Learning to cope with life’s challenges and manage stress is a vital skill that we continue to develop throughout our lives. Everyone is different: what is relaxing for one person may not be for someone else. You may also need different strategies for different situations: for example, if you are feeling panicky, you could try a quick breathing exercise, while daily journaling might help you better manage your worries.  It might take some trial and error to discover the things that work best for you.

Coping strategies and ideas

• The Happiness Lab Podcast Find out some of the science behind what makes people happy – it’s not always what you think! A great listen which might even change what you do….
• Try This!  91 suggestions collected by young people to try for fun, distraction or help you when you feel stressed or down.
• When bad things happen- some ideas on how to cope.
• Self-help mini CBT for managing your worries 
• Self-help booklets – These don’t look very exciting but they are small and easy to read and you can write in them. Download (or order online) these booklets with ideas you can adapt for yourself—a good way of starting to unpick problems and think about small steps forward.
• Staying on top of sleep. Written during the pandemic, practical advice if you’re struggling with sleep
• Smiling Mind a meditation app to help to relieve the stresses of everyday life. See Best Apps page for more

Videos

• Inspiring TED Talks (Mind Your Way) Talks include “The surprising science of happiness”,  “Is social media harming your mental health?” and “Three tips to boost your confidence”
• Better Health (NHS) Videos to help you tackle negative thoughts, including those around social media.
• Mental health and self-care for young people: videos on challenging negative thoughts, and coping with change.

Quizzes and activities

• La Bomba dance exercise video suitable for all fitness levels- dance yourself happy!
• Mind Plan is an NHS quiz which gives you personalised advice based on your answers to just 5 questions, each with an option to swap out bits if they don’t work for you.
• Make a self-soothe box: make a box filled with all the things which ground you or make you feel safe and calm
• Write a letter to your future self. This service allows you to delay an email for 1-3 years, write down your feelings, and see how much you’ve changed when you open it.
• How can mindfulness help with negative thinking?
• Mindfulness ideas to try
• Mood-boosting books chosen by young people- all available in your local library
• Beginners yoga for relaxation and stretching
• Free yoga for all levels and ages (Yoga with Adriene) on YouTube
• Try a gratitude journal- it can actually make you feel happier! This link takes you to some examples and ideas

We love this illustration of different breathing exercises for when you feel overwhelmed- with thanks to Poppy harding on YoungMinds