For our students, positivity helps them deal with academic stress and perform better on assignments and tests.  It’s crucial as educators that we model how to be positive for our students.  Check out these 5 ways students can become positive thinkers.

5 Tips for Being a Positive Thinker

Fake it until you make it.

The more you practice being positive, even when you are not really feeling it, the more you actually begin to embody it.  Try faking a smile.  Walk around and give compliments when you aren’t really feeling it.  Some of that positivity will stick with you.  Eventually, it will come naturally and you won’t be faking anymore.  Even on your worst day, you have the choice to act in a positive way.

Positive friends

Surround yourself with positive people. Who you hang around with really does matter.  If your friends are not positive people by nature, try helping them with that.  If they don’t change, it is okay to set boundaries and limit time with them.  Make sure that most of your time is spent around positivity because attitude is contagious!

Laughing

Laugh more. It may sound crazy, but it’s important to put laughter on your calendar.  Plan time with friends who make you laugh.  Go to funny movies.  Read silly books.  Tell jokes.  Go out of your way to find ways to laugh more.

Positive self-talk

Speak to yourself like you would a best friend.  Don’t say anything to yourself that you would not say to a dear friend.  Write down some things that you would say to a friend who is needing a pep talk.  Now say those things to yourself in the mirror.  Find activities like this here.

Flexible thinking

Use flexible thinking to see other sides to the story.  When you catch a negative thought, try to flip the switch on it and look for the positive, no matter how small.  Check in with yourself from time to time to make sure you aren’t letting negative automatic thoughts rule your mind.  Always find that bit of positivity, no matter how small and make it your focus.

The “When Life Hands You Lemons” card game is a fun way to practice flexible thinking.  Use with small groups or in centers. A presentation and instructions are included to make it an easy low prep activity.

What is your favorite way to teach positivity to your students?