Want to Raise Creative Thinkers? Play Make-Believe

A lot of people pride themselves on being optimists, and TBH, if you canstay positivewith everything that’s going on in the world today, major props to you. For most people who consider themselves the glass-half-full type, it’s a lifestyle. They try to look at everything that comes their way, from relationship troubles to work mistakes, with a positive spin. But a recent study investigated whether optimists still stay more positive than pessimists when things get really tough, and what they found was pretty surprising.

Scientists analyzed nine previous studies to see how both optimists and pessimists brace themselves for receiving important and potentially negative news, like medical test results. They found that even though people who identify as optimists tend to be more positive in general, they too start assuming the worst as the moment of truth about something important nears. It’s easy to understand this instinct, since some people tend to believe that preparing yourself for the worst will ultimately make it less shocking if it happens. On the other hand, some people would rather stay positive whenever possible, since it’s easier to fight off stress and anxiety when you have a sunny outlook. Here, we’ve gathered some of our favorite expert tips for staying optimistic when you’re dealing with some super hard stuff.

How To Stay Positive

1.Learn to reframe negativity. “The trick to positivity is not avoiding pessimism,” says Elaine Taylor-Klaus, a certified professional coach. “It’s really about how quickly you can redirect your focus from negative to positive. Critical thinkers are going to see problems to be solved, but the ability to ‘reframe’ the conversation is the really important skill for people to practice.” She recommends getting into the habit of acknowledging negative thoughts and then asking, “What else is possible here?” This can guide you back into a positive mindset more quickly.

“Bottom line: Negativity happens,” she says. “Positivity is a choice, and the quicker you learn to reframe, the more time you’ll spend in a positive space. Then, over time, the more likely you are to turn directly to a positive interpretation of events.”

2. Ask yourself if this will matter a month or year from now. Sometimes things seem crucial AF in the moment, but might be inconsequential even just a few days after that. Just think about high school drama. “When we can leave the past behind and even know in the present moment that this feeling won’t last, it can help to remind us that time heals and life goes on,” explainsSharon Stokes, life-fulfillment coach.

3.Give back. Volunteering is an amazing way to change your entire perspective, saysLyssa Menard, a clinical health psychologist, founder of Strategies for Changeand assistant professor at Northwestern University’s medical school. “There are many organizations that don’t require an ongoing commitment, so sign up for an event that’s meaningful. Research shows that giving to others is one of the quickest routes toward happiness. While happiness and positivity are different, they’re correlated,” Lyssa says.

4. Role play to be more objective. Playing a little mind trick on yourself can work wonders, says Lori Scherwin of Strategize That, a career coaching service. “We’re often better at helping others than ourselves,” she notes. “Make the situation more objective and less personal to you. For example, consider if it were anyone else in the situation (like your best friend, partner or colleague). How would you see the same ‘problem?’ What advice might you give them to get out of it?” she asks. This will help you shift from being super hard on yourself to more objective, and most likely, more positive.

5. Make changes to things that are within your control. Spending time worrying about something that you can’t change isn’t really worth the effort. Instead, “Focus on areas where you have agency,” suggests Holly Burton, a career coach for women in male-dominated industries. “You may be stuck in a role you don’t love at work, but you could probably work a few extra hours a week and take on a project that interests you. You could also schedule some proactive meetings with your boss to make an action plan to develop the skills you need to make a lateral move,” she says. In most situations, whether they’re career-related or not, it’s possible to take actions to make things better for yourself.

6. Practice radical acceptance. Some professional coaches suggest trying out the idea of radical acceptance, which is basically accepting the things you cannot change, even if they’re not right or you don’t agree with them.

7.Try this gratitude challenge. First, journal about one event each day for seven days that made you feel happy and/or thankful and include the specifics of why it made you feel that way, going deep into the details. Second, send one random thank you email or text to someone each day, either personally or professionally. This message should include what they did and why it’s worthy of the shout out. Detailed gratitude journals are proven to improve your life satisfaction, so try to stick to a gratitude practice, even in the good times!

What do you do when you’re trying to stay optimistic? Have you tried any of these techniques? Tell us about it @BritandCo!

This article has been updated.

It's fun to learn more about ourselves and to feel understood — that's why we take personality tests so incessantly. And since we live in an age of increased self-awareness, we can apply those tests to so many things, like our Hogwarts house and makeup preferences. Clearly, knowing thyself has taken on a whole new meaning lately, and we love the things that these tests can tell us — but did you ever wonder how your personality might affect your dreams? In a new study, Best Mattress Brand set out to discover whether specific types of people had particular types of dreams. Read on for their fascinating results.

