Urban Dictionary defines hipsters as “a subculture of men and women typically in their 20's and 30's that value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence and witty banter."
While you may not accept every part of this counterculture, some aspects of the hipster lifestyle may improve your mental health. So while you don’t have to break our your flannels and beanies just yet, you may want to try adopting some of these hipster attitudes.
Be yourself
Hipsters are not afraid to stand out in a crowd and let the their freak flags fly. If they want to use a typewriter at Starbucks instead of the culturally acceptable Mac computer or listen only to vinyl, they just go right ahead and do it, without worrying about being judged. No one knows more about what makes you happy than you do, so do not be afraid to defy trends or go against the grain.
Let your creativity shine
Take a note out of the hipster playbook and let your inner artist shine. In 2010, the American Journal of Public Health conducted a study on the benefits of expressing creativity. The study found that expressing creativity and participating in artistic projects led to reduced levels of anxiety, stress, depression and negative emotions.
Being politically aware
Hipsters tend to be very active in political circles and care about political issues, especially social issues and the environment. Research shows that people who are politically conscious and active tend to be more organized and have better leadership skills. People with more political insight also tend to have a better perspective on the health of society and be more up to dates on current events.
Be I-N-D-P-E-N-D-E-N-T
While it is extremely important to have strong relationships, being an independent, self-reliant thinker can be very beneficial to your mental health. People who are independent are more comfortable reflecting and meditating because they are better able to listen to their own thoughts. Also, people who are less dependent on others have more self-confidence than those who are heavily influenced by trends and peer pressure.
Hipsters are much more than trendy individuals clad in clothing from Urban Outfitters. They are a symbol of social consciousness, independence and confidence in identity. So as the hipster culture becomes more and mainstream, try adapting some of these attitudes from their lifestyle to benefit your mental health.
