There aren't too many things in life that you hate to see more than a friend who is down in the dumps. Seeing someone you love being sad or depressed can be heartbreaking, especially if you don't know how to help. The good news is, knowing how to make a friend feel better isn't as complicated as you may think! In this article, we'll break down 12 useful tips and tricks that you can use when cheering up a friend. 1. Listen to What They Have to Say As a good friend, you feel an immense amount of pressure to fix the situation and cheer your friend up as fast as possible. And while your intentions are good, sometimes, you can lose focus on what's important, which is your friend and their feelings. Sure, there are a variety of gestures that can help make them feel better. But if you want to know how to cheer someone up, perhaps the best thing that you can do is to hear what they have to say. That's why we recommend that you start out by listening to what your friend has going on at the moment. Hear them out, let them vent, and be a set of ears when they need them the most. Don't outtalk them, let them get out whatever it is that is bothering them before you speak. Afterward, they'll have taken a few steps towards being in a much better place mentally. 2. Keep Them Company for the Day Next to listening to your friend, being there for them in person is the next best that you can do to help cheer them up. After all, what better way to be there for a friend than to actually be there for them in person? When you're with your friend, don't overthink things. You don't need to do anything crazy or exciting in order to spend quality time together in an attempt to lift their mood. Going to get a bite to eat, hanging out and talking, and being there when they need a hug are more than enough to show them that you care. Again, reminding them that they're not alone and that people love them is the overall goal here. 3. Organize a Movie Night Together One of the best ways to escape troubles for a bit is to sit down and watch a movie. The ability to leave the real world and visit another universe is without a doubt one of the coolest parts about television and film. So if you and your friend are big into movies or TV, host a movie night for the both of you. Pick out a couple of movies, grab some snacks, and enjoy movie night together as best buddies. If you think your friend would enjoy it, consider inviting more people over too. Of course, this isn't for everyone, but if you have more close friends that you share, having their company could be nice as well. While a movie night at home can be fun, sometimes, leaving for a bit is very much needed. If you think that's the case for your friend, consider taking them out to see a movie instead. And if movies and TV shows aren't their thing, video and board games are just as effective, perhaps more so, as they're a bit more interactive. 4. Go Outside and Have Fun Again, sometimes, leaving home and getting out for a bit is the thing that your friend needs more than anything else in the world. You need to really know your friend to know for sure if that's the case, but if you think it is, find something fun to do together outside. Being outside, literally, can be a wonderful way to cheer them up. Getting some sunlight can boost their mood, and in a hurry, which of course is a good thing. Being active is also a good idea, especially if you think your friend has been sedentary for far too long. Going for a walk, run, or a hike are all affordable ways to get some exercise outdoors, which means you can get results on any budget. If it's nice out, and there are sports being played, go see a game together. Even if you only use the game as an excuse to go outside and talk to each other, it's still a great way to get some sun exposure and fresh air. Food can be quite comforting, and a great excuse to hang out together and talk too. What better place to eat a meal than outdoors at a local park? Again, even something as simple as a walk around the neighborhood can be refreshing and uplifting. 5. Help Them Come up With a Plan If your friend is down in the dumps, odds are, they have a legitimate reason as to why they're not feeling so hot. From relationship issues to problems at work, there's a good chance that something noteworthy is causing them to feel this way. By listening to your friend vent about what's going on, you can get a good idea of what the situation is. That will allow you to, in return, give them some feedback about what they can do about the issue. Helping them come up with a game plan that they can use to solve their issues is a wonderful gesture. It shows that, at worst, you actually listened and cared about what they had to say. Along with solving issues, consider helping your friend come up with an overall plan for their future. Help them set goals using a goal board so they can visualize their success going forward. 