The test explored each component of the Myers-Briggs types, which can be broken down into eight characteristics:

Extraversion or Introversion: This is the way you focus your energy. Extroverts focus on the outside world, and Introverts focus on their inner world.

Sensing or Intuition: This is the way you process information. Sensing individuals focus on the facts, and Intuitive individuals interpret the facts.

Thinking or Feeling: This is the way you make decisions. Thinkers process decisions logically, and Feelers make decisions with context and emotion in mind.

Judging or Perceiving: This is the lens through which you interpret the world. Judgers prefer decisive action, while Perceivers like to keep their options open.

Together, your individual combination of these eight traits creates your personality type. Given these traits as variables, the study surveyed 1,000 people on their Myers Briggs traits and their sleep habits.

As you'd imagine, there were a lot of discrepancies between Introverts and Extroverts. Interestingly enough, Extroverts are 17.7 percent more satisfied with their levels of energy during waking hours than their introverted counterparts. Perhaps it's because of their dream habits: Extroverts also have 8.3 percent fewer nightmares than Introverts. Extroverts also dream about traveling 13.9 percent more often than Introverts do.

What about the content of these dreams? If you're Intuitive, you're 16.8 percent more likely to dream about being killed than Sensers are. ­Apparently, Intuitive individuals' dreams are more violent across the board: They also dream about getting attacked and “punching something with no effect" more often.

There's also a substantial difference between Thinkers and Feelers when it comes to dreams. The more emotional Feelers dream about getting pregnant more often than Thinkers do, and they dream about their friends more often too. Perhaps Thinkers are just thinking too hard; they talk in their sleep almost 10 percent more than Feelers do.

The Judgers and Perceivers have their differences as well; in fact, Perceivers have night terrors 10.2 percent more often than Judgers, probably due to the fact that they experience reality so deeply.

Does your personality type match up with these findings? Let us know @BritandCo.

(Photo via Brit + Co)

This post has been updated.

Bring it on, fall. It's almost time to put your shorts aside, dig out your sweaters, and start replacing flats with booties. As you honor the changing seasons, don't forget to dress your drinks properly, too! Add some cider to your sangria, some apple to your martini, and some pumpkin spice to yourhot chocolate.

These delicious fall cocktails will brighten your soirees, warm your last outdoor dinner parties, and sweeten the glow of your nights by the fire. With one of these bevs in-hand, you'll welcome fall with open arms.

Brit + Co

Chocolate Mocha Martini

Take a sweet break from those busy fall weekdays with this decadent mocha martini that's made with Baileys Chocolate Liqueur, espresso, vodka, and simple syrup.

Kelly Pettit for Brit + Co.

Fall Aperol Spritz

To craft this fall cocktail, you'll combine Aperol with pear juice, sparkling wine, cinnamon, and more – each ingredient works to bring forth those warm and cozy flavors you love!

Brit + Co

Pomegranate Ginger Beer Cocktail

This cocktail is *so* fit for the season. It's delicately balanced with dry vermouth, pomegranate juice, orange bitters, and ginger beer to make a boozy play at seasonal flavors.

Brit + Co

Butterscotch Bourbon Milk Punch

This sweet drink is sure to follow you through the fall and winter seasons, as it provides a warming sip with the addition of bourbon!

Not Without Salt

This festive cider packs quite a – you know – punch. You would never guess that it only has three ingredients!

Barley & Sage

Apple Pie Moonshine Hot Toddy

Five minutes is all it takes to whip up this warming cocktail that uses apple pie moonshine. One sip, and you'll be leaning into the fall vibes.

Mixop

Pumpkin Spice Martini

Vodka, pumpkin spice liquor, pumpkin puree, vanilla and more join forces for a full-on dessert drink.

Half Baked Harvest

Pumpkin Head Punch

Mix lemon, spiced pumpkin butter, vodka, cinnamon, ginger beer, and a few more ingredients for this stunning, sparkling autumn punch.

Not Without Salt

For this drink, throw in some brown sugar, cinnamon, butter... wait... are these cookies we're talking about, or a favorite fall cocktail? (via Not Without Salt)

Sunshine Punch

Good Morning Sunshine

Missing that summer sun already? Keep it shining all fall long with this unique bev that carries notes of coffee and orange juice. To make it, combine 1 part Sunshine Punch with 1 part cold brew coffee over ice. Stir it, then garnish the mix with a cinnamon stick and an orange slice.

Filthy

Filthy Cherry Apple Punch

Grab your punch bowl, and prepare to please a crowd with this fall cocktail. You'll make a concoction with 750ml bourbon, 12 oz fresh-squeezed (store-bought's way easier) apple juice, 12 oz Filthy® Black Cherry Syrup, and 12 oz cider before garnishing with 2 red apples, cinnamon sticks, and a few Filthy® black cherries.

