Activities

It is okay to experience negative emotions, but do not linger on them. Instead, create more positive emotions through engaging in activities that will make you happy. These activities should not be forced, rather, they should be things that you genuinely enjoy doing. Positive emotions include but are not limited to, feelings of joy, love, interest, happiness, serenity, awe, hope, and pride.

  • Learn a new hobby
    • Cook or bake
    • Paint or draw
    • Exercise
    • Practice sports
    • Learn a new instrument
    • Play chess
  • Read more books
    • Fiction or nonfiction
    • Re-read an old favorite
    • Self-help books may be especially beneficial for improving happiness
  • Spend time with family and friends
    • Take full advantage of phone calls, texting, video chats, social media, etc. to stay connected with loved ones.
    • Popular apps to use:
    • Zoom
    • Microsoft Teams
    • Skype
    • Facebook/Messenger
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
  • Create a schedule where you talk to your friend on the phone every Friday, that way you have something to look forward to at the end of the week. 
  • Regularly spend time with your family and friends in person
    • Cook dinner together
    • Watch a film together
    • Go for a walk outside together
    • Have a picnic together
  • Spend time outdoors
    • Sit on the campus Green
      • Do homework/study outside or just relax and talk to a friend
    • Do yoga, meditate, or journal outside
    • Explore nearby parks or nature preserves
      • Letchworth State Park
      • Roemer Arboretum
      • Long Point Park
      • Conesus Lake
      • Geneseo River Access Park
  • Take a road trip with friends
    • Visit nearby cities 
      • Rochester, New York
      • Buffalo, New York
  • Pet a dog or cat at local animal shelters
  • Take a few minutes everyday to meditate. 
    • This may be difficult to do if you have never done so before, so start with a short 5 minute meditation. Increase the amount of time that you spend doing this as you get more comfortable with it.
    • Do it first thing when you wake up to set a positive tone for the day or at night to reflect on your day and calm yourself down before going to sleep
  • Have a self care night at least once a week
    • Take a relaxing shower
    • Order dinner from your favorite restaurant
    • Watch a movie
    • Call a friend, family member or loved one