40 Ideas to take care of and support yourself right now

1. Do something creative. When we activate our creative centers we tend to feel good

2. Listen to music you love 

3. Stay connected to friends and family through video  or phone calls 

4. Finish some projects you’ve always  wanted to do at home

5. Be outside in nature if possible. I love watching the birds I’m feeding on my porch.  I’m doing it right now as I write

6. Take some extra time to prepare food that feels comforting and healthy and is delicious for you and your family.  Savor each bite and let yourself experience this little pleasure right now

7. Stay active even if you do some indoor activities like yoga. I love  Yoga with Adriene and she offers lots of free yoga sessions online

8. Clean out that drawer, closet,  or area in your home that has been bothering you for a while. It will feel like a sense of accomplishment and every piece of positive we can feel is important right now

9. Balance the stressful news stories with extra positive stories of people doing good stuff for others right now

10. Turn your stress into action and get some  extra work done 

11. Share kindness with others, even if it is online. Kindness feels good and helps everyone. 

12. Enjoy the little pleasures you can right now, like sensory sensations that feel good. For example, I was in the bathtub and poured water over my head slowly and it felt so good! 

13. Cuddle your pets and absorb the unconditional love they give us

14. Start journaling and writing what you feel. Acknowledging and accepting the emotions we have helps us stay balanced

15. Listen to audiobooks or podcasts that interest you or make you laugh

16. Watch or listen to comedy and uplifting stories that make you feel good

17. Read that book you have always wanted to read or download an HSP ebook instantly

18. Take naps and let yourself rest when you  need it 

19. Eat healthy and balanced and get enough sleep. Keeping your mind, body, and spirit strong is important

20. Fill up your positivity tank and several times a day notice and absorb beauty all around you, like the next sunset or sunrise or beautiful trees or sky

21. Play a game or do a puzzle or craft 

22. Start an email chat group with your family or best friends to stay connected and keep each other balanced

23. Practice some loving affirmations for HSPs

24. Take the Sensitivity Quiz

25. Get caught up on reading all the tips and support for HSPs on  the HSP blog

26. Listen to the HSP Podcast and Meditations for HSPs. Here are some made specifically for highly sensitive people www.hsppodcast.com

27. If  you are struggling a lot in a particular moment listen to this

28. Subscribe to the HSP Newsletter for weekly tips and support

29. Join your tribe in the Sensitive Empowerment community Connect with me daily and watch our weekly online live trainings and events for HSPs

30. Check out these free online events

31. Read about some HSP research

32. Read what careers HSPs say they love

33. Practice these communication tools that help HSPs

34. Practice this powerful self-compassion technique

35. Learn about 3 herbs that support the sensitive system from our HSP Herbalist in my Sensitive Empowerment community

36. Watch this video about the trait.

37. Reach out for professional support if you need it. Many therapists, healers, and coaches are offering video or phone support. I have a referral list of HSP practitioners in my community

38. Take my online course Brain Training for the Highly Sensitive Person, Techniques  to Reduce Anxiety and Overwhelming Emotions 

39. Know that you are strong and valuable in the world and there is a  lot of support for you 

40. Be extra kind, gentle and loving with yourself right now. Consider being your own best supportive friend

About Sensitivity Expert, Julie Bjelland, LMFT

I have loved helping thousands of highly sensitive people (HSPs) around the world thrive to their fullest potential. As an HSP myself, I understand what it is like to live with high sensitivity and strong emotions.

I’ve taken what I know about high sensitivity, what I know about the brain, and what I know about the personal experience of extreme sensitivity and developed particular tools and techniques to help reduce the challenges and increase the positives that HSPs experience daily.

These techniques have been developed over years of working with highly sensitive people all over the world and have been extremely successful for the clients and students I work with. Highly sensitive people thrive quickly with the right tools. And I think it’s important to have these techniques because our life gets a lot better and so does the life of those around us.

I am the author of several books and journals and teach online courses, including Brain Training for the Highly Sensitive Person, Techniques to Reduce Anxiety and Overwhelming Emotions.

My books have been recommended by world-renowned psychologists Elaine Aron Ph.D., Tara Brach Ph.D., and Rick Hanson Ph.D., among many others. I serve as the sensitivity expert for Dr. Hanson’s online program and am a member of the faculty of The Shift Network.

In addition to my work with HSPs, I also specialize in working with anxiety and am a proud supporter of diversity and member of the LGBTQQ community.

Your sensitive self is beautiful and valuable. We need you in the world.

~Julie

P.S. Be sure to subscribe to my HSP newsletter to receive tools and tips to thrive as a sensitive person in a modern world that is not set up well for the sensitive nervous system!

P.P.S. I hope you will come join my Sensitive Empowerment Community! It is such a beautiful place to be as a sensitive person offering you connections with other wonderful HSPs, daily support, weekly live online trainings, guest speakers, and even referral lists to help you find HSP therapists, doctors, healers, and HSP owned businesses!