“You cant underestimate the power of feeling softness when everything else feels so hard.”
May we all be able to find a little extra peace in our lives.
Here are some practices people shared:
1.
I don’t actually feel like it because X.'
u/rock-mommy
2.
I still do it now, even though those difficult days are behind me.
I also give that piece of advice to friends or family when their world is upside down.
You cant underestimate the power of feeling softness when everything else feels so hard."
u/Key_Requirement_8379
3.
“Not working until I am on the clock and stopping work when I’m off the clock.
My time is my time.”
u/el_monstruo
4.
“I started incorporating daily walks into my routine.
It might sound small, but the fresh air and movement have done wonders for my mood.
Highly recommend listening to your favorite podcast or playlist, too.”
u/CulturedBoldne
“Walking is awesome.
For me, anyway, it makes stress management significantly easier on my mind and body.
And, there’s plenty of that in my life.”
u/DoritoLipDust
5.
“Undressing the moment I get home from work.
I swap that uniform for comfy, soft clothes.
It makes me chill out and smile just to think about it.”
u/Tsundere_Revy
6.
“I now make my bed in the morning.
It only takes five minutes.
u/Not_Prince_Hamlett
7.
Then, I ask what’s actually wrong when it isn’t a proportional response to the issue.”
u/SUGARDUNKERTON956
8.
“Baking with my daughter a couple times per week.
Pies, cookies, different kinds of breads, etc.
u/dick-nipples
9.
It really starts to work after a while.”
u/Angelicwoo
10.
When I have a few collected, I deliver to a local shelter.
They are always so grateful, and I feel wonderful."
u/Greenis67
11. u/MARRIEDT0THEOIL
12.
Last year, I went to a farm and hung out with some awesome animals and painted.
This year, I’m going to a concert and staying in a nice hotel downtown."
u/ima_little_stitious
13.
“Not drinking during the week.
It makes Friday’s buzz feel earned and like I deserve it.”
u/The_Accountant_
14.
“Keep a gratitude journal.
I write down three things I’m thankful for every day.”
u/WhippieCake
15.
“Slowing down at work.
I don’t need to respond to every email right away, or double-check everything is up-to-date constantly.
Some things can just wait.”
But, slowing down and taking time is the way to go."
u/CaptainPositive1234
16.
“Daily fruit smoothie.
I was eating zero fresh fruit before.
I stopped falling asleep at my desk midday.”
u/m3erds
17.
“Abstaining from porn completely.”
u/ZaagKicks
18.
“I wipe my counters and put away the dishes every night, no matter how tired I am.
The energy boost I get from waking up to a neat kitchen is not to be underestimated.”
u/AdaraRoseOmnibus
19.
“I found a friend who is interested in the same things I am who is intelligent and open-minded.
At my age, this is quite an accomplishment.
We share ideas, not politics or gossip.
I am immensely better and a different person, you could say.”
u/WolfThick
20.
“Smiling to myself.
Like, physically smiling randomly.
u/alxcnwy
21.
“I quit my religion/cult and my anxiety walked out the door.
I feel in total control of my life.”
u/Different-Director26
22.
“Forcing myself to do more arts and crafts.
I’ve been in such a creative slump for so long.
u/SaveusJebus
23.
“Deleted social media.
Stopped thinking about the past.
Those two things have been huge in increasing my well-being.”
u/DragonElephantCat
24.
For an insomniac worry-wart, it’s been life-changing getting solid sleep.
My goal is eight hours a night.
Since I need to be up at 7:00 a.m., I need to be asleep by 11:00 p.m.
I put my phone on the charger.
I grab my journal and then write things down.
This has been the most important thing.
Things roll over in our heads.
If we practice the art of writing it down, then our brain can process things much better.”
Sometimes I write a to-do list.
Sometimes I write my feelings on the TV show I just watched.
Whatever is rolling around in my brain gets written down.
u/bellabbr
“My sleep has improved drastically since I began a nighttime routine.
Im usually passed out within a chapter or two.”
u/Imnopeeeee
25.
“This is truly really small.
I started wearing my smartwatch to bed because I wanted to see what the sleep monitoring was about.
I then realized I can set alarms on my watch that vibrate and don’t make a noise.
I also learned I could do this for naps.
u/Don_Pickleball
26.“Yoga.
Even just for 2030 minutes a day.”
u/CanuckGinger
27.
“I set my iPhone to only accept calls from people in my contacts.
Do I miss an occasional call that I need to take?
They leave a message, and I call them back.
If it’s a business or organization I deal with semi-regularly, I add them to my contacts.
The important thing, for me, is that I get ZERO spam/scam calls coming through anymore.
On average, I was getting over 30 of them every day.
I am much happier with this setup.”
u/froebull
28.
“Buying myself flowers.”
u/forestgnome1
29.“Audiobooks.
I read four books in 2021.
I read two books in 2022.
I read four books in the first six months of 2023.
Then I got into audiobooks and read 17 books in the last six months of 2023.
This year’s looking even better.
I’m already on my fourth book since New Year’s!”
u/PrecariousThings
30.
Unless it’s Frank Sinatra.”
u/ThatsJustLilly
31.
“I put my phone on ‘do not disturb.’
If its a text, it can wait.
I force myself to listen to music rather than news/videos at certain times.
I schedule in relaxing time.
Going for walks in nature has been the best one, though.
Also, I force myself not to look at my phone.
Every bit of technology is screaming for our attention at every given moment.
If youre always focused on something, then youre actually never focused on anything.
The times I’m ‘bored’ are great for kind of recalibrating my ADHD brain.”
u/pjk922
32.
“Stretching every day has helped a great deal.
Doesn’t always have to be a lot.”
u/tumchie
33.
“I stopped commenting on political articles online.
Too many pointless arguments really ruin the day.”
u/Glozboy
34.
“Putting my phone on the charger in a different room.
Im finding it easier to sleep and quicker to get out of bed.
Overall, my mood has been loads better.”
u/FestiveOldMan
35.
“I started doing 10 push-ups when I got really stressed out or couldnt solve a problem.
It was something I could do quickly, and it makes me feel like I accomplished something.
Also, it gets the blood pumping and gives a small rush of endorphins.
It makes a world of difference when I remember to stop and do push-ups when I get overwhelmed.”
u/etsprout
36.
“Realizing that I can choose what I think about.
u/EZEZEYEY
37. u/sranneybacon
38.“Volunteering.
Find out what kind of volunteering activity interests you and do it.
It can drastically change your happiness level.
I drive a shuttle van for seniors and volunteer at a community kitchen.
I’m so happy doing them and I look forward to doing them.”
u/EEXC
39.
“I decided to answer every spam call with my best pirate impression.
u/pic_magician
40.
“I have a pillow scent spray.
I think its a very light cucumber citrus scent.
Surprisingly, it’s a really nice thing to give myself every day.”
u/ayvree91
41.
“I’m only allowed to insult myself with G-rated ‘curse words.’
u/Kyoukon
42.
“Realizing I don’t have to always go places with friends.
It’s okay to do things solo.”
u/Careful_Control9246
43. u/czerniana
44.
“Cleaning up as I cook.
u/AcidNeonDreams
45.
“I tend to be a procrastinator.
I know enough about myself to not let things pile up because then they seem insurmountable.
But, sometimes it does happen.
u/VH5150OU812
46. u/Grownfetus
47.
“Saying no way more often and learning not to feel guilty about it.
u/RPCV8688
48.
“I stopped making things out of my control my problem.”
u/Carless-Set7570
49.
Trying to be more understanding and empathetic has taken a huge burden off my heart.”
u/MRSRN65
Note: Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
