Written by Hannah Cox, founder of betternotstop

A few years ago Phil and I moved back to Manchester. Our first house fell through, so we decided to go with a place that we had only seen for around five minutes – since we were based 300 miles away in Suffolk with Phil’s Parents.

Anyone that has moved house will agree how stressful this can be (and we are just renting!). Unfortunately within two days of our move both the oven and boiler broke. On Bank Holiday weekend. Which is apparently non-urgent.

However, these things happen and I have been using all my go-to self-care tools to help me get through to the other side. I thought it may be helpful to put these into a handy list to share with you, for in times of need!

Photo of betternotstop founder Hannah Cox stood on a wall next to a beach.

20 Quick & Easy Things to help you feel better

Cup of tea. Yorkshire, Earl Grey or Peppermint, a sit down with a good cuppa never fails to cheer me up.

Headspace Meditation App. In times of high anxiety or stress, taking out ten minutes to regroup often sets me up ok.

Hot Water Bottle. There is something incredibly comforting about being kept warm by something or someone. In lieu of a cuddle, this is always a winner for me.

Blanket / Duvet on the Sofa. I am yet to convince my mum of this one, but snuggling on the sofa with your duvet or a blanket – whether watching a film or reading a book, is definitely one of life’s little pleasures.

A Good Film. Whether it’s a well-loved classic, a documentary or something new, switching off for a few hours of escapism never fails to cheer me up.

Cooking your Favourite Dinner. I have a few go-to dinners for comfort food, and find the process of cooking a really nice way to destress at the end of the day.

A Bath. Self-explanatory surely!

or Shower. Sometimes a shower is better for me to shake off the cobwebs and get on with the day!

Avoiding Alcohol. I sleep better and feel better. In times of stress, it can be easy justify inhaling a glass of wine. But I find having a cuppa and giving myself a bit of time to destress always means I sleep better.

Texting a Friend. Instead of texting a friend for a moan, sometimes just asking them instead how THEY are, and whats new with them can take your mind off your own problems.

Going for a Walk. Sticking in some headphones, listen to a podcast or some music and just get yourself out the house for an hour and get the sun on your head.

Having a friend over for dinner. Like I said, I love to cook, so this is an easy, cheap way for me to hang out with my friends.

Pamper Session. After a bath or shower, it’s nice to whack on a face mask and paint my nails. Guaranteed to make me feel better.

Creating a to-do list. I get extremely anxious when faced with what feels like an overwhelm of work. By writing down and prioritising things, I am able to be more realistic about how I can spend my time.

Cleaning the house. When my personal space is organised, I feel organised. It doesn’t take me more than an hour to clear the clutter, wash up and get the house ship shape. And I always feel 100% better when around me looks better.

Clean Sheets on the bed. No explanation needed.

Music. I love to listen to classical music when I work as it helps me get into a great flow space. Whatever floats your boat, putting on some of your favourite music will improve your mood.

Do a digital declutter. Edit your social media feeds, getting rid of anyone or anything that gives you negative thoughts. I did an in-depth guide here, but even just muting or unfollowing people will work just as well.

Sage your space. Some people may think this is a bit woo woo, so bear with me. Sage has been used for many years in cleansing rituals. Burning dry sage and waving the smoke into all corners of your home is believed to get rid of negative energy. After a very stressful few days in the new house, I decided to sage our space. That night I slept better then I had in weeks and woke up feeling positive. Whether it was placebo or not – It was a relaxing experience for me.

Do something nice for someone else. Whether it’s commenting something positive on a social media, sending a text or making a call – reach out to some of your nearest and dearest. If you don’t have many close friends, why don’t you look into volunteering in your community or giving some money to charity?

What do you do to make yourself feel better?

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