Romanticizing Life: An Interesting Proposal for Teenagers

Romanticizing life is an interesting idea that aims to mitigate the effects of living hurriedly and unconsciously. Keep reading.
Romanticizing Life: An Interesting Proposal for Teenagers
Sharon Capeluto

Written and verified by the psychologist Sharon Capeluto.

Last update: 04 July, 2023

Romanticizing life means making it more beautiful with what you have and with who you are. And it’s teenagers and young adults who take center stage in this growing trend that proposes adding beauty to routine.

Through their social networks, they show how they apply mindfulness to daily life, for which they use gratitude and self-care. This perspective proposes counteracting our tendency to live on autopilot while reducing the effects: Hyper-demand, anxiety, stress, and difficulty with achieving happiness.

What is romanticizing life?

A sunset, the aroma of coffee, a bouquet of flowers, or a playlist of happy music on the way to work. We’re talking about all the possible sources of well-being and pleasure, although they often go unnoticed. Therefore, romanticizing one’s life means giving positive meaning to the little things. Or at least a tendency to do so.

It doesn’t imply denying unpleasant emotions, forbidding oneself from having a bad day or forgetting long-term goals. Rather, it’s about putting the magnifying glass on the small details of today and approaching them with a curious and kind eye. It means moving away from constant complaining and excessive preoccupation with the past or the future.

A red-headed teenage firl taking a natural looking selfie at the beach.
We could say that “romanticizing life” is a practice that reminds us that we can be happy, even with pending longings and without seeking perfection.

Most significant benefits

This movement has its roots in positive psychology and mindfulness. These approaches invite us to be present in the here and now and to be able to notice the good side of things, no matter how everyday or simple they may be. It’s a trend that many teenagers apply and from which they obtain significant benefits. Among the most important benefits, we can highlight the following:

  • The experience of pleasant emotions, such as calm, joy, and gratitude
  • Decreased stress levels
  • Increased self-esteem and self-confidence
  • The maintenance of healthy habits
  • The improvement in social skills, as well as in interpersonal bonds

Simple ideas for romanticizing life

To start romanticizing life, we don’t need a lot of money or time. We simply need to look at our days with different eyes and beautify them intentionally. Here are some ideas to get you started in this movement:

  • Train yourself in mindfulness.
  • Take care of the details of the spaces you inhabit and decorate them to your liking.
  • Generate moments of enjoyment and calm every day in your home.
  • Make your bed every day.
  • Get into the habit of musicalizing your life.
  • Choose not to eat in a hurry. Practice conscious eating and choose beautiful tableware.
  • Appreciate the elements of nature as if you were seeing them for the first time.
  • Go on dates with yourself.
  • Find inspiration through art.
A teenage girl lying on her bed, singing to music.
This perspective promotes a broad, positive attitude that facilitates appreciation of what you have, whether objects, attachments, conditions, or skills. It also strengthens the idea that you can design your own life.

Not everything is beautiful in appearance, and that’s okay

One point to keep in mind when starting to make life more beautiful is that not everything needs to look beautiful. While it’s true that this trend is associated with cute details, we must accept that real life isn’t as aesthetically pleasing as it appears on Instagram or TikTok.

In this regard, it’s essential not to fall into the excessive demands of having a pretty life. For, paradoxically, the attempt to romanticize life can become an extreme pressure that, far from providing well-being, will generate stress and frustration.

A person who lives from this optimistic view must also allow themself to feel sad, go through dark days, or have a boring weekend. Remember that the idea behind this matter isn’t to be happy in any way and at any cost, but to accept reality as it is in order to be able to enjoy the simplicity of life .


All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.


  • Alfaro Sánchez, R. (2019). Atención plena como herramienta de gestión emocional en adolescentes.
  • Soriano, J. G., del Carmen Pérez-Fuentes, M., del Mar Molero-Jurado, M., Gázquez, J. J., Tortosa, B. M., & González, A. (2020). Beneficios de las intervenciones basadas en la atención plena para el tratamiento de síntomas ansiosos en niños y adolescentes: Metaanálisis. Revista iberoamericana de psicologia y salud.11(1), 42-53.

This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.