Things to try

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Lightbulb Activity
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!
Lightbulb Activity
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.
Lightbulb Activity
Be vulnerable
For:
Grief & loss ,
Guilt ,
Money issues ,
Chronic health issues & disabilities
"It's ok to not be ok" may be overused—but for good reason. Hiding feelings of anger or sadness might actually make you feel more stressed or isolated. And at worst, could even lead to depression, anxiety, or physical illness. Try sharing how you're really feeling with a trusted friend, family member, or partner. This can help deepen your connection, and get the empathy and support you need. You don't need to tell everyone everything all at once---try starting with something as simple as "I am having a hard time."
Headphones Listen
Create an upbeat playlist
For:
Sadness ,
Relationship issues & breakups ,
Chronic health issues & disabilities
Aside from just sounding good, research shows that listening to music actually increases blood flow to regions in your brain that generate and control emotions. And studies show that faster music (usually performed at a tempo between 140 and 150 beats per minute) tends to generate more positive emotions than slower music. Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” (at 156 BPM) is just one example of a song that might give you some positive emotions—it's the first of 10 in a research-backed playlist. But don't let us stop you from making your own playlist of songs that feel good to you.
Book Read
Get a massage
For:
Burnout ,
Loneliness ,
Worry
Though getting a massage might sound overly indulgent, it can provide healing benefits like calming your nervous system, increasing circulation, relieving muscle tension, eliminating toxins, and boosting immunity. Massage has also been shown to decrease cortisol (a stress hormone) and increase levels of oxytocin (known as “the love hormone.”) Though it's always an option to book at a spa, you can also try self massage or ask a partner.
Video Play Watch
Acknowledge and avoid negative self-talk
For:
Non-substance addiction ,
Substance use ,
Anger ,
Guilt ,
Worry ,
Loneliness ,
Navigating your gender & sexuality ,
Sadness ,
Shame
Stress or worry might lead you to interpret situations negatively, be overly self-critical, or doubt you ability to deal with stressors. To reframe negative thoughts, avoid thinking of them as facts and consider other possibilities. Doing this over time can help reduce the negative emotional response to stress. The world is hard enough, you don't need to be hard on yourself, too.
Lightbulb Activity
Ask for support from friends and family
For:
Grief & loss ,
Loneliness ,
Sadness ,
Worry ,
Opening up to friends & family ,
Relationship issues & breakups ,
Chronic health issues & disabilities
If you're going through a challenging time, think about who you feel comfortable with, and what interactions might feel supportive so you can tell people what you need—whether it's talking about how you’re feeling so you can release some pent-up emotions, or finding comfort by time together with no words exchanged.
Lightbulb Activity
Ask for specific help
For:
Grief & loss ,
Guilt ,
Loneliness ,
Sadness ,
Chronic health issues & disabilities ,
Family conflict ,
Money issues ,
Burnout
Though making a specific ask when you're going through difficult times might feel strange, well-intentioned friends who say “Let me know if I can do anything” will be glad to have a clear idea of how to be helpful. If you aren’t sure where to start, consider: Practical support: errands, cooking, babysitting, etc.; Social/well-being activities: taking a walk, going to coffee or lunch, etc.; Emotional support: spending time together—to talk, or just spend time together.

Showing 17—24 of 45