by Lauren Ruby

1. Learn a new doodle
Doodling can be beneficial to mental health and can be an outlet for creativity. Doodling while taking notes and homework can help with concentration and increases what you learn. It can also help relieve stress and process any confusing emotions you may be having. Other benefits of doodling are spurring creativity and helping with big-picture thinking.

2. Memorize a joke

3. Be responsible for your feelings
Most of the time when we feel stressed out or angry, we tend to push our frustrations on others. It is not easy to notice that you are doing it yourself, but it is the first step to taking responsibility for your feelings and it will help you grow into a better person.

4. Learn to meet your own needs
When you learn to take care of yourself and meet your own needs, you learn to respect yourself and know what’s best for you. If something is causing you stress, take a step away from it and don’t come back until you feel like you can handle it.  It’s important to take a break once in a while for your own sanity.

5. Become a better listener
Listening can have a great impact on your life, whether it’s at work or at home. Good listening skills can lead to more productivity and better problem solving skills. It also helps boost confidence, gain trust with others and them in you, and manage high levels of stress.

6. Know your limitations and let others know them too
It’s important to know where to draw the line when things are too overwhelming. Tell the people you trust these limitations; it’s not a “sign of weakness” to ask for help and support from others. It proves beneficial to have friends hold you accountable and help you when you need it.

7. Tell someone to have a good day in pig Latin

8. Throw a paper airplane
It is very stress relieving to do an activity that brings you back to childhood memories. Paper airplanes can be one of those activities. And it is something you can do by yourself or with friends and lift everyone’s mood.

9. Exercise every day
Exercising daily, along with a healthy diet, can better weight control. Along with enhancing mood, it can improve mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. 

10. Learn the words to a new song
Music is a great stress reliever in general. There is also a great sense of satisfaction from learning something new. So, look up the lyrics to a song you don’t know well. You might even find a new favorite.