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Comfort boxes

A comfort box is a great simple idea that you can try at home. A comfort box is a box which you can fill with things that relax you or calm you. Bags and backpacks can also make great portable alternatives to an actual box.

Here are some possible things a comfort box or bag could include:

Your favourite chocolate or candy

Stuffed animals or toys

Your favourite Books or poems

Colouring kits or drawing materials

A journal

Play Doh

Dummies

A soft blanket

Non triggering films or TV series

Comfort food recipes

Playlists of soothing music

Bath or shower items (bath bombs etc)

Scented candles

safety plan printable cards

Bubble wand

Ear plugs

Body lotions

Pictures of loved ones and/or pets

Herbal tea

Stress ball

Relaxation or meditation exercises or audios  

Old birthday cards

Friendship bracelets or recovery bracelets

scented handkerchiefs

glitter jars

favorite t-shirt

encouraging notes/letters

essential oils

money for ice cream

consider keeping a small food comfort box in your refrigerator/freezer

Source

This is a great idea for anyone who has anxiety, but you can make variations to cheer you up or whatever you think you might need.

Send us pics of your comfort box, or let us know what else you thought of to put in there!

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#perspective #do the thing #adventure #pixar #up #sliversofsilver

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Adventure is out there.

I’ve done a lot of research on happiness. Mostly for personal gain. How do people do it? I wondered. One of the things that came up a lot was to plan an adventure (or vacation, but I always do far more adventuring than vacationing). They say you don’t even have to go on the trip, that just planning it will boost your spirits. I think that’s hogwash.

My challenge to you, on your journey toward happiness, is to start planning an adventure that you intend to go on.

Start small. Plan a road trip, a day out, a picnic. Plan it for a few weeks or even months in the future so you have time to savor the anticipation and excitement. Plan to adventure with someone else. Someone you like, whose company is enjoyable and brings easy smiles and laughter. Pro-tip: Don’t plan every last detail. Some of the most fun I’ve had on adventures were the ones where I showed up with a vague idea of what to do and let spontaneity and circumstance dictate the rest.

Pro-tip 2.0: Become a letterboxer here or here or both. It’s like geocaching but 1000% cooler (that’s my opinion and you won’t change it). I’ve learned about a lot of neat places through hunting boxes. Places I didn’t know about in my own hometown. Staycations can be fun, too!

#adventureisoutthere #journey #journey toward happiness #happiness blog #letterboxing #sliversofsilver

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#attitude #every day is an adventure #sliversofsilver

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#beautiful #sliversofsilver

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#the holidays are upon us #solid advice #mark twain #be better #sliversofsilver

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Move toward happiness.

Hey, you!

Yes, you!

The you who is reading this because you want to know how to possibly move toward happiness.

I once wondered that as well, and I’m here to tell you it takes a lot of baby steps. (It also takes time. So don’t ever give up.)

My first piece of advice in battling the SAD is to get up. Get your feet on the ground and some air in your lungs. Movement is so important in helping lift your mood. Go walk around the block.

Yes right now. I’ll wait.

*waits*

When you exercise, your body releases dopamine (the feel good stuff). So if you’re battling depression, anxiety, stress, or any other feelings that aren’t good, get moving. Even if you don’t feel like it. ESPECIALLY if you don’t feel like it.

Some ways that I’ve added movement to my day are by taking a fifteen minute walk on my lunch break. It gets me out of the office, and puts air in my lungs.

I dance in the kitchen in my socks because the floor is so slippery (I always wanted to be a ballerina so there’s a lot of spinning and pointed toes).

I learned how to do a cartwheel from YouTube.

A few months ago I decided I wanted to be a runner (for about the 20th time) so I downloaded the Couch to 5K app and began my journey. Perhaps I will relay more detail about that journey in a future post, but I want you to know that it’s been way longer than the 9 weeks and while I have run (jogged) a full 30 minutes, most days I get really exhausted around 10 minutes. But I keep moving because it really does help. Sometimes I experience a “runner’s high” which is a really cool feeling.

When Daylight savings ended and that “extra” hour showed up, I decided to use it for my well-being. Beginning that Monday I set my alarm an hour earlier, since that was when my body was used to waking up, and started doing yoga in the mornings before anything else. I use the Asana Rebel app because the free version has a daily video and they range from 5-20 minutes (*edit* as of 1/2/18 update, the free version no longer does this and I am terribly disappointed.) It’s been about a month and I’ve noticed that I feel more energized and calm throughout my day. I absolutely recommend this practice for anyone with SAD. (Also note I started going to bed earlier because sleep is really important, too!)

What are some ways that you add movement to your day? Do you notice a difference compared to days when you just can’t squeeze it in?

#happinessblog #sliversofsilver #movement #how to be happy #lets help each other #SAD #we like to move it

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#gethappy #do it for yourself #you have the power to be amazing #sliversofsilver #happinessblog

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In honor of Marvel finally releasing the Infinity War trailer, I thought I’d share this funny conversation I recently had with a friend. It’s important to have friends who understand your geekery and love you all the same.

#friends #Marvel #infinity war #RDJ #spiderman #spiders #it's okay to be passionate about the things that you happy #sliversofsilver #super powers

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How to be happy.

I live on the 45th parallel, and in the wintertime our daytime hours dramatically decrease. Most days are gray and unappealing. Many people in this region, myself included, have SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) -or just seasonal depression. I was made to be wild and free...and outside. I love where I live, though, and have worked to combat the SAD without medication.

Throughout this wintertime I will share things that have helped me. I am in no way a therapist or even qualified to help people who also have depression. I’m just a regular human whose ability to face each day is apparently weirdly tied to the weather.

If you are hunting for happiness (that elusive creature that is only found when you’re too busy having it to look for it) allow me to share some ideas, quotes, photos, and stories that bring me joy.

After all, every day has a Sliver of Silver.

#happinessblog #sliversofsilver #SAD #seasonal affective disorder #lets help each other #45th parallel

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#lotr #jrr tolkien #there is always good #some things are worth fighting for #samwise gamgee #sliversofsilver

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#keepgoing #difficultroads #beautifuldestinations #it's worth it #sliversofsilver

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#truth

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#trustyourself #rumi #ifyoucancreditartistforpaintingpleasedo #followyourheart #sliversofsilver

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#wisdomwednesday #youdoyou #embracechange #adventure #sliversofsilver

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Monday motivation from one of my favorite celebrities

#mondaymotivation #therock #dwayne johnson #youdoyou #take care of yourself #sliversofsilver