Love Your Mind | Things to Try

1:51

Picture yourself at the top of your game

For:: Burnout ,; Worry ,; Workplace issues & unemployment ,; Sadness

Be like Mike. He credits tapping in to the power of his mind—visualizing himself winning—to helping him become a master of basketball. And it’s is something you can try too. What’s the equivalent to making a basket, or winning a championship trophy in your life? If you picture yourself achieving this in your mind, your brain actually does the work to create a new neural pathway. In non-science speak, this means when you visualize something vividly, and repeatedly, the brain feels like you’ve actually done the thing you’ve imagined. So when the situation arises in real life, you can be calm in the moment and worry a little less about how to do the thing because you’ve already experienced it your mind.

Get creative

For:: Burnout ,; Chronic health issues & disabilities ,; Sadness ,; Loneliness ,; Worry ,; Navigating your gender & sexuality

Creative expression can be one of the healthiest ways to cope with stress. Whether it be painting, writing, comedy, dancing, singing, cooking—doing something you find joy in can uplift the mind, soul, and spirit. If you have a hobby from the past you’ve been meaning to pick back up, carve some time out to give it a go.

Manage your close relationships and communication

For:: Family conflict ,; Grief & loss ,; Opening up to friends & family ,; Relationship issues & breakups ,; Sadness ,; Worry

When you're going through a challenging situation, it may also stressful for your family and other close relationships. So keep the lines of communication open, and ask for the support you need. At the same time, encourage your loved ones who are helping out to take time for themselves when their help extends over a longer period of time—it can be easy to burn out, and you’ll want to know they get the relief they need. There may be a range of support options available through your employer, a therapist, state or federal government, or community groups that can help lighten the load and extend your support system.

Take breaks from news stories and social media

For:: Burnout ,; Non-substance addiction ,; Worry ,; Relationship issues & breakups ,; Anger ,; Coping with discrimination & stigma

Non-stop exposure to anxiety-producing news can amp up any difficult feelings you’re already having. If you find yourself feeling worse after scrolling your feeds, do what you can to limit stressful content. You can decide to check in only at certain times, turn off notifications, or unfollow accounts that create stress and focus on ones that help you feel calm and connected.

Consider attending therapy

For:: Worry ,; Anger ,; Burnout ,; Chronic health issues & disabilities ,; Coping with discrimination & stigma ,; Family conflict ,; Grief & loss ,; Guilt ,; Loneliness ,; Non-substance addiction ,; Sadness ,; Shame ,; Substance use ,; Trauma

Therapists and psychiatrists are trained to deal with a range of situations and can reliably hold a safe space for working through things together and develop helpful coping skills.

Things to try

Filter by

Filter by format