A tune for every mood

Beethoven or Beatles, Baby Shark or BTS, Carnatic or Hindustani — choose the right music for the right mood.

Can you ever listen to a lively and happy song without some of that positivity creeping into you? Have you also noticed that listening to a sad song can sometimes move you to tears?

Music is magical, and it touches us in ways we cannot fathom. The music you enjoy can really be entertaining, but research suggests that its effects on our body and mind go beyond that. It makes you feel relaxed, it gives you an energy boost when you really need it, and it can also help manage pain.

Music has been proven to elevate mood and is also useful in treating the symptoms of depression and other conditions. It can also evoke a range of emotions in us. No wonder then that composers use it in movies to make the audience feel joyful, sad, scared, angry, surprised, amused, annoyed, and so on. If you watch a movie without the background score, you might find it surprisingly difficult to feel the emotional connection.

Beethoven or Beatles, Baby Shark or BTS, A.R. Rahman or Anirudh, Carnatic or Hindustani — choosing the right music for the right mood can really offer you a range of benefits. Embrace the magical effect of music for your physical and mental well-being and navigate through various stages of life with positivity.

Mood Matter

Music can affect our mood and enhance our emotions. Drag and drop the name of the mood/emotion to the correct expression.

All things Christmassy

A word search that tells you all about the terms associated with Christmas.

So many many wotds associated with this colourful festival. Play this game to see how many you can find!

Say “thanks” every day

Keep track of the good things in your life with a gratitude journal. Here are a few tips to get you started.


We’ve all been taught to say “Thank You” from an early age, haven’t we? Saying Thank You is an expression of gratitude, an emotion one feels when you think about the good things in your life. Being happy and thankful for things can actually have a positive impact on your mind and body like reducing stress and improving your sleep. Not only that, it can improve your connections with people around you and strengthens your relationships but also helps you find meaning in what you do.
One of the ways in which you can foster this sense of thankfulness is to keep a gratitude journal. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Get specific: Don’t make it a general “I am thankful for my mother/ father/ sister/ …” What are you thankful for? The entry has to be about that day. Did your sibling wake you up after you slept through your alarm? You are grateful for that, aren’t you? Write it down. Don’t stop with saying “thanks”.
Make it personal: What about your own skills and talents? Something that you are thankful you have? Which person did you thank today and why? What do you love about yourself? Is there a person or thing that makes you happy? Is there a space in your home where you feel most comfortable?

Have a routine: Decide how often you are going to make entries in your journal. Studies say that doing it once or twice a week offers more benefits than daily journalling. Which days are going to allocate for this? And what time of day?
No rules: This is your space, unless you choose to show others what you are doing. So, keep your content open. Feel like writing one day? Go ahead and fill it with words. Are you a doodler? Start sketching your thanks. You can even stick photos in your pages.
Don’t count numbers: It’s not about how many but about the ‘what’. Even if you have just one thing to be grateful for, focus on why you are thankful for it.
Remember, it takes time to establish a habit. So don’t get discouraged if you find the going tough. Keep at it and you’ll find the benefits creeping up and making you a happier person.
Now that you’ve read all about gratitude journalling, answer these questions.

All in the mind

Did you know that Yoga was good for mind-body wellness? Here are a few asanas that you can try.

What is mindfulness? It means paying full attention to something; really slowing down to notice what you are doing. In short, it is about living in the moment and appreciating every little thing. Conscious practice of mindfulness promotes overall wellbeing, and one way to do so is through Yoga. Check out these asanas and select the right answer for each question.

The lotus pose

Sit with your spine erect and legs stretched out in front. Now, bend the right knee and place on the left thigh. Ensure that your sole points upward and the heel is close to the abdomen. Repeat the same with the right side. Place your hands on the knees, palm facing upwards, and thumb touching the index finger. Breathe deeply for as long as you can.

The easy sitting pose

Sit upright on the ground. Now, cross your legs so that the knees point towards the floor. Put your hands on your knees with palms facing upwards and breathe deeply. Repeat a few times.

The warrior pose

Stand with legs spread apart. Turn one foot outwards at the heel and the other inwards. Lift both arms sideways to the shoulder height. Now bend the knee of the foot turned outwards at a 90° angle. Hold for a few seconds. Repeat on the other side.

The child pose

Sit on your knees with your knees apart. Now stretch your arms out in front of the body and bend till your forehead touches the floor. Hold for a few seconds and repeat.

