25 Ways To Cheer Someone Up and Make Them Feel Better

There are so many ways to cheer someone up when they’re having a tough time and below I’ll be sharing a helpful list you can reference. However, before I do, the most important thing is first thinking about why they are upset and how you can make them feel better based on what they truly need and like.

Cheering someone up is very personal to the situation and to the person, so what boosts one person’s mood, may do nothing for another.

Keep this in mind as you decide how to cheer them up, as the more personal it can be, the better it’ll work.

How To Thoughtfully Cheer Someone Up

1. Call Them

We are all so used to texting these days that simply just picking up the phone and calling someone can often be enough to cheer someone up. When someone is down texts can be nice, but dedicating a little more time to them can do wonders.

Just be yourself and have a banter with your friend and depending on the situation that could be enough to lift their spirits.

2. Ask How You Can Help

Just explain that you want to make them feel better and want to honestly know how you can help them do that.

They may just say that they want to vent, they want alone time or that they want to see you. Whatever it is, be there for them and give them that.

3. Pick Up Something For Them

I have a friend who’s picked up books for me at those little free libraries or even treats she sees when she’s been grocery shopping and wow – does it ever make me feel loved when she does this.

Those small inexpensive gestures show she was thinking of me and as someone who struggles with anxiety and depression, this means the world to me.

(Thank you Lilly xo)

4. Send Them a Post Card or Cute Greeting Card

A small way to tell someone you love them and are thinking of them. 

Just think about it, when was the last time you received a handwritten note or anything other than bills or junk mail?

A simple little message written on a post card or greeting card can feel really special.

5. Send Them A Favourite Treat Through a Food Delivery Service

Does your friend love burgers? Send them a meal combo. Are they donut fans? Get a variety back from a local bakery delivered.

The key here is to send them something they truly love and something that feels like a treat.

6. Take Them Out for Coffee & A Chat

Having a good catch up at a cute coffee shop or cafe is perfect. It gives your loved one the chance to get out of their house, spend time with you and be in a different environment.

7. Go On a Walk

Walk around the neighbourhood, go to a park, drive out to a hiking trail. Going outside for a walk together can help them boost their mood from simply being outside in nature and they get to spend time with you too!

8. Set up an At Home Spa Day for Them

This is something fun you can enjoy with your friend. You can cheer them up and help them relax while you get to chill as well.

You can:

• Prepare flavoured water (cucumber, strawberries & mint, or simply lemon)
• Make tea
• Paint nails
• Wear a face mask
• Read magazines
• Diffuse essential oils
• Give each other head massages
• Do some stretching
• Listen to calming music
• Eat a healthy salad and/or drink a smoothie

9. Give Them a Helping Hand

Helping someone out by taking a task off their plate can show your support and cheer up your friend. This is especially true if you’re helping with something that’s been stressing them out or is overwhelming.

Also, sometimes helping someone do something can make it that much easier for them to accomplish it. Just being there can lighten the weight of it.

Some things you could help with:

• Weed their garden
• Tidy the house
• Go grocery shopping
• Cook some meals for them
• Babysit their kids
• Drive them somewhere

10. Sign Up to a Weekly Class Together

This is a great idea as it means you have a regular activity booked together that can be looked forward to every week.

Some ideas:

• Ceramics or pottery
• Dance
• Art 
• Photography
• Yoga
• Gardening
• Jewellery Making
• Or other hobbies you both love

11. Watch a Funny Movie

Sometimes all people need is a good laugh to change their perspective on things.

I feel like it’s hard to find truly funny movies these days, not like when I was younger, so here are a few of my favourite funny movies!

• Run Fat Boy Run
• Man Up 
• Hot Fuzz (Okay – you caught me, I’m a big Simon Pegg fan)
• American Pie (The first one)
• Bridesmaids
• Full Monty

How To Cheer Up Someone You Live With

These ideas to cheer someone up are perfect for your family, spouse kids, room mate, etc.

12. Cuppa Tea & A Hug

Make them a cup of tea or their favorite hot beverage, then bring it to them and give them a great big hug.

Even if you don’t know what to say, the hug will work wonders. Afterall, did you know that hugging releases oxytocin (the love hormone), which can directly help you relax and calm your nervous system?

Note: If you’re familiar with love languages, this hug is perfect for someone who thrives on physical touch and the tea is ideal for those who appreciate acts of service. Learn more about love languages at the bottom of this post.

13. Make Dinner For Them (Especially if You Don’t Typically Cook)

If you’re not a great cook, you hate cooking or your partner/family member usually cooks, you taking the initiative to take charge in the kitchen and letting them relax instead can go a long way.