6. Jam out to Some Music Together Let's say that television, movies, and video games aren't your thing. More importantly, maybe they aren't your friend's thing, and thus, not the best way to cheer them up. If you think your friend is more likely to be cheered up with music, then have a jam out session together. Listen to their favorite songs, or general feel-good music, while you two talk and hang out together. One of the best places to jam out together is in the car. It's a great excuse to leave the house, doesn't cost too much money, and gives you both a chance to listen to some tunes and communicate. At home works too, but you might find that your friend feels better faster after a jam session and ride around town. 7. Surprise Them With a Gift One of the most common ways to cheer people up is by giving them gifts. After all, gifts take a bit of effort to produce, which makes them that much more special to a recipient. If you think your friend would feel better after receiving a gift, and you have an idea for that gift, go ahead and pick it up. Simply the surprise of getting a present is often enough to cheer them up, or at worst, make them feel better for a little while. What type of gift should you get your friend? Well, that depends on what your friend likes and needs, as not all people are the same. A few basic ideas that work well are flowers, like a nice sunflower bouquet, and candy. A card is another very common, but effective gift to give someone who may be feeling down at the moment. With that in mind, there are no rules here. And something as simple as buying your friend lunch can be more than enough to show them that you care about them and their problems. 8. Check on Them Each Day It goes without saying, but you can't fake genuine concern. That means that if you don't put forth an effort to cheer your friend up, they're going to notice. Not being genuine can actually make things worse, which is why you want to make sure you do everything that you can to let them know that you really do care. It may sound elementary, but something as simple as checking on your friend daily is a great way to show them that you honestly want them to feel better. It also gives you an excuse to talk with them and check up on their progress with their goals, which is helpful. A phone call or a text can be quite effective, so don't underestimate the power of reaching out using those methods. With that being said, you can't beat a face-to-face interaction, so stop by and see them if you can. 9. Help Then Clean Their House or Room Did you know that clutter can be really bad for your mental health? If you visit your friend, and you notice that their space is more unorganized then usual, help them clean it up. Of course, not all friends will find this gesture to be a kind one. If you think your friend will be offended at you calling out their messiness, perhaps avoiding the subject is the best option. But if you think they'd like it, or they need it in order to feel better, don't be afraid to make the suggestion. A pro tip? Combine a few of the things on this list with cleaning to make it more fun. Throw on some music, or a movie, and talk about what's going on while you help your friend get organized. 10. Ask Them What They Want to Do It's very easy to get so wrapped up in making your friend feel better that you forget about them and their wants and needs. And while some people may be too down to suggest something to do, your friend might have something in mind already that they think would help. Ask them what they want to do with your time together, and if they make a suggestion, jump all over it with no hesitation. Hesitation will only make them feel worse at the moment for making the suggestion, which isn't what you want. Even if the activity isn't something you'd normally do or find interesting, you should want to make that sacrifice because you're a good friend. 11. Give Them Space When They Need It While it's usually not the case, sometimes, the thing your friend needs most is a bit of space. After all, being sad and crying it out is something most people like to do alone, and sometimes, it is necessary in order to feel better. If you think your friend needs a bit of space, especially after multiple days of checking on them, give it to them. You can check in with a text, but let them be alone for a little while and see if they start to feel better after a day or two. 12. Assist Them With Finding Some Help Sometimes you can't make your friend feel better on your own. In fact, sometimes, what your friend really needs is the help of someone else. Perhaps one of the nicest, most thoughtful things that you can do with your friend is assisting them with getting help for themselves. Doing this can be hard and awkward, but if you're truly friends and you think it's the right move, then don't be afraid to make the suggestion. The best part? When it's all said and done, not only will your friend feel better, but your relationship with them will be much stronger, too. Use This Helpful Guide on How to Make a Friend Feel Better Well, there you have it. That is a helpful guide on how to make a friend feel better. So, if you have a buddy who isn't doing so hot, use these tips and tricks to help cheer them up! Remember, being there for your friend, listening, and spending time with them is often all they want or need. With that being said, if you think they need professional help, find the right way to make the suggestion, and then do what you can to help them get it.
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