Translation: Katrín le Roux Viðarsdóttir

I’ve been thinking a lot, especially during busy times, about how important it is to find something that makes me feel good. Whether you’re under a lot of stress, are drowning in things to do, or just feel a little down, it’s important to find ways to pick yourself up. I’m personally always trying to find the best way to center myself and cheer myself up when I’m feeling down or depressed. With that in mind, I decided to ask a few friends what they do to make themselves feel good.

Embla Dís Haraldsdóttir - Nursing

Going to the pool

“The thing that makes me feel good is going to the pool. There’s no other place where I feel I can just completely unplug and unwind. Especially because you can’t bring you phone with you, so you’re really kind of just chilling when you go to the pool. There isn’t much else to do. My favorite pool is Lágafellslaug in Mosfellsbær. I also enjoy going with my girlfriends. We probably have our best chats in the hot pot!”

Vala Fanney Ívarsdóttir - Literature

Dancing

“Feeling good for me generally means being cheery and upbeat, and I’ve realized that exercise is a good way to make me feel that way. Sometimes it’s good to go for a walk, but recently I’ve been playing some Robyn to start my day, and then I do my so-called underpants-dance in the mornings. Robyn is actually great to play all day long, so if I need another boost in the afternoon, I’ll listen to her some more (then there’s the question whether I’m only in my underwear in the afternoon too… probably). Robyn is my main choice these days because I feel like she just gets it. The music is upbeat and fun, the lyrics can be gloomy (that’s life, baby), but it’s easy to sing along to, which is an important factor. My favorite Robyn songs to dance to are Cobrastyle and Call Your Girlfriend, but Dancing On My Own is always a classic. My friend has a Spotify playlist called “Mín Robba” and I love it. The playlist has all the best Robyn songs. I highly recommend it!”

Hallgerður Kolbrún E. Jónsdóttir - Political Science

Cleaning

“There is a certain meditative quality to cleaning for me. I love doing the dishes. I don’t really know why, but I find it very calming. I also like changing the bedding. I find that keeping my surroundings tidy has a lot of impact on my mood. I just feel so much better when my home is clean and I don’t have to worry about cleaning when I come home at the end of a busy day. I also enjoy going for walks, getting some fresh air, and exercising.”

Róbert Ingi Ragnarsson - Political Science

Being with friends

“My friends are very good at listening when I feel down. I know I can always trust them to try their best to help me. I also find them so incredibly fun and enjoy being around them.”

Baldvin Flóki Bjarnason - Philosophy

Practicing emotional awareness

“I exercise regularly. I really notice a big difference in myself if I don’t exercise often enough. I also go to the pool often to relax. There are few things better than unwinding with an evening dip in the pool. I spend my time with people I love who also love me. I try to sleep well and I find that helps me eat less sugar. Otherwise I try to remember that malaise often has a very simple explanation. Most people are familiar with the distress that comes with a hangover, for instance. I also think it’s good to be aware of my feelings, and remind myself that the bad feelings will pass. If I go through a period where my sadness is really intense, I know I have to change something or seek help.”

Ingvar Þóroddsson - Electrical and Computational Engineering

Having a coffee and listening to Nýdönsk

“I’ve always been a big fan of Icelandic pop music. Nýdönsk is definitely at the top of the list, in my opinion, and they’ve been my favorite Icelandic band for a long time. They have really feel-good songs, and their lyrics aren’t too complicated, just ligeglad and fun, love and partying. The biggest exception is the song Svefninn Laðar, which is about death. On to the coffee. Coffee is essential for me. It gets me through the day and brings me joy. I will often combine these two things, preferably on mornings when I have enough time to have breakfast and coffee. I’ll put on some Nýdönsk, usually these feel-good songs I mentioned, songs like Flugvélar, Nunang, Nostradamus, Frelsið, and Horfðu til Himins. Then I can get on with my day full of ‘nýdönsk’ mindfulness.”

What do you do to make yourself feel good?