20 Ways To Give Yourself a Lift

• 1. Have a long soak in a hot bubbly bath
• 2. Get your friends around to watch a feel-good film
• 3. Snuggle up in bed and watch your favourite film or listen to your favourite album
• 4. Pamper yourself. Have a facial sauna (hang your head over a bowl of steaming water and cover with a towel), put on a face mask, give yourself a make-over using all the make-up you own
• 5. Get creative use whatever you've got and make something out of nothing
• 6. Exercise go for a walk or a jog. If it's cold and wet outside, get out an exercise dvd, walk around the house, do a few laps up and down the stairs get the body moving and the endorphins (feel-good hormones) pumping
• 7. Get organised sort out your room. If that's too much of a challenge, sort out your messy drawer, or your photo albums etc.
• 8. Make or get out your " special box". This should be full of special things you've kept over the years that tell you people love and care about you letters from friends, photo's etc.
• 9. Be silly. Everybody has an inner-child that's waiting to get out and have some fun. Play a kids game twister is always good with friends. If you're alone, watch a kid's film.
• 10. Learn a new hobby. You can use books, the Internet or someone else's knowledge to learn a new skill. Examples could include knitting, painting, card-making etc.
• 11. Start a diary or a "blog" either on paper, on the computer or online (Use Kooth's Blogging space for example)
• 12. Write a letter to yourself for in a few years time. Maybe mention your current goals, where you hope to be by the time that you open the letter. Seal it and write the date of opening on the envelope, then hide in your secret place (I wrote a letter aged 13 for my 18th birthdayended up opening it aged 15 and noticed a HUGE difference in how much I'd grown up).
• 13. Set a goal think of something you really want, and then start working out how you'll get to your goal. Maybe you really want to buy a new laptop save so much a week/month and work out when you can treat yourself!
• 14. Read your favourite magazine or book.
• 15. Do nothing. Unplug the phone, make sure you won't be disturbed and then sit or lie in a comfortable place and do nothing except rest. Focus on your breathing to stop yourself from running away with your thoughts.
• 16. Get a relaxation CD these are very effective when you feel stressed or tense, and help when you are struggling to get off to sleep.
• 17. Be spontaneous don't plan and organise everything. Try and be spontaneous occasionally, and do something in the spare of the moment, like going to the cinema with a friend.
• 18. Start off a list of your good qualities. It can be anything related to your looks, personality, possessions etc. As long as it's positive, it's ok. Maybe you like your hair style? You have a nice smile? You have lots of friends? You're a good runner?
  
  
• 19. Have a blast from the past get all your albums out from when you were younger and listen to them. Though be careful as this can bring up both happy and sad memories be prepared if you're going to do this one.
• 20. Start your own list of 20 ways to give yourself a lift. You'll be surprised at how many things you already know of, and you'll remind yourself of what you do when you feel stressed or low.