Do your family and friends feel low? Do not judge them or give unapproved advice. Learn how to support someone in the right way.
Your friends and loved ones may have had a tough day at work and feel low. If they’re not professional, personal things like bad divisions, or fights with people they care about, may make them feel low. You definitely don’t want to stand there and let your loved one experience pain. Considering your bond with that person, you can connect with them and feel better. Supporting someone with a low mood can make all the difference. It can boost and brighten their confidence. But you don’t always have the right things to say or do. Don’t worry, you can always learn how to cheer up someone and boost your mood.
How do you find someone who feels bad?
“Family and friends often notice when someone is feeling sad through subtle changes in someone’s behavior or habits,” says psychologist Vandita Sharma. If you want to learn how to cheer up someone, beware of signs of low mood first.
- It looks low or far.
- It looks more frustrating and more likely to fluctuate your mood.
- He’s talking or looks unusually quiet.
- It shows that they are eating just for that or have little interest in the meals they once enjoyed.
- Don’t dress or care for them as they usually do.
- Avoid social interactions and withdraw from family and friends.
- Respond to your enthusiasm for conversations and planning with too much enthusiasm.
- They could not find joy or happiness in the activities they previously loved.
- Spend more time or just scroll through your phone.
How to cheer up someone: Things to avoid
Timely encouragement from a loved one can prevent a low mood from getting worse into deeper emotional challenges. “And authentic gestures of help or support can also help you rebuild your confidence and fight negative thoughts,” experts say. But while learning how to cheer up someone, avoid the following:
- Minimize their emotions: Don’t say things like, “You need to get through it” or “It’s not a major thing or anything.” Don’t use these sentences when you learn how to cheer up someone up. Because they can make them feel invalid.
- Give unnecessary advice: Do not provide a solution to your problem unless you specifically ask for your help.
- Dismiss their feelings: Don’t put pressure on them to remain positive or to downplay their struggle.
- Determine their actions: By criticizing or blaming them, you can bring them back further back to Shell.
- Uses insensitive humor: Make them laugh and you feel better. Be careful not to joke in ways that seem to undermine their feelings and situations.
How to cheer up someone?
Want to make your love feel better and help them to boost the mood? Next, you learn how to cheer up someone.
1. Please listen proactively
Paying your full attention to your loved one is like a stronger empathy. Keep this in mind when you learn how to cheer up someone. “When someone is depressed, they need to listen. Avoid interruptions and instead use active listening techniques such as nodding, maintaining eye contact, and clear questions,” the expert suggests. This shows you are truly interested in cherishing their feelings and understanding their perspective.
2. Remember their strengths
When someone feels low, it’s easy to forget their positive qualities. Remind them of their past successes, their unique talents, and the challenges they have overcome over the years. “This helps promote their self-esteem and reminds them of their strength. In this regard, positive affirmations can also be helpful,” Sharma said.
3. Provide compliments
Complementing others has a positive effect on others, but many people don’t give it easily. People are destabilizing the value of compliments to others, and according to a study published in the 2021 Breaking Report on Personality and Social Psychology, they usually don’t engage in this prosocial behavior. When learning how to cheer up someone, remember that compliments don’t have to be grand or extravagant. Simple and authentic things can come a long way. Focus on the specific qualities or actions you respect about your loved one. This helps them feel highly valued.
4. Think from their perspective
Instead of imposing solutions or advice, try to understand their situation from their perspective. As part of learning how to cheer up someone, try to understand what they feel and what they need right now. Sometimes they may simply need a listening ear or a pleasant presence. Place yourself in your shoes and respond with empathy and understanding.
5. Spend a fulfilling time together
Quality time is a valuable gift that you can give to people you love. Keep this in mind when you learn how to cheer up someone. So, engage in the hobbies you are interested in, walks in nature, or activities they enjoy, whether they simply sit together in silence. Your presence alone can provide the comfort and support they need.
6. Help me with the task
Releasing someone with a small burden can significantly reduce stress. As part of learning how to cheer up someone, provide them with chores, errands, or other tasks you may be weighing them. This simple act of kindness can show you that you care and willing to help.
7. Create a distraction
Sometimes it’s enough to just give a simple distraction to lift someone else’s mind. Engage in fun or easy-going activities, such as playing games or watching interesting movies. Creating distractions is part of how you can cheer someone on, as it helps you shift your focus from negative thoughts and feelings.
8. Make them laugh
Laughter is a powerful tool to boost your mood and reduce stress. Keep this in mind when you learn how to cheer up someone. According to a study published in the Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine in 2016, it has a positive effect on mental health and immune system. A big laugh will brighten up your mood and help bring a smile to their faces.
9. Surprise them with thoughtful gestures
Small unexpected gestures can show the person you care about. Giving handwritten notes, especially in the digital age, can make them feel special. You can also surprise them with your favorite snacks and desserts, or small gifts to brighten up their day and make them feel loved as much as anything special.
10. Encourage self-care
When you learn how to cheer up someone, remind yourself that self-care is essential for mental and emotional well-being. “We kindly encourage people to engage in activities that feel relaxed, such as taking a bath, reading a book or practicing yoga,” the expert says.
11. Provide words of encouragement
Want to learn how to cheer up someone? They can go a long way, so think of positive affirmations and encouragement words. Reassure one of your loving abilities and remind you that despite their pain and rough times, they are not alone.
12. Move them
Physical activity can boost your mood and reduce stress. So when you learn how to cheer up someone, focus on the importance of exercise. Encourage them to go for walks, run, or do other forms of exercise. Exercise can help alleviate symptoms related to psychological disorders, such as depression and anxiety, according to a study published in Brain Plasticity in 2017.
13. Use music to boost your mood
Music is a way to soothe and boost your mood. So, while learning how to cheer up someone, put importance on music. You can create a playlist for your loved one and let them hear it while feeling low. Starting with a slower selection of songs, then moving on to a faster-paced track, recommending UK National Health Services.
When you feel that your loved one is low, it is not always easy to do the right thing. It’s important to learn how to support someone. However, be careful to avoid coercive positivity and dismissal of feelings.
Related FAQs
How to cheer someone up from afar?
To cheer up your friends in the distance, you can send a playlist with happy songs. Handwritten notes take time to reach them, but it can make them feel special. For quicker things, share some interesting videos with friends.
How can you cheer someone up on the phone?
Tell your friends and partners about their feelings, provide support and send words of encouragement. Thanks to technology, you can also use your phone to record messages, send voice memos and cheer someone on the phone.