Communicate that you are taking care of dinner so they can do something relaxing like take a bath, have a nap or watch TV.

14. Run Them a Bath

This is something I notice that a lot of people do in the UK for their other halves and I think it’s so lovely.

So if you haven’t done this before, it’s a simple way to show you care and can definitely make someone feel better.

To make it even better, light some candles or diffuse some essential oils with mood boosting scents (lavender is calming, citrus boosts feelings of happiness)

15. Have a Dance Party

I’m a fan of a kitchen dance party but no one is preventing you from doing a living room or backyard dance party too!

This works great if they love to dance or if they just love to watch you be a total goof and dance!

Put on some fun tunes and get moving. 🕺🏽

16. Do Something They Love

Think about what they always ask you to do. Now, go recommend doing that with them. This will get to the heart of what will improve their mood.

It might be playing board games, going out for dinner, listening to music, going to a garden centre, going for a walk.

17. Have a Picnic

You can do it in the living room or the backyard. Make it cute with a nice blanket, prepare the food and drink, play music and enjoy relaxing together.

18. Have a Lazy PJ Day

The goal here is to let your loved one be lazy and do nothing. For some that might mean sleeping, for others that might be ordering in food and binge watching Netflix.

This can be especially effective if you can get them out of doing something they’ve been dreading.

How To Cheer Someone Up Over Text

19. Send Them a Pic That Ignites Happy Memories

It might be from a fun night out, an old photo from when you were both kids or from a trip you both took together.

Alongside this you can share some good memories from that time together.

20. Text Them A Funny Video

Sending funny videos is one of the easiest things you can do given how many videos each of us watches daily!

21. Send a voice note

With this note you can be silly, thoughtful, make plans with them, whatever. This is especially a nice surprise for them if you never send voice notes.

22. Send a Morning Thinking of You Message

Tell them…

• They are strong, amazing and a kick ass friend
• How much you love them 
• About an upcoming plan you’d love to make with them
• That you are proud of them
• What an awesome breakfast you just had and ask what they had

24.Text a Reminder

It can say something like, “In case you need a reminder of how amazing you are… (then you list all the amazing things about your friend/loved one).

• You make people feel good
• You’re an awesome cook
• You’re funny as hell
• You’re brilliance is something to be admired
• You have the kind of empathy that makes you special
• You’ve got killer hair
• People love you, I love you.

25. Send a Daily Text

This is a great idea if your friend or loved one if having an especially tough time.

You can check in daily and either make them laugh, send a thoughtful message, just say ‘thinking of you’, make plans, etc.

The key here is showing up daily.

Before Choosing an Idea Consider This…

If you’re unsure what to choose from the above list of ideas here are three things to consider…

What’s The Situation?

The most important thing you can do is think about the situation they’re in – as what you do to make them feel better could be great for one situation and horrible for another. 

Example: If someone just lost their cat, offering to take them out dancing could seem extremely insensitive. However, if they lost their job, broke up with someone or are just having a crappy day, a night out could be the perfect thing.

Understand What They Need & Like

If you know this person well, you’ll know a lot of the things they like to do or things they appreciate.

To go deeper, one of the best ways to know the person is to understand what their love language is – and often you can identify this based on how they show love and kindness to themselves and others.

There are 5 love languages:

• Physical touch
• Quality time
• Words of affirmation
• Acts of service
• Receiving gifts

Many people have a little of each love language, but they’ll be particularly appreciative of one of these key areas.

Before you choose how to cheer someone up, have a think about what their love language is and try to choose something that aligns with that.

Think About What Emotions or Experience You Want The Person To Have

Do you want them to…

• Feel loved and supported
• Laugh
• Be energized
• Feel excited
• Relax and feel calm
• Have fun

Once you know this, it’ll also be much easier to decide how to cheer someone up.

Final Thoughts

One final thing I want to say is that you don’t have to be perfect in any of this. Just reaching out and saying you’re thinking of them can mean a lot. 

The other thing to be mindful of is to check in on your friend often, especially if you think they’re going through depression or they’ve been dealing with trauma. 

So often your friend or loved one feels really lonely and may not even understand what they’re going through. So being consistent with your friendship means the world to them.

More Resources To Help a Friend Or Loved One In Need

• 9 Ways To Stay Positive In Difficult Times
• 15 Mood Boosting Activities
• Encouraging Words for a Friend Going Through a Hard Time
• 21 Self-Worth Exercises To Conquer Low Self-Esteem
• 100 Quotes To Give You Strength When Feeling Low

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