7 Ways To Make Your Week A Little Better

Small change, big difference.

Rebecca Hendin / Getty Images / BuzzFeed

1. If you have 3 minutes: Try this simple yoga flow.

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2. If you have 5 minutes: Read this visual essay about how an author learned to deal with a friend's pregnancy.

newyorker.com

She was worried that they might not be as close after the birth, but instead things changed in a wonderful way. Read the full essay here.

3. If you have 10 minutes: Take care of your skin.

@sassycurmudgeon

This tip comes via commenter maegann:

"My suggestion is to take 10 minutes before bed every night (for a week at least) to put body lotion on. While doing it, try to be really intentional about it, focusing on having positive and affirming thoughts about your body. It’s a small act of self-love, but it will make your skin feel really soft while also giving your brain a mindfulness-break by focusing in on the “here and now”. It’s a great way to prepare for bed and you might notice how good your skin/body feels after just a few days."

4. If you have 15 minutes: Manage your expectations from both sides.

Adam Ellis/ BuzzFeed

Self-care is important for everyone - not just people who are dealing with mental health issues first hand. Speaking from personal experience, it's often just as hard on loved ones as it is on the person who is ill.

Maggy writes: " While your friend might be going through a difficult time, make sure you’re not neglecting your own wellbeing. Focus on being well rested and make sure you have someone else you can vent to. Also pay close attention to your body. If you feel yourself getting ill or over-stressed it may be time to take a break.

"Being there for someone with a mental health condition can be emotionally draining, especially if you feel guilty for all the times you’re not there, when you’re busy with something else. Remember there’s only so much you can do. You can support them every step of the way, but your friend has to do a lot of the hard work themselves."

5. If you have 20 minutes: Vocalise your worries.

Jesse Goldman / BuzzFeed

Casey writes: "Usually when we’re anxious about something we want to isolate ourselves with these thoughts, because we don’t want to sound like we’re overreacting or being ridiculous. Just the thought of opening up or being vulnerable can be terrifying. But keeping it to yourself can create a vacuum where you’re sitting alone surrounded by your anxieties, unable to really pull yourself out of that frame of mind.

"If you have someone you trust and whose opinion you value, try talking to them about it. “When you do express it and vocalize it, you often realize you’re not crazy; other people are worried about the same thing,” says Howes. Or sometimes just saying it out loud helps you hear that a certain line of thinking was irrational. Or, if nothing else, at least you won’t feel so alone when it comes time to deal with whatever it is you’re worrying about."

6. If you have 30 minutes: Try an alcohol-free activity.

Lyle Payne

This article describes five new ways to hang out with friends. I love the idea of a "favourite things party":

"My co-worker Lyle told me about this gathering that she does with her friends, and it sounds so lovely! Here’s how she described it: You choose two things that you are loving (a book, a beauty product, a kitchen item, stationery, great socks, a beautiful mug, etc. — their group’s price range is $15-$20 per item), wrap each one separately, and bring them to the party. All the gifts go into a basket, and then they pass the basket twice and pick out one item each turn. Then you go around and open one item at a time, and the person who gave it describes why they love it. The goal is to share ideas, the things that make you happy, the things that save you time, etc. (The host also emails out a list of all of the things to the entire group afterward.) Lyle’s group does it once a year (at the holidays), but you could do it more often and/or do only do one gift, or drop the price range to $10-$15."

7. If you have 30 seconds: Read this tweet.

erin chack @ErinChack

Maybe he’s born with it Maybe it’s maple leaves

06:03 PM - 10 Feb 2017