Sidral Mundet

Sidral Sparkling Apple & Berry Refresher

This apple-berry combo couldn't be more of a fit for fall. To make it, combine .5 oz fresh lime juice, 2 slices of fresh ginger, and 6 blackberries into a shaker and muddle together. Then, add 1.5 oz unsweetened cranberry juice and 1 bottle of Sidral Mundet before shaking it all together. Optionally, add some vodka or gin to make it a complete fall cocktail!

Flecha Azul Tequila

Fall Margarita

Batch cocktails always win people over. To make this pitcher, you'll start by crafting your own fall simple syrup: boil 1 cup of water, then add 3 cinnamon sticks, ½ cup of brown sugar, ½ cup of sugar, and stir vigorously for about 2 minutes until sugar dissolves. Let cool. The rest of the recipe is simple: combine 9 oz Flecha Azul Blanco, 6 oz orange juice, 4 oz lime juice, and 2 oz of the fall simple syrup.

Culinary Hill

Hot Toddy

The ultimate warm-up drink, this hot toddy mixes plenty of lemon juice and honey into whiskey and adds nutmeg, cinnamon, and lemon slices.

HGTV

Caramel Apple Martini

The ingredients for this fall cocktail are truly simple — apple schnapps, butterscotch schnapps, Baileys, and your choice of milk. Make a large amount to share at brunch!

Salt & Lavender

Refreshing Persimmon Cocktail

Persimmon season begins in October, meaning it's the perfect time to mix together this drink made of persimmon puree, lime juice, creme de cassis, and Champagne.

Love & Olive Oil

Bourbon Salted Caramel Milkshake

If there's booze in it, it's a cocktail. No matter if it's in milkshake form!

Pamela Wiznitzer and Joanna Lin for Ketel One Vodka

Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini

Espresso martinis are great as their own thing, but why not make a pumpkin twist on them? This recipe makes the ultimate dessert drink. To create it, combine 1.5 oz Ketel One Vodka, .5 oz coffee liqueur, .75 oz pumpkin allspice syrup*, and 1 oz coffee concentrate** in a shaker with ice, and shake vigorously. Strain it into a chilled martini glass and garnish half of the cocktail with some shakes of pumpkin spice and espresso powder!

For the *pumpkin allspice syrup:

1. Boil 2 cups of water with 1 tbsp pumpkin spice on high for 5 to 7 minutes. Reduce to a simmer for 5 minutes and remove from the stovetop.
2. In a jar or bowl, measure out the reduced liquid, it will be less than 2 cups because of evaporation during the boiling process.
3. Measure out the same quantity in sugar for a 1:1 ratio, and add the sugar to the pumpkin spice liquid. Mix until dissolved, and keep in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.

For the **coffee concentrate:

1. Mix 1 cup of cold brew (or store-bought iced coffee) and mix with 1 tbsp instant espresso powder.

Sidral Mundet

Mundet Appletini

Get a sip full of harvest flavors by mixing up this martini: first, vigorously shake 1.5 oz vodka over ice for 10 seconds and strain it into a chilled glass. Then you'll top things off with cold Sidral Mundet Green Apple soda and an apple slice. Fresh!

Naturally Ella

Apple, Pear + Gin Cocktail

Juice two pears and an apple together. Add honey, lemon juice, and soda water, garnish with rosemary, and voila! That was easy.

Saveuer

Regent's Punch

Pineapple meets a new season when it's mixed with orange, nutmeg, and — an unlikely addition — green tea. Don't forget the cranberries on top!

Proper No. Twelve

Proper Apple Pie Martini

To make this pie-inspired martini, shake 2 oz Proper No. Twelve Irish Apple with 2 oz of Irish cream liqueur in a shaker with ice and a dash of cinnamon. Once shaken, strain into a martini glass rimmed with crushed graham cracker. Get ready for dessert in a drink!

Barley & Sage

Sparkling Fig Cocktail

Made with fresh figs, vodka, and Champagne, this sparkling cocktail is quite the refreshing nod to harvest season.

Culinary Hill

Brandy Apple Cider Slush

Mix some frozen apple cider with brandy, and top it off with hard apple cider (or sparkling water) for a frozen fall cocktail. Gotta love an adult slushy.

Half Baked Harvest

Sleepy Hollow Cocktail

Mix pomegranate juice with tequila, bitters, cinnamon, rosemary-infused orange honey simple syrup and top it off with sparkling water and a smoking sprig of rosemary to create this Halloween-ready brew.

