Fucked Up How Cooking And Baking From Scratch Is Viewed As A Luxury…..like Baking A Loaf Of Bread Or

If you suffer from depression or anxiety, you may often struggle with distorted thinking. It’s best to understand the most common types of distorted thoughts so you can recognize the ones you experience the most, and doing so can help you stop those thoughts from occurring.

How to make and use a Coping Board

A coping board is used to help you keep yourself “on schedule” throughout your day.  It can be used by people who have trouble doing “daily” tasks like showering, eating, or taking medication. It’s also beneficial to people who have trouble keeping track of what they’ve done that day due to mental health related memory problems. This is also beneficial to people who (like me) don’t have the energy to make daily to do lists because that task alone is pretty exhausting and depending on my mental state can be overwhelming. By having a set list of things already prepared, it makes my tasks less draining. 

This is what a Coping Board is, a piece of cork board with short lists of things you want to or should be doing. I made my lists out of index cards, and I continue to add them as I have the energy or remember things I want to do.  First, start with tasks you want to complete each morning 

This is what my “morning” list looks like.  As I complete each task, I move the pin from To Do to Done.  This helps me keep track of what I have already done this morning and what I still would like to accomplish. You don’t have to do them in any particular order, it just so happens I did my first four in order today. 

Next, make a list of things you’d like to do each night before you go to bed.

This is what my  “nighttime” list looks like. I also reset my morning list as I complete my nighttime list, so its ready for me the next day. 

You can also add other lists that pertain to you. For example, I have a very hard time keeping track of what day of the week it is, so I added a “day of the week” list.

Each morning when I wake up, I move the pin to the next day.  I also added a list of things I’d like to make sure I do at least once a week.

Personally this list is more of a “wish list” of things I don’t want to forget about, but definitely don’t always have the energy for.  I reset this list every Sunday.

Finally, you can also add things that you use as self care tactics or coping skills. For me, since I practice energy work, this list is mostly about changing the energy of my personal space in my room. 

I try to do these daily, but sometimes weekly is more realistic. 

The great thing about a Coping Board is that its so easy to add or remove things from your schedule.  If you have a medication change, you can make a sheet to help you remember what dosage to take each day as you transition.  This is my summer board, but during the semester I would probably add different lists for each of my classes or things I need to complete like a paper or an art assignment. The possibilities are endless, and it’s easy to customize to what you need most. 

I hope this has been helpful for all of you! Good luck, and stay safe everyone. 

grateful! 

a list of soothing things on the internet that i haven’t seen on other self-care posts yet

note: links with autoplaying sound are marked with italics.

zoomable version of xkcd #1110 “click and drag”: giant explorable black-and-white landscape filled with countless little details and treasures. (note: the first three panels disappear after you start clicking and dragging.)

keaton henson’s “procrastinate” page: click on different parts of the image to activate different sound effects and build a quiet lil song. all of the sounds are things like acoustic strings and humming and droning noises that layer together really beautifully.

bob ross’ “the joy of painting”: there are hundreds of full episodes on youtube (not all from this channel) and they’re all amazing. honestly, you don’t even need sound on the videos–you can just mute them, turn on some peaceful music, and watch a painting happen.

the colour my series: 5 simple flash games (or, more accurately, 4 games and 1 semi-interactive animation) about bringing love, hope, and color to a black and white dystopia. the third game contains horror and multiple jump scares, but the rest of the series is very optimistic, gentle, and loving. the tvtropes page (which i linked to) has links to and more detailed descriptions of each installment.

the nicest place on the internet: just a bunch of videos of people giving you a hug through their cameras while a lullaby plays in the background. it sounds cheesy but i find it weirdly comforting.

time lapse videos: the youtube playlist i linked to there has some really good ones, but you can search for others as well.

do nothing for 2 minutes: exactly what it says on the tin. just sit there, listening to the ocean, not touching your computer, for 2 entire minutes. there’s no punishment for stopping before the 2 minutes are up–the timer will just reset–but i definitely recommend waiting the whole time to really clear your head.

the thoughts room: type all of your thoughts, worries, and frustrations into the night sky, and watch them light up stars before falling away.

feel free to add your own favorite comfort/self-care internet things.

I hope all of you wake up tomorrow with better skin and a happier heart

please, keep writing. keep drawing. keep painting. please keep making your art no matter how many may try to push you down. the world does not have nearly enough artists. 

you will make it out alive. you will have done it. that future version of you exists. a happy one, one that looks back at you and is so glad you did not give up.