Things to try

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Watch something funny
For:
Anger ,
Grief & loss ,
Loneliness ,
Sadness ,
Relationship issues & breakups
Humor has a lot of power. Watching a comedic movie or even a standup comedy special may seem like a bandaid, but it has the potential to tap into the depths of your true self. (This goes back to the common phrase, "It's funny because it's true.") Finding ways to laugh at pieces of art (comedy is art!) has been something people have done for centuries to cope and reflect on the human experience. Comedy can help you feel a little better by highlighting what's important to you and the silver linings of life's ups and downs.
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Invest in a weighted blanket
For:
Grief & loss ,
Guilt ,
Loneliness ,
Sadness ,
Worry ,
Relationship issues & breakups ,
Trauma
TLDR: Weighted blankets work. Weighted vests even work for our animal friends! And there are even weighted stuffed animals.The science is simple: It's like being tucked in – safe and secure – or like a big hug from someone you love. The weight in a weighted blanket is proven to help settle nerves and improve sleep, which in turn has all sorts of benefits for your health.
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Do one small thing that will help you feel better
For:
Anger ,
Sadness ,
Worry ,
Chronic health issues & disabilities ,
Family conflict ,
Relationship issues & breakups ,
Trauma
When you’re in a bad headspace, it can be challenging to find the energy to take care of yourself. Even the smallest of activities might feel too overwhelming to begin. But that doesn’t mean you aren’t deserving of it. Find some time to do one nice thing you enjoy—whether it be listening to an album you love, reading a book, or treating yourself to your favorite snack.
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Spend some time with a pet
For:
Grief & loss ,
Loneliness ,
Sadness ,
Worry ,
Chronic health issues & disabilities ,
Relationship issues & breakups
Pets can provide comfort, companionship, and more often than not, a laugh, when you need it most. Science also backs up the benefits of having a pet on your mental health. Spend some time playing with your pet and enjoying each other company. If you don’t have a pet but love animals, consider volunteering at a shelter or visiting a neighbor or a friend with a pet.
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Text or call someone to say you care about them
For:
Grief & loss ,
Guilt ,
Loneliness ,
Sadness
Sending out a simple text asking how someone you care about is doing can offer mutual benefits for you both. Doing so reinforces your connectedness to others, and helps to remind you that you have support when you might need it.
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Volunteer
For:
Burnout ,
Grief & loss ,
Loneliness ,
Trauma ,
Workplace issues & unemployment
Aside from helping others, volunteering has amazing feel-good effects for you. You'll also experience elevated oxytocin levels and a dopamine release along with a sense of meaning that can help reduce stress and burnout. Volunteering is also a great way to build and strengthen social connections, which is increasingly important as social isolation is on the rise. In addition to making new connections when you volunteer, you might make existing connections even stronger when you volunteer with loved ones. (One study even shows that couples who volunteer together were more likely to stay together.)
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Create a sleep routine
For:
Anger ,
Burnout ,
Guilt ,
Worry
Creating a sleep routine (also referred to as practicing sleep hygiene) is something nice you can do for yourself to wind down at night and improve your chances at getting enough sleep (7-9 hours) and high quality sleep. Setting a "device curfew", going to bed at the same time each night, keeping your bedroom cool and dark, and doing calming activities like taking a bath, journaling, reading, or meditating are all good things to try. Charging your phone outside of your bedroom is also great if you can manage it—getting an alarm clock can help!
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Try talking about it
For:
Opening up to friends & family ,
Trauma ,
Non-substance addiction ,
Relationship issues & breakups ,
Substance use ,
Chronic health issues & disabilities ,
Coping with discrimination & stigma ,
Family conflict ,
Grief & loss ,
Guilt ,
Loneliness ,
Navigating your gender & sexuality ,
Shame
It might be that talking about what you're going through is the last thing you feel like doing. Or, it might be that you don't feel like talking to your loved ones about it. Ironically, this is usually a sign that getting something off your chest may be essential to healing. Consider asking a therapist or someone you trust to be a sounding board for you. You only need to start with one person.

Showing 9—16 of 37