I usually refer to this helpful diagram

Physical exercise to the point of exhaustion then eat and then have a 2hr hot bath. It doesn’t solve the problem that made me sad but it “restores” me to a point where I can address the problems.

It might be kind of late for this depending on where you live, but I go for a long walk. I find if I go for like an hour to an hour and a half I usually feel much better. Sometimes I can’t remember what I was sad about to begin with afterwards lol

Watching a comfort show. (e.g.: Corner Gas)
Playing a comfort game (e.g.: A Short Hike)
Cuddling with cat.
Running a bath.
Reading a book.
Cleaning the house, or something similar.
Getting out of the house and/or volunteering.
Reminding myself that it’s okay to not be okay.

Happy cartoons!

I’m sure you’ve heard of Bluey by now. Its so good, wholesome, and heartfelt. Everyone’s watching, regardless of age.

Here’s one of my favorites for happy feels: Kipper the Dog
Its a Pre-K show that’s just super chill and pleasant. Feels like a warm blanket and cocoa. This one is definitely more for children, but its ok to indulge your inner child and tell it that things are okay.

For a more sophisticated palette, Hilda is the most criminally underrated animated mainstream cartoon in recent memory… that somehow got a full run regardless!
Three seasons and a movie on Netflix. Its beautiful and kid appropriate but definitely for all ages, and pretty damn serious a lot of the time. But its still rather uplifting in how a lot of things aren’t problems, because Hilda is so spirited and determined in a way you can truly believe in.

My little Pony, new and old, really does the trick for me, but its not for everyone, of course. Pound Puppies and A Pup Named Scooby Doo also hit that vibe, though of the old shows mentioned, its probably the best written. (Never got into Care Bears, but it could probably work too, if you’re looking for Sunshine and Rainbows)

Completely stop for 2 minutes.

Listen to music.

Walk.

Also it helps me to go into the sadness. Like basically accept that I’m sad and that this is what I’ll experience for a while. It’s the rejection of it that makes it unbearable. And then I can listen to it and process and that’ll speed things up.

Slow is smooth and smooth is fast :)

Honestly speaking—make yourself cry.

Let whatever is causing your negative emotions to overwhelm and release. It’s incredibly cathartic and you’ll feel much better if you just give in and let it happen. The reason doesn’t have to be anything super important, or could be something super important; regardless crying should be embraced as an act of self care.

Make something. Doesn’t matter what. Write something, draw something, bake something, make noises with an instrument (even if you don’t know how to play it), sculpt some clay, cut some wood, anything. Play Minecraft even.

And don’t feel like you’re forcing yourself to do something, just give yourself a way to physically express how you’re feeling. You don’t have create something useful, you don’t have to show what you made to anyone, it’s about the process and it’s just for you.

I honestly believe humans have evolved an innate drive to create things, to see the physical world around them respond to their actions, even if they’re pointless. And I believe that when you don’t do this you will feel like something is missing.

I put googly eyes on things.

Get out into nature.

Watch a favorite show or movie.

Make something.

Pets.

Play games.

Eat a favorite food.

The little things can carry you through life.

I go for a walk and to bed early.

I have a picture of a cartoon cheerleader on my desk. She’s always cheering me on. It feels good to be encouraged and supported. I’ve been wanting to get a cheerleader Barbie for some time now but I haven’t found ones with normal sized heads.

I also have birthday candles and every once in a while I’ll buy a piece of cake and blow a candle out, to celebrate everything that I’ve done.

I walk the high-line in NYC or sit by the water at Gantry Plaza State Park.

Weed and video games, works every time.

Binge info. I look up whatever random question was bugging me earlier that day/week/month, and try and read everything even tangentially related. By the end I’m distracted enough I forgot about being sad.

Not a solution though. On the upside, I got to learn a bit more.