"Instead of trying to force myself to fall asleep when I woke up at 2am, I got up and did a few word searches. 30 min later and I was fast asleep."

"I know this sounds wild, but dunking my face in ice (one of the TIPP skills in dialectical behavior therapy) really helps me to reset & get back to sleep."

"I'd invite a friend or my sister over to cook together. It kept me from avoiding ordering out and gave us a great chance to bond."

"Sometimes when I'm drained but don't want to be alone, I ask my friend to come over and we just watch TV together. It helps me recharge."

"My friends and I planned a middle school sleepover-themed weekend with fruit rollups, sleeping bags, and throwback movies. It was such a blast and something I'll always remember."

Sometimes I send a quick 'Thinking of you' text with a funny gif or cute picture. It shows I care, even when it's hard to hang out

Shared newsletters sound kind of strange at first, but it's been a fun way for my college friends and me to keep in touch. Try it out!

"I love a good mutli-tasking to save time, and this has been my most successful one."

"Tidying up just one little section made the whole cleaning thing feel more doable. It’s like saying, ‘I don’t have to conquer the whole mountain, just this one tiny hill.’"

"I told myself that if I clear one small space daily, no matter the size, it would be a win. I'd write it in my journal and force myself to doodle celebratory things, like confetti and a cake, to get a dopamine hit from it."

"I put my cute little Scrub Daddy sponge in the corner and would do a little wiping each time I was in there to prevent buildup."

"I leave wet wipes everywhere. In the bathroom, it's right next to the sink. If I just wipe the sink down for 0.5 seconds whenver I remember, then I feel accomplished."

"Using toilet bowl tablets is my way of letting the toilet clean itself. I just drop it in, and it’s like, ‘You do you, little tablet.’"

"It felt kind of silly to make the bed while I was in it, but it worked. I'd lay perfectly flat, pull up the sheets as close as I could to my face, then the comforter, and then I'd slide right out."

"I make my bed daily now, even if it's wildly imperfect, just as my cleaning anchor."

"Making the bed first thing was like giving my room an instant glow-up. It’s the one thing that makes me feel like I have my life together, even if it’s just for 30 seconds."

"I hate that my dad was right all those years, but cleaning after I prepped and while other things cooked honestly brought me such relief at the end of a meal."

"Whenever I went to the kitchen to get a snack or coffee, I'd give myself the goal to wipe down one surface, like the counter. Boom—instant upgrade."

"Cleaning one counter at a time made it feel less like a marathon. Baby steps, right? I'd put on a 3-minute YouTube video and be done."

"I feel better when I cleanse multiple times after my hygiene has been questionable for a few weeks 🥴"

"Micellar water from bed? Now that’s my kind of skincare routine. I don’t even have to leave my cozy blanket nest to feel like I’m doing something good for my skin. It’s like skincare for those days when standing up just feels like too much."

"If I forgot moisturizer but at least washed my face, my skin still felt hydrated. It’s like, ‘Okay, not perfect, but I did something.’"

"After way too many days of not washing my hair, clarifying shampoo revives me."

"Changing my underwear made me feel 50% cleaner, even if the rest of me hadn’t seen a shower in a week. It’s like, okay, I might be a mess, but I’m a slightly fresher mess now."

"The 3-in-1 soap is my favorite thing because it’s shampoo, body wash, and conditioner all in one. It’s like a miracle for days when I can barely remember what I’m doing."

"I have four medications, two of which I have to take at specific times, so I made a cute little visual chart to make it pleasant to look at <3"

"My 'Favorites' contact list is my mom, my sister, Sara my therapist, and Dr. Chavez, my mental health support system."

"My friends and I planned a middle school sleepover-themed weekend with fruit rollups, sleeping bags, and throwback movies. It was such a blast and something I'll always remember."

"I'd invite a friend or my sister over to cook together. It kept me from avoiding ordering out and gave us a great chance to bond."

"Sometimes when I'm drained but don't want to be alone, I ask my friend to come over and we just watch TV together. It helps me recharge."

"Going to events I find on Eventbrite is intimidating, but inviting a friend makes it easier. It's a great way to learn I'm capable of new experiences."