The tree pose

Stand erect on one foot. Place your other foot on the knee or thigh. Now, fold your hands and raise them above your head. If you find it dfficult to balance, start with folding your hands before your chest. Next, focus on a specific spot or unmoving object for a few seconds while holding your breath. Repeat on the other side.

The butterfly pose

Sit on the ground with your feet touching each other and your knees pointing outwards. Next, lift your legs and bring them down without lifting your feet. The action should be like a butterfly flapping its wings.

The corpe pose

Lie on your back with your feet 15 inches apart. Rest your arms at the sides, a little away from the body, with the palms facing upwards. Close your eyes and breathe in and out. Be aware of every breath you take. Do this for a few minutes every day.

The seated forward bend

Sit with your legs straight out, in front of you. Ensure that the back of your thighs, calves, and heels are pressed into the ground. Slowly bend forward without bending your knees and try to touch your feet as you breathe out. If you can’t touch your toes, stretch as far as you can without bending the knees. Hold for a few seconds and return to the upright position. Repeat a few times.

The downward-facing dog pose

Go down onto your hands and knees. Your hands should be a little in front of your shoulders and your knees aligned with your hips. Lift your knees off the floor as you exhale. Keep your elbows straight. Now, lift your hips so that your body forms an inverted ‘V’ and lower your face as if to look at your navel. Hold the position for a few seconds and return to the first position.

Spectacular Cascades

The world map is dotted with breathtaking waterfalls, some thunderous and powerful, others silvery and sparkling. Find them all…

Scintillating cascades of water dot the world map. They are brilliant to look at and equally amazing to explore.

Here are some famous waterfalls from around the world. Can you match identical images in this memory game?

Indian touch in a foreign land

How many Indian-origin heads of countries can you recognise?

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam was the first Prime Minister of Mauritius, while C.V. Devan Nair served as the third President of Singapore from 1981 to 1985. What do they have in common? Well, they are of Indian origin. Here are a few more. Can you recognise them?

Healing colours

Here are some samples of Mandala art. Whip out your colours and get started!

Draw out your feelings

When you are feeling down and troubled, just close your eyes and try to figure out what is bothering you. Try to write or illustrate your feeling so that at the end of the exercise you feel better.

Art is now used as therapy. It is used to help you overcome your fears and joys, anxiety and guilt and every other feeling that makes you unhappy. It is especially beneficial because when you are done with this activity you have something tangible to show for it.Through art, you can express yourself without talking or saying what you are thinking. It is a way of understanding yourself and the environment you are in better.

Expressive art is any form of dance, writing, visual arts, drama, music or any other creative
outlet. They help an individual develop and grow. They reduce stress levels and anxiety. It improves self-awareness and self-esteem, strengthens relationships and advances social skills. It helps children, and adults, deal with negative situations, disabilities and trauma.

Expressive art is particularly helpful in children with special needs. By allowing them to express themselves through art they can show their personality and bring attention to their strengths.

Here are some suggestions to get over certain situations and also solve the shuffle puzzle.

Sorry card

If someone has hurt you or you regret something, make a card. Reflect on the incident, how you feel, and what you would like to tell the person who hurt or upset you. Draw your emotion on one side of the card and on the other write down what you would say to the
person concerned.

Calming journal

Get yourself a blank notebook, some markers and coloured pencils, magazines and newspapers. Find pictures and images that can help you calm down and begin to create your panic book. You do not need to finish your book in one session but can carry it over for several days or months. This is a resource to help you distract yourself and focus on
something else to calm yourself.

Inhale, exhale

Do you get anxious? Especially during exam time? Then it’s time to start setting things right.
Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. When your breathing is regular turn your thoughts to anxiety. Reflect on the idea of anxiety. If you could visualise it, what would it look like? Does it have hands or legs, face or head…Now give shape to your anxiety. Draw
and colour it as you wish and try to journal your feelings.

Best buds

How well do you know your flowers? Find out with this crossword.

“A flower does not use words to announce its arrival to the world; it just blooms.” ~ Matshona Dhliwayo

Flowers are also known as buds or blossoms. They are the reproductive structure found in plants (plants of the division Angiospermae).

There are three primary kinds of flowers: Annuals, Perennials, and Biennials. In addition, there is the fourth type of flower that behaves both as annuals and perennials like a hybrid. Then, there are shrub flowers and tree flowers.

Here’s a crossword with names of flowers that are commonly found in India. Try your hand at it and let’s see if it inspires you to take up gardening as a hobby.