FOCUS ON… 6 ways to feel young TODAY!
Release your inner child for a mental-health boost
1 Call an old friend
If you’ve got a pal you haven’t spoken to for a while, give them a bell. Text first to establish the best time to call, then settle somewhere comfy and away you go.
Lifelong friendships with people who know you well provide a strong support network and keep you in touch with your younger self.
2 Sing a song Never mind if you’re tone deaf. Just croon in the kitchen, warble in the shower, or go to a karaoke night.
Singing with others exercises the brain and improves breathing, posture, and mood, according to research from the University of Oxford.
3 Dress in colour Colour affects your mood, so ditch the dingy blacks and boring browns and draw good vibes towards you with vivid hues.
Red is powerful and can make you feel energised. Yellow radiates a sunny, optimistic aura, while orange suggests warmth and fun. Too OTT? Then opt for a seaside blue for some serene calm, or a soft green for balance and harmony.
● Find out more about the psychological properties of colours at colour-affects.co.uk.
Read your fave book
Curling up with a novel you love is like being wrapped in a warm blanket. You may know the plot but, chances are, you’ll still enjoy spending time with characters who feel like old friends.
Academics suggest that re-reading a book enables you to remember the person you were back then, and see how you’ve moved on. So why not revisit a book from your childhood, such as
Winnie the Pooh or The Secret Garden?
5 Play a board game Grab some kids – or adults – and settle down to a board-game battle. Classics include Monopoly, Scrabble, Cluedo and Pictionary, but we also love the more lively options of Mouse Trap, Operation and Hungry Hungry Hippos. Get stuck in!
6 Try a new taste
When you’re out with your partner or friends, try a different taste sensation, such as an unusual dish or a cocktail with a silly name.
If you don’t mind sharing (and can stay COVID-19 safe), ask your companions what they think of it and rate the item with marks out of 10.
We try lots of new things as youngsters but it’s easy to get stuck in a rut as we age. Don’t let the kids have all the fun!