12 Things Highly Sensitive People Need to Be Happy

Do you often feel overwhelmed by your emotions and surroundings? Does it seem like the world is too much to handle at times? If so, you may be one of the 20% of people who are highly sensitive.

Being highly sensitive means that you process information deeply and can easily become overstimulated. It can be a challenge to navigate through life as a highly sensitive person (HSP), but with the right tools and mindset, you can learn to embrace your sensitivity and find happiness.

In this article, we will explore 12 things that highly sensitive people need to be happy.

What is a Highly Sensitive Person?

A Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) is someone who has a heightened sensitivity to external stimuli, such as noise, bright lights, and other sensory input. They are also highly attuned to emotions and can easily pick up on the feelings of others. It’s estimated that 15-20% of the population falls into this category.

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Being an HSP is not a disorder or a condition, but rather a personality trait that is present from birth. It’s important to note that being highly sensitive does not mean you are weak or fragile – in fact, it takes great strength and resilience to navigate the world as an HSP.

If you are a highly sensitive person like me, you may have noticed that your emotions run deep and your senses are heightened. This can make navigating the world a little more challenging, but it also means that we have a unique perspective and experience life in a different way.

So if you’re someone who identifies as highly sensitive, here are 12 things that can help you embrace your sensitivity and be happy:

1. The Importance of Rest and Downtime

The fast-paced and busy modern lifestyle can be overwhelming for us highly sensitive people. We may find it challenging to deal with loud noises, bright lights, and crowded places, leading to sensory overload. Therefore it’s important for us to prioritize rest and downtime during the day to recharge physically and mentally.

Learn more: How to Embrace Being a Highly Sensitive Person»

Here are some activities that can offer rest for highly sensitive people:

• Seeking quiet and calm environments
• Spending time in nature
• Practicing meditation
• Relaxing with a good book
• Creating a soothing space for relaxation

As highly sensitive people we often struggle to recover from stressful situations. This is why taking short breaks is vital for our physical and mental health. It enables us to refocus, recharge, and perform at our best.

Finding the right job is also very important for us, especially in today’s overstimulating world. Heavy workloads and stressful work environments can easily overwhelm us. Hence, finding a suitable job that doesn’t lead to additional sensory overload is crucial. For tips on the best and worst jobs for highly sensitive people, check out this article.

How Much Downtime Do HSPs Need?

According to psychotherapist Julie Bjelland, who specializes in high sensitivity, highly sensitive people have specific downtime needs:

• Sleep: Approximately 8-10 hours per night
• Alone time: At least 2 hours per day
• Days off: A minimum of 1 day per week
• Seasonal breaks: About 1 week for each season

However, every HSP is unique, so individual sensitivities and lifestyle may require adjustments to these recommendations. You should listen to your mind and body and make necessary adaptations. 

Highly sensitive people are more likely to be happy when they prioritize regular breaks to recharge. If you’re wondering whether you might be an HSP yourself, check out this article on the 7 signs that may indicate high sensitivity.

2. Allow HSPs Time to Adapt to Changes

Adjusting to big life changes, like moving, changing careers, or getting married, can be challenging for anyone. But for us highly sensitive people (HSPs), it can be even more difficult due to our super sensitive nervous system. 

As HSPs we need more time to get used to changes. It’s not because we don’t like changes, but rather we need a little extra time to think and adjust. So, if you’re an HSP dealing with big changes, don’t be afraid to demand more time to get acclimated. Your well-being and happiness as an HSP depends on it.

If HSPs are not allowed enough time process, they might wonder if they’ve rushed into things or made the wrong decisions. This can cause them great distress and maybe even regret. 

Therfore, it’s crucial for HSPs to have the time and space to adjust slowly. By planning, preparing, and proceeding at their own speed, highly sensitive people can welcome changes in a positive way, ultimately making them happy.

3. The Importance of Regular Food Intake

Maintaining a regular food intake is vital for highly sensitive people (HSPs) to stay happy, healthy, and perform at their best. As HSPs we might need to eat more often than others as we are more aware of changes in our energy levels. When we stick to a consistent eating routine, we can keep our energy levels stable and avoid sudden drops, mood swings, and tiredness.

