Wellness

Adulthood isn't always fun, but at least when you have kids, you get to do fun kid stuff: building forts, visiting theme parks, playing Candyland, and hanging out on a swing set without getting weird looks. But what if you don't have kids and still want an excuse to act like one?

The best part about spending your weekend immersed in a childish activity is adopting a kid's attitude at the same time: don't be self-conscious, don't worry about work, and just have fun. Here are 16 ideas for how you can feel young again without spending too much grown-up money.

1. Spend a day at a water park.
2. Or just run through a sprinkler on your next jog.
3. Grab a ball and glove and play some good old-fashioned catch.
4. Build a sand castle at the beach.
5. Invite your friends over for a slumber party. Pajamas required, cocktails optional.

See the rest of the sweet 16 when you read more.

We all know what we can do to live a happier life, but when those claims are backed up by science, we tend to take them more seriously. After all, if it's been poked and prodded at by scientists, the findings definitely sound like they have more validity. It's up to you to figure out what works for you, but these strategies are worth trying! Here are some things that will increase your life satisfaction, according to studies:

• Watch less TV: Unhappy people spend more time watching TV, according to a study in the Social Indicators Research journal.
• Get older: If you're dreading the white hairs and health drawbacks of aging, know that there's a silver lining. More studies are showing that happiness increases after middle age.
• Plan a vacation: Researchers found that it's the planning of a vacation and not the actual trip itself that increases happiness in people. Perhaps the anticipation of getting away from the daily grind causes us to grin more than when we're actually on the beach without a worry in sight.
• Change it up: Even if you're doing something that makes you happy, the joy may wear off if it becomes routine. Change things up every once in a while. For example, give your current hobby a break and take up a new one.
• Be around happy people: Happiness is apparently infectious, according to a study in the British journal BMJ, so surround yourself with positive people. That doesn't mean you should break up with your Debbie Downer friends, say the researchers. You can help spread happiness by doing things to improve their lives.
• Enjoy nature: Viewing greenery gives your brain a mental break, while city living can stress you out. Take the time to visit a nearby park or garden to take in nature's beauty and boost your happiness at the same time.
• Do cultural activities: Go to the museum this weekend and get cultured. A study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found men who take part in cultural activities are more happy and satisfied versus those who don't.
• Own pets: A furry friend will increase your self-esteem, feeling of belonging, and meaning of your existence, says a study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Quite a tall order for such compact creatures.
• Do charity work and volunteer: Doing good for society has its perks. People who give away their money to charity or volunteer tend to be more satisfied, according to a study published in the journal Science.

There's no magic recipe for self-confidence, but there are certainly a few everyday habits that can set you on the right path. Whether you're stressed, overcommitted, bored, or simply insecure, we've come up with some quick tips to help you boost your self-esteem and maintain a positive attitude. Struggling to feel good about yourself? Here are 11 simple ways to love yourself more:

1. Surround yourself with positive people. Moods and attitudes can be contagious, so if you're hoping to boost your self-esteem, it's important to keep confident company. Steer clear of the Debbie Downers: people who are constantly rattling off their insecurities will only prompt you to acknowledge yours.
2. Be a planner. Organization is key to feeling good on a day-to-day basis, so do what you need to do to stay on top of your schedule. Rushing around, running late, and missing deadlines puts you on the fast track to anxiety, but you can avoid these common culprits by simply tackling your to-do list.
3. Make time to do the things you enjoy. To be your best self, you need to set aside plenty of time for the hobbies and passions that fulfill you. Whether it's long walks, a good book, or a few minutes of art each day, you need to prioritize the simple pastimes that put you at ease.
4. Get plenty of Z's. If you're exhausted and run-down, your mood — and your confidence — is sure to plummet. You need energy to be social and productive, so try to avoid burnout by balancing your work with plenty of R&R.

Keep reading for more confidence-boosting tips.