"Joining a support group on The Mighty helped me see I'm not alone. Reading others' stories made my struggles feel more manageable."

"Discord channels have been a game-changer for my mental health. It's a safe space to connect and share with others who truly get it."

"I actually have locks on my favorite apps after 10 pm to stop temptation."

"A cool environment, around 65 degrees, is proven to improve sleep, and I swear by it."

"The big picture was scary, so I focused on practicing just living by one of my values for 6 weeks and nothing else."

"When I made a mistake, I told myself it's okay - anyone in my position would feel ashamed. "

"My stretch goal was to talk with my boss about a new program idea I was excited about. It paid off- now I'm running my own program!"

"A few minutes of stretching in the morning made such a difference. I felt less rushed and more grounded."

"Reminding myself of the 'why was like showing commitment to my team and helped motivate me through the dull parts."

"Batching calls and emails together saved me energy so I could stay in one mindset and just flow."

"Color-coded notes made it clear what I needed to do. Plus, it made the list a bit more fun."

"I never force myself to meal prep on low-energy days because my energy just decreases from there, so I save it for better days only."

"Microwaving a meal was about all the adulting I could handle today. That ‘beep’ was my greatest accomplishment, and honestly, reheating leftovers felt like cooking when I had zero energy. It’s the kind of victory you celebrate by eating directly from the container."

"Having the base ingredients for soup on hand meant I always had an easy meal ready. It’s like being prepared for those days when cooking feels like a mountain I can’t climb."

"A few years ago I did a Color Run, which is a 5K inspired by the Holi holiday. You run through powery paint clouds - so much fun."

"Exploring nearby streets like I'm a tourist is surprisingly refreshing, and I end up finding things I never knew about."

"When I stretch in bed, it helps to wake my body up and makes it easier to get out of bed."

"I felt like a little kid with cinnamon, mint, bubblegum, and strawberry toothpaste, but it got me mildly interested in brushing my teeth, so that's a win."

"Setting a timer made it so much easier to just start without getting caught in overthinking. It’s like tricking my brain into action before it can talk me out of it."

"I'd tell myself I'd do one tooth. Sometimes I'd keep going."

"Better sorting helped my clothes last longer and look better during dark times."

"When depressed, I def was living in T-shirts and leggings because who needs to overcomplicate laundry, right? No 'dry-clean only' stuff for me, thank you very much."

"Reminding myself to just do one load of laundry a day made the whole thing way more manageable. It’s like, ‘Okay, I’ll tackle this pile today, and the next one can wait.’"

"My Reminders app on my phone is my prompt to do anything; even if I don't actually do them, my brain gets imprinted with the idea every day."

"That one funny TikTok about tap dancing I saved? It was like a mini-dose of joy in my otherwise ‘meh’ day because I remembered how much I used to love dance."

"Starting with something small helped me remember why I love my hobbies. It’s like easing back into the things I enjoy without diving straight into the deep end."

"Opening up was tough, but talking authentically with someone I trust made me feel so much better. It really strengthened our bond."

"Finding a comfy spot and opening up to a trusted friend took time, but it felt amazing to connect and share what I was going through."

"When I'm feeling lonely, I walk to the coffee shop and thank the barista, making sure to really look/smile at them. It gives me that bit of connection I need."

Sometimes I'll look through an album of fun times or just silly pictures and send one to my friend. It's a great way to reconnect and share a laugh."

Setting a weekly chat with a friend means we’re not just calling in a crisis. It’s great to have space to talk about anything and everything.

"My hand vacuum is my answer to everything—definitely a desert island item."

"Ever since I discovered the catch-all basket, my life has never been the same. When very depressed, I keep any clutter there, and then I put all the stuff back in their correct places when I have a bit more energy."

"Clearing off the coffee table instantly made the room look less like a disaster zone. It’s the easiest way to fake like I’ve got my life together when someone drops by."

"Don't underestimate the power of scrubbing shower grout to make it look brand new—I swear by it."

"When experiencing severe depression, I only cleaned with stuff I had access to, and toilet paper was a convenient way to just wipe up after each bathroom visit. It helps to get thicker toilet paper if you're going to do this."