Minimalist Baker

Boozy Pumpkin White Hot Chocolate

We like to celebrate all the possible ways to add pumpkin to our drinks. Our favorite method is through this white hot chocolate.

Sidral Mundet

Sidral Mundet Crisp Mezcalrita

This seasonal take on a margarita will provide fun times and fall vibes. First, rim a glass with brown sugar and cinnamon. To the glass, add 1 bottle of Sidral Mundet, 2 oz of mezcal, and 2 oz of triple sec. Add a squeeze of lemon and ice before mixing it together. Finally, garnish with a star anise piece!

Intoxicology

Cider Jack Cocktail

Friends forever: hard cider and apple jack liqueur.

Wyn Vida for Dulce Vida

Tequila Vanilla Sour

Indulge in a fancy fall cocktail by following this recipe: shake 1.5 oz Dulce Vida Anejo Tequila, .5 oz Licor 43, .5oz vanilla liqueur, 1 oz lemon juice, .5 oz agave, and 1oz egg whites together before straining into a sour glass!

Half Baked Harvest

Vanilla Chai White Russian

A chai tea simple syrup made with chai tea, honey, and vanilla extract is added to a classic white Russian for this autumnal spiced cocktail.

Proper No. Twelve

Apple Mule

Make a twist on your go-to mule with this seasonal offering. Over ice, combine 1.5 oz Proper No. Twelve Irish Apple and 3 oz of ginger beer. From there, garnish with a lime wedge for a special touch!

Aviation American Gin

Negroni Upgrade

Let this smooth cocktail engage your senses with each sip.

Ingredients

1.5 oz Aviation American Gin

0.75 oz Bitter Aperitivo Liqueur

0.75 oz Sweet Vermouth

Orange Twist

Combine all ingredients into mixing glass with Ice. Stir, then strain into Rocks glass with Ice. Garnish with Orange Twist.

Aviation American Gin

NY Juniper Sour

Give your taste buds a jolt with this amazing cocktail.

Ingredients

1.5 oz Aviation American Gin

1 oz Lemon Juice

0.75 oz Ginger Syrup

Top with Red Wine

Combine all ingredients except Red Wine into cocktail shaker with Ice. Shake, then strain into Rocks glass with Ice. Carefully top with Red Wine.

Aviation American Gin

Tom Collins

Keep everything easygoing with a Tom Collins. (via Aviation American Gin)

Ingredients

1.5 oz Aviation American Gin

1 oz Lemon Juice

0.75 oz Simple Syrup

Top with 2 oz Club Soda

Combine all ingredients except Club Soda into cocktail shaker with Ice. Shake, then strain into Collins glass filled with Ice. Top with Club Soda and garnish with Lemon Slice.

Aviation American Gin

Gin Espresso Martini

When you combine nutmeg, espresso and Aviation American Gin, you're bound to fall in love with a Gin Espresso Martini. (via Aviation American Gin)

Ingredients

1.5 oz Aviation American Gin

0.75 oz Coffee Liqueur

0.75 oz Espresso

0.5 oz Simple Syrup (optional)

Coffee Beans or Nutmeg

Combine all ingredients into cocktail shaker with Ice. Shake, then strain into chilled Martini glass. Garnish with 3 Coffee Beans or grated Nutmeg.

Mixop

Caramel Martini

We're entering sweet territory with this scrumptious drink! It's like drinking a dessert instead of hearing your fork scrape a ceramic dish. All you need are Vodka, Irish and heavy creams, caramel syrup, and brown sugar. The best part about this drink are the soft caramel candies you can use as a garnish!

SirDavis

Honey Bee Cocktail

Your fall cocktails should be as sweet as they are warm and spicy like SirDavis's Honey Bee Cocktail. The ingredients and instructions are simple so you'll be sipping on this delectable drink in no time!

Ingredients

2 oz of SirDavis American Whisky

.75 oz of Lemon Juice

.50 oz of Honey Syrup

Garnish

Honeycomb or Lemon Twist

*To make honey syrup, add 2 parts honey and 1 part water into a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the honey is dissolved. Allow to cool and transfer to an airtight container.

Mixop

S'Mores Martini

The upcoming bonfire party you're attending needs a ton of tasty camping foodand one of the sweetest fall cocktails anyone has ever tasted. With ingredients like Marshmallow Vodka, Kahlua, and Chocolate Syrup, you may find that you don't need to eat S'mores after all!

We might be drooling now. These fall cocktails are sure to warm you up this autumn.

Join our newsletter and check out our complete list of hot cocktails for more inspiration.

This post has been updated.