It's hard to force yourself out of bed when you wake up bleary-eyed, but one way to get up with ease is to prep your body to wake up at the same time feeling refreshed. Oftentimes, you're feeling groggy in the mornings because you're not getting good-quality sleep. Here are a couple of tips that may help:

• Keep it consistent. Don't try to sleep in on the weekends to make up for lost sleep. Keep your sleeping schedule consistent and not erratic, which means waking up and sleeping at the same time every day. Whenever you alter the times you get up and go to bed, you're disrupting your body clock.
• Get it checked out. Maybe the reason you're waking up drowsy is health-related. Certain medical conditions like sleep apnea can disrupt your night's rest. Disorders like depression can also cause you to feel drained of energy, a symptom that can contribute to your grogginess. Get it checked out with a doctor and treat the problem.
• You snooze, you lose. Hitting the snooze button on your alarm clock can actually make you more tired. Your body will try to go into a sleep cycle, but it'll be disrupted every time you're woken up by the snooze button (which usually goes off every 10 minutes), leaving you lethargic for the rest of the day.
• Lessen your caffeine intake. Drinking caffeinated drinks is a double-edged sword. It's a stimulant that wakes you right up but tends to be less effective over time and the more you intake.

Read on for more.

Some would say you can't put a price on a chance to meet your favorite celebrity, but fundraising website CharityBuzz begs to differ. The site hosts several online auctions that give everyone a chance to meet their favorite celebrity . . . for a price. Although the cost can be steep, you can take comfort in the fact that the proceeds will go to charity. Here are some of the current celebrity auctions and how much they are going for:

• Apple CEO Tim Cook: This gets you and a friend coffee time from 30 minutes to an hour with Cook at Apple headquarters.
  Current highest bid: $90,000
• French Open champion Rafael Nadal: The winner of the auction gets to watch Nadal practice in Majorca, Spain, for one hour, then get a private 30-minute lesson from him.
  Current highest bid: $31,000
• Tony Bennett: The winner gets to join Bennett in the Tony Bennett Suite at San Francisco's AT&T Park to watch a Giants game.
  Current highest bid: $5,000
• Paula Deen: Winner of this auction gets a cooking lesson from Deen in her Savannah, GA, home.
  Current highest bid: $3,250
• Francis Ford Coppola: Grab lunch with acclaimed film director Francis Coppola and winemaker Philippe Bascaules in a Napa winery.
  Current highest bid: $4,000
• Russell Simmons: Have an hour-long session with entertainment mogul Simmons.
  Current highest bid: $4,750

Most of us have a negative image of divas. We usually think of them as enraged women throwing things at their assistants or insisting on outrageous demands.

But it's not always bad to be a diva. In fact, there are actually healthy divas that can thrive in an office, according to research cited by the Wall Street Journal. Healthy ones work hard to be in the limelight and don't mind sharing it. They are also energetic, fun, and positive, which are all good traits in a leader. This assertiveness and confidence stems from the innate belief that they are worth it.

Meanwhile, unhealthy divas can initially seem just as attractive in the beginning, given their confidence and charisma, but can quickly turn people off over time. Their behavior stems from a lack of confidence and a need to prove themselves to others. They can be manipulative, extremely sensitive, and demanding. Unhealthy narcissists can also have trouble controlling their anger and are inflexible with differing opinions from their own.

In short, it pays to be a narcissist, but only if it's coming from a positive place.

When traveling, or simply at the end of a crazy workday, a soothing eye mask is just the thing to relax your worries away. And making your own is a great way to repurpose an old shirt. Filled with scented rice, this DIY eye mask can be warmed or chilled and stays put thanks to an elastic headband. Instead of paying top dollar for a specialty mask, this soother only costs a few dollars to make. And this fun project is a great party activity that doesn't require a sewing machine — just the help of a sewing kit. So call your friends, and get busy making these easy homemade eye masks.

Keep reading for the directions.