Top 31 Coping Skills to Try in January
Coping skills are things you can do on a regular basis in order to reduce depression and anxiety. Incorporating coping skills into your everyday routine will show a significant improvement in symptoms. Try one new coping skill every day. You can go straight down this list each day or you can jump around. Do what works for you and make it fun. If you don’t like something, try an alternative or create your own coping skill.
1. Make goals for the year 2. Create a vision board based on your goals 3. Listen to old songs from your childhood 4. Have a dance party with songs from your younger days 5. Plan a vacation, whether you go on it or not 6. Get together with friends and share about your goals 7. Go for a walk in a new area 8. Write a handwritten letter to an older family member 9. Rearrange the furniture in your house 10. Clean out your closet and donate the clothes 11. Write yourself a letter about all the things you love about yourself 12. Start a collection of something. Stamps, anyone? 13. Hunt for your perfect home online 14. Stretch and do some yoga 15. Color in a new coloring book for adults 16. Make a list of all the things you are grateful for 17. Try a new recipe and cook it for someone 18. Build a fort 19. Get a game of kickball going 20. Bake cookies from scratch 21. Take a nice and relaxing bath 22. Learn all the words to a new song 23. Write a poem to someone 24. Try a new exercise. Zumba? Krav Maga? 25. Smile at three new people 26. Look up new words and use them on friends 27. Plan your wedding or next big event in your life 28. Go feed the ducks 29. Strike up a conversation with a complete stranger 30. Watch your favorite movie with someone who has never watched it 31. Complete one thing you have been procrastinating onWhat other coping skills do you like to use? Which one most interests you? Which one would you never do?
Amanda Patterson, LMHC, CAP decided to become a therapist while attending Nova Southeastern University. She saw the need to help people achieve the life they wanted to live, while creating a life of her own. She completed her master’s in Mental Health Counseling and started a career in the juvenile justice arena. Since then, she has started a private practice in Pembroke Pines, Florida, specializing in depression, anxiety relationship issues, and substance abuse. Amanda is a believer in holistic treatment and she practices veganism, meditation and yoga in her life. Find out more about her practice here. For a free 15-minute consultation, call or text Amanda at 954-378-5381 or email her at amanda@amandapattersonlmhc.com.