Sometimes a 15-minute phone call with a friend or seeing the face of your parents via Facetime can do wonders for your mental health and it helps them too. Here are some ideas others have shared with us. We've been surprised at how simple things can make a big difference.

Facetime a Relative

Do you only see your relatives during holidays? Have you talked with your parents today? Well, during hard times, try putting a Facetime or Zoom call together, even if it's just for a few minutes, to chat with your family. It's surprising what seeing the face of someone you love can do for your mental health and theirs! 

Download a New App

We always say "try something new" at the YMCA. If you're stuck inside and find that you're spending too much time lost in social media or binge-watching that new Netflix show, we've compiled this list of 10 apps you could try for something new. Download the TED Talk app, and find a topic that interests you. The next time you chat with friends, share what you learned!  

Check-in on a Friend + Get in a Walk

Do these two at once! If you've downloaded our Wellness Adventure Challenge, you can check off two activities in one. Nature and changes of scenery trigger new neuro-pathways in our brains which yield new ideas and new solutions to problems. In the process, you may find you walked farther than you expected!

Read for 10 Minutes

Stories are important. They provide different topics to discuss in life, ways to think about problems and characters that may resemble people we know in real life. Get lost in a story for 10-15 minutes. Not only will it provide you with an "escape" but it helps your brain "workout" every single day. You could even start tracking what books you're reading with sites like Good Reads or start a digital book club with some of your best friends. 

We can help ourselves and each other with a few simple acts. Connection is extremely important during hard times, and just sending a text message to a friend saying you're thinking of them is something we can all do. If you're looking for more fun activities to do right now, try out our wellness challenge if you haven't already!