Tell me small things that help you mental health please x

[pastypirate]

I want to put together some resources for a friend. I am neither diagnosing nor deluding myself I can fix anything. Just trying to do an act of kindness.

My friend (without over sharing) is ina bit of a self loathing cycle. I'm looking for small tasks that encourage a tiny bit of self care. I know it's really hard I've been there.

I keep thinking about things like fly lady when she says if you can't do anything else just shine your sink.

Thinking about making a small care package with a bullet journal and some berocca.

Tia xx

Fresh air, walk or sit in local park/garden.

Walks, journaling, baking, retraining, therapy….

Keeping a journal does help. Writing one by hand is better, because you can't correct it. Just dumping down my thoughts often provides an answer, or gives a sense of relief

Rescue remedy is a great suggestion x

Thanks everyone. Sone good suggestions. I did say in the op this isn't a dx or a cure.

I know why friend is struggling. As do they. That's not my story to tell.

I want to suggest some little habits that might scaffold a routine that might help a bit.

I know it's more about the gesture but I don't want to give them anything that suggests they need to improve their appearance or anything like that.

I need routine for my MH, so things I will/can do every day.

Waking makes a huge difference for me. Even 10/15 minutes round the block.

Getting out of the house. Instead of a care package you could take her for afternoon tea or something else she might enjoy, get her out and be there for her.

Tiramisu desert or a recipe - apparently it actually means "pick me up" 🙂

When I was going through a difficult time some friends gave me a self care box with a notebook and some chocolate in it. They had written "self care journal" on the first page of the notebook and they wrote titles on the first few pages like "favourite movies" "favourite foods" "things to do" etc. I found the act of filling out those pre-written titles quite soothing, like it gave me ideas for how I could make myself feel better when I was finding things hard without being too prescriptive.

Running outside in the fresh air, twice a week if I can. If I'm injured or too knackered, I walk. Just getting out and putting one foot in front of the other really does lift the dooms.

What do u plant in your chimney pots? I have one but it's standing empty after my palm tree died

Very first step - 10 mins daylight outside first thing in the morning before coffee

Second - she need to listen the negative voice to recognise it. She needs to write down every negative thing her head says for a week.

Then she needs to read them out loud. if she could say them to you that would great.

So important to recognise when it is happening so she can start change her neuropaths.

Once the voice starts, she needs to get a distraction method - counting, saying the alpabeth backwards, counting back from 300.

Its about creating new pathways in the brain

All sorts...
Flowers - ivy, seasonal plants
Broad beans!!

Get outside every day for a short walk

get exercise every day - longer walk, do a class,online yoga

talk to someone - just exchange a few texts with an old friend or aunt

have a hobby for me that gets me out. to stop me overthinking . Volunteering good for this also

a list of jobs / things to do - it’s a success if I do one of them

repsect my needs - quiet space and time to recharge so i use earplugs in stressful environments for example

watch what I eat - avoid UPF and alcohol. Or at least eat plenty of fruit and veg

sleep hygiene - read a book in bed not the phone