How to Make Someone Feel Better: 22 Ways to Help a Sad Friend

It’s horrible when someone you know—your friend, partner or relative is sad. If you want to help them, here’s how to make someone feel better in no time!

If someone you care about is feeling depressed or sad, it is a helpless feeling. If you aren’t sure what to do to help them, these 22 thoughtful ways for how to make someone feel better shows how much you care.

22 ways to cheer up someone sad

#1 Talk to them. Of course, the most obvious and important thing to do to help someone who feels sad is to talk to them. Sit them down and tell them you are here to listen to them and help them talk through whatever it is upsetting them. Sometimes just being a good listener is all you really need to do. [Read: 10 ways to be a better listener]

#2 Buy them a gift. Buying a thoughtful present for someone when they feel down in the dumps is a cute way to let them know you are thinking of them. It could be something fun and silly or something they always wanted, but getting a gift when they are sad works wonders at making them feel better once more!

#3 Take them on a friend date. Really spoil them by taking them out for a night on the town, to a spa for some pampering, or just out for dinner. Going on an evening out helps distract them from whatever is troubling them and really get their mind off things. It reminds them they can still have fun too!

#4 Send them a cute text. Reaching out to them via text is a quick and easy way to check if they are okay and cheer them up. Just knowing people are thinking of them and that they care about them helps someone going through a tough time. [Read: Life’s a bitch? 17 feel-good ways to make yourself feel better]

#5 Send them flowers. If you’re wondering how to make someone feel better even if you aren’t around them, flowers are pretty much guaranteed to cheer anyone up. Subtly find out what their favorites are and send them a bunch. The pretty blooms bring a cheer to any room and keep them feeling positive despite whatever has happened.

#6 Get drunk with them. Okay, this might be an adults-only one. If you want to make someone feel better, sometimes going out for a good night out and a few drinks is the perfect way to really talk it out and take their mind off their worries!

#7 Be okay with silence. It’s important to remember that sometimes people don’t want to talk. They just need someone to sit with them in silence. If what they are going through is really hard then there might simply be no words to comfort them. In which case, being with them demonstrates you are there, without forcing them to talk when they don’t want to.

#8 Go for a walk. Getting out into the fresh air and getting some exercise really helps put things in perspective. Walking somewhere beautiful instantly lifts their spirits. It’s a good way to talk and the exercise releases endorphins which naturally makes them feel better too! [Read: Best friend bucket list: 15 adventures for you and your BFF]

#9 Show them you support them. Sometimes your friends and family just need you to support them. Maybe they feel sad because they feel like a failure, or they don’t know what they are doing with their life. This is where you come in to be their biggest fan. Show them just how much you support them in everything they do!

#10 Write them a letter. If you aren’t good at having deep and meaningful conversations face to face, then why not write them a letter. Truly show them how much you care and let your feelings be known.

#11 Have a sleepover. Why not have some good, old fashioned fun with a sleepover? Get your duvets in the living room, order some pizza, have popcorn at the ready and just watch movies, chat, and relax!

#12 Cook for them. Cooking them dinner shows you are making an effort to make them feel better and cheer them up. They are sure to appreciate it!

#13 Give them a hug. Sometimes a good hug helps someone feeling sad more than you can possibly imagine. If you know someone feeling sad, hugging it out is really comforting. Or just put your arm around them or hold their hand. Physical contact can be very reassuring. [Read: I just want to be loved: Unlikely reasons for feeling this way]

#14 Look them in the eye. Make sure that when they talk to you that you look them in the eye. Direct eye contact is important to show you really hear them. The worst thing for a sad person to feel is as though they are being ignored.

#15 Forgive them. If the reason your friend feels sad is because you had a fight, maybe it is time to forgive them and make up!

#16 Don’t interrupt. If they do choose to open up to you, remember to let them speak until they are done. You might feel the need to interrupt, but try not to. They just need to get their feelings out and to be heard. Make sure you don’t interrupt them until they are done.

#17 Agree with them. While you might not agree with everything they say, sometimes people just need someone to agree with them. Even if they are being irrational! Just nod and agree. This way you show them empathy and understanding which they appreciate.

#18 Make them laugh. If you want to make someone feel better, remember that there is no better antidote to sadness then laughter, so tell them lots jokes. Do that silly dance that cracks them up, or do whatever you need to do to get them laughing once more! [Read: How to smile more often: 6 steps to change your life]

#19 Do a challenge together. If they feel a bit lost, why not sign up for a challenge together? If this isn’t your cup of tea, set some aims and goals that you can achieve and work towards together. It helps them get back on track.

#20 Take up a hobby. Distraction is an excellent way to stop someone from wallowing in their misery. Why not try taking up a hobby together and see if this can get their mind off their problems?

#21 Plot a revenge. If the reason they are sad is because someone hurt or upset them—a colleague, a friend, a partner—then why not sit with them and plot your revenge? You don’t have to act on it, of course, but allowing them to get a little angry instead of sad sometimes helps! [Read: 12 devious ways to be a crazy person and get your revenge]

#22 Be truthful. Honesty is sometimes the best policy. Remember to be truthful with your friend and help them to see things clearly. Sometimes being honest feels harsh if they feel sad. But doing so helps them get over their troubles much more quickly. You continue to be the person they turn to for honest advice time and time again!

[Read: How to cheer someone up – 18 ways to help them feel awesome again]

Being there for someone when they go through a hard time is so important! Make sure you support your loved ones. When they feel blue, try these 22 tips on how to make someone feel better, and put a smile back on their face once more!

The post How to Make Someone Feel Better: 22 Ways to Help a Sad Friend is the original content of LovePanky - Your Guide to Better Love and Relationships.