Working to manage stress, anger, burnout, and other mental health issues can be challenging. When life gets hard, it can be easy to give up or revert to unhealthy coping mechanisms. Ogden Psychological Services wants to help individuals have healthy avenues of coping and destressing that improve their mental health. Here is a small list of healthy coping skills to try.
1- Go On A Walk Or Go To The Gym
Getting physical exercise and moving your body is a great way to cope with stress. Taking a walk or doing a workout to some pump-up music is a good way to clear your head.
2- Try A New Yoga Routine
Yoga and stretching are other good ways to get your body moving. These can be healthy coping skills because they help refocus your thoughts and help you feel more balanced.
If you are feeling down or depressed, try including some affirmations during your routine as well. There are also yoga classes that can help you feel connected to peers while also getting some exercise and utilizing one of many healthy coping skills.
3- Call A Friend Or Family Member
This can be a good time to vent, catch up on life events, or just get your mind off of stressful things in your life. Talking to someone helps you feel connected and helps may help them feel better as well. This coping skill is a win-win!
If calling is not something you feel comfortable doing at the moment, try sending a text or DM, or writing them a letter.
4- Detox From Social Media
Comparing ourselves to others online can be damaging to our mental health. Scrolling on social media can take time away from other important tasks, leading to us feeling overwhelmed or sluggish. Try detoxing from social media and putting that time into working, developing a hobby, doing housework, or catching up with a friend.
A detox from social media can also help you feel more present and in the moment. Life is short and should be enjoyed while you can, so unplug and look around you more during your detox.
5- Sit In The Sunlight
Healthy coping skills don’t always have to be active or last for long periods of time. Going to a park or just sitting in your backyard under the sun can help give you an energy boost. When life gets stressful, we often need more vitamins and endorphins to be released to our brains. Vitamin D from the sun can help lift your mood and set you up for better success during the days ahead.
6- Take Photos And Edit Them
For those who are looking for a confidence boost, or want something creative to distract them, taking self-portraits or photos of others is a great way to accomplish both! Taking some self-portraits and editing them can boost your self-esteem, or having a fun photo shoot with friends can be a healthy outing. Grab your camera or even just your smartphone and hit the streets.
Taking it one step further to play around with editing and hype each other up is a great coping skill for when you aren’t feeling confident.
7- Join A Club Or Rec Sports Team
Human connection helps us to feel better and more well-rounded. Joining a book club or recreational sports team is a good way to fuel a healthy hobby while meeting new people.
8- Reorganize
When your life feels out of control or overwhelming, organizing a few areas in your home or office can help you have a clearer headspace. Find some clear organizers and put everything it its own place, or go through your closet and get rid of clothes you no longer wear.
Reorganizing can take some time, which is a great way to put away distractions or your phone and just spend some time with yourself. With so much going on in the world, it is important to have healthy coping skills that allow us to escape for a while.
9- Practice Gratitude
Make a list of 10 things you are grateful for. If you can do more than 10, try to get to 30 or even 50.
10- Practice Letting Go
Stressful life situations can cause us to lose things we once had. Practice letting go and learning to move forward. This can look like moving on from a breakup, letting go of old clothes, or moving forward after a missed opportunity.
11- Try Something New
The best way to get out of a funk is to try something new! Test out a new coffee shop, learn a new language, take a different route to work, watch a new Netflix show, try a new workout, or buy a new book.
12- Take A Relaxing Bath
After a long day, taking time to unwind instead of stressing or scrolling through the news can be beneficial to your mental health. Another easy one on this list of healthy coping skills is to take a relaxing bath. Run the hot water, light a candle, and put on some soothing music.
13- Read A Book
Sitting down with a good book not only keeps your brain sharp, but it also is a good way to healthily escape reality for a bit. Pick up a self-help book to improve your well-being or pick up a fantasy to put your mind into another world.
14- Put Your To-Do List On Pause
As humans, we often feel that we have to be on the go constantly and accomplish everything in one day. If you are feeling in a mental health slump, try taking some things off your to-do list, or throwing the list away entirely.
When you are in a better headspace or have more time, you can come back to the list. They will still be there (just make sure to do anything timely first).
15- Schedule A Therapy Appointment
If coping with stress or life changes is becoming more and more difficult, schedule an appointment with your therapist. Therapy can help you see a different perspective and vent to someone who truly listens. Schedule a call with your therapist or book one for the first time to see if it can help your mental health.
Coping Skills With Ogden Psychological Services
Our therapists focus on meeting your individual goals and helping you develop more healthy coping skills. We want to help you know how to navigate stress, grief, anxiety, anger, and more. Fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment!