For HSPs, regular meals are very important to manage stress levels. It’s not just about eating regularly; focusing on nutritious food is key for our health and well-being. Before realizing I was an HSP, my irregular eating habits affected my mood and energy negatively. Now, meal planning has helped me avoid feeling “hangry” and getting mood swings. I also make sure to have healthy snacks ready for unexpected situations.

Furthermore prioritizing meal planning supports the physical and emotional well-being of highly sensitive people, fostering a happy daily life.

4. The Benefits of a Tidy Living Space

As a highly sensitive person (HSP), having a neat and tidy living space is vital for our mental well-being. We feel easily overwhelmed, so creating a calming environment at home is crucial.

When you keep your living area organized, clean, and simple, you’ll feel a sense of peace and calm that benefits your overall health. So, take some time to declutter and arrange your space to make it a tranquil retreat for yourself. You’ll appreciate the difference later!

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Home holds special significance for us HSPs as we need more alone time compared to others. After a hectic day at work or social events, we require moments to relax and unwind to recharge. This downtime is essential for our happiness. Returning to a well-ordered and serene home is the perfect way to achieve this.

5. Find a Sense of Purpose in Life

Highly sensitive people benefit greatly from having a clear purpose in life to feel happy. A specific purpose not only brings us joy and satisfaction but also motivates us to set goals and make plans to achieve them.

We often set high standards for ourselves, always aiming for personal growth through learning, intellectual pursuits, and improving our skills. Having a purpose can give us direction on our journey to growth.

Despite being introspective, highly sensitive people are also attuned to the world around them. This is particularly true for those who are empaths. Empaths feel a strong urge to contribute meaningfully to the world since they deeply care about others and the environment. Making a positive impact on someone’s life gives us a profound sense of fulfillment.

Do you wonder if you possess traits of being both highly sensitive and empathetic? Explore this article to understand yourself better.

Remember, what brings meaning and satisfaction to one person may differ from another. Our life purposes can change over time, so it’s important to discover what truly brings us joy and fulfillment. Highly sensitive people should actively seek out things that make them happy.

6. Limit Intake of Caffeine

Moderation is important when it comes to caffeine intake for highly sensitive people. Our finely tuned nervous system makes us more sensitive to its effects. Caffeine is a stimulant that can boost alertness and arousal in HSPs. However, too much stimulation can overwhelm us, leading to anxiety, irritability, and restlessness.

Moreover, caffeine can disrupt our sleep by providing a surge of energy that makes falling asleep challenging. Since HSPs need at least 8 hours of sleep for optimal function, it’s crucial to be mindful of caffeine intake for a balanced and productive day.

To improve sleep quality, it’s best to avoid caffeine close to bedtime. For those sensitive to caffeine, eliminating it from their diet may be beneficial. Because sufficient sleep is vital for highly sensitive people to feel refreshed and content.

DID YOU KNOW?
It takes up to 10 hours for caffeine to completely clear from your bloodstream. So, if you’re having trouble sleeping, consider consuming caffeine earlier in the day. 

While caffeine can offer a temporary energy boost for some, this isn’t always the case for HSPs. Despite a brief increase in alertness and vigor, HSPs often experience a significant drop in energy levels once the caffeine effects wear off.

Caffeine tolerance varies among people. Some can handle large amounts without issues, while others may feel jittery after just a small coffee. As a highly sensitive person, I’ve learned that more than 2 cups of coffee is excessive for me. So make sure you understand your limits and make choices that support your well-being.

7. Discover Creative Outlets as HSP

As highly sensitive people (HSPs), having a creative hobby is essential for our happy state. Due to our intense emotions, we often feel the urge to express ourselves artistically. Engaging in creative hobbies helps us release strong feelings and find comfort in our unique perspectives.

There are various ways for HSPs to explore their creativity, like:

• Art
• Crafts
• Dance
• Music
• Writing

Being creative is a valuable tool for understanding inner thoughts and feelings better, leading to self-discovery and personal growth. Creativity serves as a pathway to explore oneself effectively.

