Feel like everything is a disaster? You need to try the 'lemonading' hack.

"Just look on the bright side."

"You'll be fine."

We've all been hit with a bit of toxic positivity from time to time, and it can be, well, frustrating.

These days we're all trying to maintain a constant sunny disposition, but the truth is, life isn't really wired that way. You're going to have days when the train is late, the skies open, and you don't have an umbrella, and you stub your toe while trying to put away the dishes. It is what it is.

But what if there was a healthier way to navigate life's challenges without dismissing our genuine feelings?

There's a new theory doing the rounds on social media, which is actually backed by a study out of the University of Oregon. And it has a fun name.

Enter "lemonading" – a refreshingly different approach to facing adversity that doesn't require us to pretend everything is fine when it isn't.

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What is lemonading?

Coined by researchers at Oregon State University, lemonading is inspired by the familiar phrase "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade". It transforms this old adage into a powerful psychological tool, which people can use to reframe and refresh their approach to the struggles of life.

Speaking to Dr Sara Quinn, President of the Australian Psychological Society, she says that lemonading may not be an established psychological condition, but it is a term that we can use to describe the effects of playful mindsets on our resilience.

"The term refers to that process of playfully reframing events — like when life gives you lemons, make lemonade," she explains.

"It refers to that creative reimagining — pursuing the positive in the circumstance you find yourself in, and discovering ways of creating moments of joy — even if you find yourself in a circumstance that's particularly difficult."

While this might sound like toxic positivity, there's actually a big difference between that and lemonading. 

"Lemonading doesn't seek to minimise or eliminate painful emotions. Instead, it tries to view a difficult situation in a creative and imaginative manner," she explains.

So, is lemonading a real thing? 

When you're running on empty, try 'lemonading'. Image: Getty.

In February 2025, the University of Oregon published a study into 'lemonading', which is essentially making the best of a bad situation.

They found that those who were playful at reframing what was happening in their lives adopted a more optimistic future outlook. Their study, conducted during the pandemic, found that while respondents still felt the vulnerability and isolation of lockdown, they coped at much higher levels and engaged in more leisure activities.

This proved that lemonading is not 'rose-coloured glasses' or 'toxic positivity', but instead, "pursuing positive possibilities" while "maintaining a clear-eyed realism about challenges."

As Dr Quinn explains, "They engaged in more creative problem-solving, and they managed to infuse this beautiful quality and enjoyment into their everyday activities."

She says that lemonading may also help to rewire our brains for resilience. Each time we successfully reframe a difficult situation, we strengthen the neural pathways associated with adaptability and problem-solving. Over time, this becomes our default response rather than getting stuck in negativity or denial.

"What we know is that the more you do that, the more you're likely to impact the way your brain operates — so triggering the release of endorphins, reducing the cortisol levels that you might likely experience — and that makes you more likely to engage in these positive coping strategies. So it's a really nice feedback loop."

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What if we're not naturally playful people? 

Some people miss their flight and decide to explore the city they're in for an extra day. Others hunker down in the airport and frantically search for new flights. 

Not all of us are naturally 'playful', 'seize the day' kind of people, but Dr Quinn says it's absolutely something we can train ourselves to do. 

"I don't think we have to be naturally playful to engage in this type of behaviour. It's something we can actually cultivate," she says. 

"If we can set an intention about our every day, and if we do that with a level of curiosity – an intention to think and be open to experience, and to do that with a sense of humour and playfulness – that can transform everyday tasks into something that can be considered more playful.

"Everybody can do it."

Like any skill, lemonading improves with practice.

Start small – perhaps by looking for one unexpected positive aspect in a minor inconvenience. As you become more comfortable with the process, you can apply it to increasingly challenging situations.

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Is it a key part of our mental 'tool kit'? 

Dr Quinn says 'lemonading' is absolutely something that we should include in our mental toolkit. In fact, she has conducted her own study into playfulness in early childhood and found that it can "actually enhance our cognitive development."

The benefits of playfulness can be far-reaching and often unseen, but she says that it's "definitely worthwhile."

When we approach difficulties with curiosity rather than dread, we open ourselves to growth opportunities that might otherwise remain hidden.

By expanding our mental flexibility, it helps us navigate uncertainty, adapt to change, and find innovative solutions to problems that might otherwise seem insurmountable.

Start with openness.

Like Elle Woods, an open mind can lead to endless possibilities. Image: Legally Blonde.

For Dr Quinn, lemonading is all about opening up your world to serendipity and joy. 

"I think just talking about this openness to new experiences and exploring new activities [can help]," says Quinn. "To be able to notice how you can change your own perspective and imagine new ways of thinking and new ways of doing things — I think that's a really nice step for every person to consider."

Her final tip? Be inspired to try lemonading by the people around you. 

"Consider those people that you enjoy spending time around. Why do you enjoy spending time around them?" she asks. "Some people that you just have fun and laugh with — that is such an antidote to some of the challenges that we actually find ourselves amongst day to day."

Feature image: Getty.

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