Does someone you know need a boost?
Life has a way of knocking us down sometimes, and when it does, we all need a little pick-me-up. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or partner who’s feeling blue, these 12 quick ways to cheer someone up will help put a smile back on their face. So, let’s get straight to it and explore some fun, easy methods to boost their mood.
1. Go shopping.
Buying things just for the sake of the buzz you get is not something we typically recommend. But when it comes to cheering up a friend or loved one, retail therapy does have a place.
It can be really nice for them to treat themselves to something new when they have had a rough time of late.
And the normality of hitting the shops can do wonders for their mindset.
2. Put on an uplifting movie.
Movies can be a form of escapism, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing when someone you know is feeling down.
Find a feel-good movie that is joyful and inspiring, make up some fresh popcorn, and drag the duvet over to the couch for you to snuggle under together.
For a couple of hours, they’ll be able to forget their troubles. And when the credits roll, their mood will have undoubtedly improved.
3. Get arty.
Creativity is an effective tonic for sadness, stress, and other difficult emotions.
Get some paints, pens, pencils, chalks, charcoal – whatever you like – along with some big paper and make some art.
Or get more hands on and use what you have around to craft cool decorations.
Let your imaginations run wild.
4. Play games.
Are they a console type of person?
Do they enjoy a classic board game?
Do you know some fun card games?
Playing games of any sort can distract this person from their woes and lift their spirits no end.
5. Exercise together.
Getting your heart racing is a sure-fire way to make someone feel better.
Exercise releases endorphins, which are a natural painkiller and mood booster.
Physical activity also prompts the body to release neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, which, again, are your body’s own happiness chemicals.
So go for a walk together, take a bike ride, or even do an intense yoga session if that’s what you’re both into.
6. Have a spa day at home.
A pampering session may be just what your friend or loved one needs to feel more cheerful.
So take round some face masks, a selection of nail polishes, luxurious body butters, and anything else you know they’d like.
If you’re both comfortable with it, offer them a massage to really help them relax and unwind.
7. Tidy up or clean their place.
Healthy home, healthy mind – there’s a lot of truth in this saying.
When things get on top of us, it’s easy to let things slide and end up with clutter and mess everywhere.
So if they are struggling to do the basics, do them yourself.
Tidy things up, vacuum the house, load all their dirty plates into the dishwasher, make their bathroom sparkle.
They will really appreciate such a generous gesture. It will make them feel cared for and ease their mental clutter too.
8. Do random acts of kindness together.
Whilst tidying up their place is your own expression of kindness, getting them to be kind to others is an effective way to cheer them up.
Get out and about and you’ll soon find ways to do random acts of kindness for others.
Help someone carry their shopping.
Sit and chat to someone who seems lonely.
Pay for the coffee of the person in front of you in the queue (when combined with the coffee shop trip from above).
This will remind your friend of their own power to make a positive difference in the world.
9. Stroke and play with a pet.
Animal companions offer unconditional love and unbridled joy to those fortunate enough to have one.
If you do, but your friend or loved one doesn’t, invite them round to your place to play with or stroke your pet.
If you have a dog, take it for a walk together, throw it a ball, and watch as it frolics around.
This is sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face.
10. Crack a joke.
Telling a good joke will make them laugh, and laughter will cheer them up no end.
Look up some jokes if you have to, or tell some that you already know.
Don’t worry if you’re really bad at telling jokes – that is half the fun and will make them smile in and of itself.
If you’re not sure about this, go online and watch some stand up comedy instead.
11. Make a gratitude list.
If your friend or loved one is down in the dumps, they may find it difficult to see the good things in their life.
But you can help open their eyes to all there is to be thankful for by making a gratitude list together.
Prompt them if they struggle to think of things – their health, their friends, the vacation they’ve got coming up, the lovely home they’ve got…
…start with things like these and then get even more granular.
There is no end of things to be grateful for.
12. Listen to them.
Although we’ve put this last on the list, it will be an important part of many of the other items.
By offering an ear and letting them pour out their troubles, you can help ease the burden that is weighing heavily on them.
Talking things through with a friend or loved one is sometimes all we need to make us feel better about a situation.
So be that friend or loved one, open your ears, put judgment aside, and just listen.
Finally…
When your friend or loved one is feeling low, it’s important not to invalidate that feeling.
You may be tempted to say something along the lines of, “It’s not so bad,” or “You’ll get over it.”
Phrases such as these often have the opposite effect to what you intended.
They can rile up the other person who may think you are trying to play down the hurt they are feeling.
At which point, the advice above will have far less of a positive effect… if any.
Their rational mind already knows that they’ll feel better soon and that there are people in far worse situations than them.
They don’t need you to point this out to them.
Their emotions are their emotions, and they are valid.
But the tips above can be used to first distract them from those emotions, and then to help them slowly move through them in their own way.