HSPs, who tend to feel intense emotions and are more susceptible to stress and feeling overwhelmed due to their sensory processing, can find relief through engaging in creative activities. By involving themselves in art, music, or other artistic outlets, HSPs can reduce stress, depression, and anxiety, which promotes relaxation and calmness.

It’s important to understand that alone time and engaging in creative activities serve different purposes for highly sensitive people. While creativity demands mental energy, taking time alone or resting doesn’t always require active mental engagement.

For HSPs, balancing alone time and creative pursuits is vital for their daily well-being. By incorporating both into their routine, they can achieve a sense of harmony and fulfillment, leading to overall happiness.

8. Have a Close Support Group

Building a close support system is vital for highly sensitive people because of their intense emotional experiences. It fosters a sense of belonging and offers crucial emotional backing from people who accept and comprehend them.

There exist several misconceptions about highly sensitive people that can lead to confusion. You can find more details about these myths in this article.

Highly sensitive people might benefit from extra support or gentle encouragement to step out of their comfort zone. Because of our heightened sensitivity, it can trigger feelings of insecurity and low self-esteem, hindering us from taking risks.

This is why being surrounded by supportive and reliable people can empower us to embrace new experiences and face challenges. A support network can consist of family, friends, online communities, or people who face similar struggles. In short, these connections offer the understanding and motivation needed for highly sensitive people to find happiness and personal growth.

9. Let Go of Pressure and Time Constraints

Highly sensitive people deal with the challenge of managing their own and others’ expectations, which can drain our energy, leading to exhaustion. This can make it hard for us to meet our usual standards due to low energy levels.

We need more time to think before deciding, finding quick thinking and immediate responses challenging. As highly sensitive people, we like to consider all possibilities and viewpoints, both positive and negative. When we have flexibility, it can reduce pressure and boost our performance. Interestingly, highly sensitive people often outshine their less sensitive peers when given extra time for tasks.

10. Develop Assertive Communication Skills

Highly sensitive people often prioritize others’ needs over their own because they deeply feel for others. They’re good at sensing how others feel and try hard not to hurt or disappoint them. But this kindness can make us forget about our own well-being.

Thus, setting boundaries and learning to say no is vital for self-care among HSPs. It helps us balance giving and receiving, so we don’t get overwhelmed. If we say yes to everything, it can lead to emotional exhaustion. Highly sensitive people need to say no when necessary to stay happy.

If you want to improve your self-care and well-being, check out this article. It offers great tips and insights to support you.

11. Create a Beautiful Living Environment

Highly sensitive people naturally love beauty and aesthetics. They flourish in pretty spaces that bring out good feelings. Whether it’s nature’s beauty, art, or nicely decorated places, these things really speak to HSPs.

Being around positive vibes helps us feel happier and unwind more easily. But, living in a messy or negative environment can really mess with our well-being, causing stress and maybe even depression.

For many people, having a beautiful and calm home is a big deal, but for HSPs, it’s even more important. Without a peaceful space, we can feel really off because we’re super sensitive to beauty and aesthetics. Nice surroundings help calm us and boost our happiness, while bad ones do the opposite.

12. Nurture Physical and Emotional Well-Being

Taking care of both physical and mental well-being is crucial for everyone, but it’s especially important for HSPs. Because as highly sensitive people, we are more sensitive to things like bright lights, strong smells, and noise. So we need to focus on self-care to be happy and be able to deal with daily challenges.

There are many ways for HSPs to boost emotional well-being and manage stress, like trying mindfulness, yoga, or therapy. These techniques can really help with our heightened emotional sensitivity.

Remember, while being a HSP has its challenges, it also comes with many positive traits. Highly sensitive people have strong intuition, deep empathy, creativity, and the ability to build deep connections with others.

If you’re a highly sensitive person, focusing on self-care that suits you can help you learn more about yourself and lead a more fulfilling life. So embrace your sensitivity and enjoy a rich life.