"Keeping the counters and floors dry made the bathroom feel way less like a slip-and-slide. It’s the kind of tiny maintenance that keeps me from feeling like I’m living in a swamp."

"I used YouTube 'rise and fall' videos as my timer, and it was an excellent motivator."

"I am all about those energy-saving hacks. My dad had one of those poles with a grabbing thing at the end, so I borrowed that; you could probably use a broom. Picking up clothes without bending down too much used waaaay less energy."

"My nightstand was getting wild, so I grabbed some shoe boxes to tame the chaos. It’s like, ‘Hey, it might not be pretty, but at least it’s contained.’"

"I knew the third Saturday of the month was deep-clean day, so I could mentally and physically prepare."

"With the ‘one in, one out’ method, I didn’t even have to put dishes away. Just swap one dirty plate for a clean one and call it a day. It’s lazy efficiency at its best."

"Just start by chucking out the trash. It’s like an instant mood booster. Suddenly, with all that junk gone, life feels a little less like a disaster zone."

"Jojoba oil mimics the skin's natural oil, and I hate having a bunch of skincare products when depressed, so I use it for everything."

"Moisturizing right after washing my face kept my skin feeling soft without much effort. It’s like locking in the moisture before my skin has time to complain."

"Moisturizing without the whole 10-step routine still made my skin feel a little less like sandpaper. It’s like I told my face, ‘I’m doing the bare minimum, but I still care, okay?’ Sometimes, it’s enough to make me feel a little more human."

"Dry shampoo was like my secret weapon when I couldn’t bring myself to wash my hair. A few spritzes, and suddenly I felt like I’d made an effort—like I was fooling the world into thinking I had my act together."

"I didn't have enough energy to shower for very long, so leave-in conditioner was my fav."

"Even a quick rinse in the shower helped me feel like I hit the reset button on rough days. It’s like, ‘Okay, things are still tough, but at least I’m clean-ish.’"

"Let me tell you, I only read and re-read that leaflet because it was in the bathroom, lol."

"I never opted to schedule my next appointment later because I knew I'd forget if I didn't schedule it right after my office visit."

"Opening up was tough, but talking authentically with someone I trust made me feel so much better. It really strengthened our bond."

"When I'm feeling lonely, I walk to the coffee shop and thank the barista, making sure to really look/smile at them. It gives me that bit of connection I need."

"Finding a comfy spot and opening up to a trusted friend took time, but it felt amazing to connect and share what I was going through."

"One day, a friend and I felt down, so we took a spontaneous road trip to Niagara Falls. It was amazing to share that new experience together and lift our spirits."

"I made so many friends gaming online. Now, we visit each other and hang out IRL. It's my go-to when I'm feeling alone."

"Using Google Calendar to plan hangouts turned 'we should hang out sometime' into real meetups. It was tough at first, but now I see friends more and feel less alone."

"It felt weird at first, but singing 'vooooooo' as low as I could for 5 minutes was completely soothing."

"I'd put a sticky note on my nightstand to avoid water after 10 pm to help me remember."

"Researching the culture in Bali gave me ideas on what kind of life I wanted to live when I was in a major rut."

"Pausing to just feel my stress instead of ignoring it helped me feel more grounded."

"I give myself a set amount of time when my phone is on Do Not Disturb and I can just work w/ my headphones on."

"I like to divide my to-dos into essential tasks and if-time tasks. Helps me to focus on what's most important."

"Seeing little wins add up made me realize how each task connected to my bigger goals."

"Adding colors made my list feel organized (and pretty!). It kept me focused without overwhelming me."

"Having a friend on video chat kept me on track. We didn't even talk, just worked together."

"I have a whole Pinterest board of easy sheet pan recipes that can be done in like 30 minutes."

"A bento box-style meal felt like a fancy treat, and all it took was 3 minutes of tossing random things into compartments. I felt like I was channeling my inner chef, even though it was just carrot sticks, crackers, and whatever protein I could find in the fridge."

"Rice and beans are my ultimate comfort food. It’s easy, filling, and doesn’t require a lot of brainpower—just how I like my meals."