DISCLAIMER: this isn’t a substitute for therapy and/or medication. Sometimes therapy isn’t accessible. Sometimes we have a bad week and need to recenter ourselves.
I think we can learn from each other and find methods we didn’t even know about! What’s helpful to another may be ineffective to another, and I think learning about an array of methods would be valuable.
What’s been helpful for me:
- Spending time in nature
- Journaling (I would google journal prompts pertaining to my predicaments)
- Guided meditations on Youtube
- Free worksheets: https://www.therapistaid.com/therapy-worksheets (my therapist who specialized in CBT used some of these during our sessions, I’m glad they’re free)
This might be more darkly humorous than you are looking for, but at the onset of WWII I’ve read that many civilians suddenly had a full or partial remission of symptoms for the duration of the war.
Being part of a society in crisis that’s all pulling in the same direction can take your mind off your own problems, at least for a while. Call it the Ozymandias effect?
It’s not enough to hope a war breaks out, but maybe there’s something at the heart of it we can grasp. Maybe what some of us really lack is purpose, or a sense of belonging. These aren’t easy to solve for, but I’m sure it’s worth a look inward.
- Journaling just random thoughts and feelings
- Meditating
- Nature hikes
- Making my bed each morning
- Going for a drive with the radio on
- Doing small DIY crafts
Meditation is the biggest one for me. For so long I thought it just wasn’t for me and then I got an app with guided meditation tracks and I have never been more calm, focused, and generally happy with the way things are since I started. I feel really lucky I gave it a chance and highly recommend it for anyone to try.
Same. I kind of have issues with my mind wondering when meditating (though also just in general lol). But I then tried guided meditation and it just clicked. Maybe it was having someone kind of guiding and reminding me to stay focused, but it’s been amazing. And I agree, I think everyone should at least give it a try at some point.
Adding to the excellent suggestions of others:
- Organising to see friends regularly, even when I don’t feel like it
- Having a “thing” to look forward to (often based around hobbies or upcoming events)
Baking has been really good for me. Also I love hot water, but dont have a usable bathtub, so I got myself a shower chair. It’s so relaxing.
Every evening I go for a walk. The fresh air nd bird sightings are as good for me as the exercise.
- Singing
- Crying it out
- Journaling
- Getting enough sleep
- Spending time in the sun
- choosing to avoid arguments