The Unexpected Ways to Support Your Family And Friends

There’s only so much time in the day, and it can feel daunting to add more to the to-do list. It’s easy to feel caught between wanting to be more supportive to friends and family, and feeling like you don’t have enough time or energy to add to the commitments of daily life.

But we believe that there is always time for you.

No matter what your schedule looks like, we want you to know that there are ways you can support those around you without taking away from yourself—and -even make it easier on yourself!

Here are some easy and unexpected ways to be more supportive: 

• Being a Better Listener

Listening is a skill that can be learned, and it's one of the most important skills you can have in life. Being a good listener can help you connect with others, build trust, and understand situations you didn't have a part in creating.

When you're talking to someone who needs support, try not to jump in with solutions or advice—just give them your undivided attention so they can process their situation. It's a wonderful gift to be able to listen, and people benefit from someone who can listen well.

• Offer Help Practically 

Offering practical help is unexpectedly helpful.

There are so many ways to help a person in need. You can offer emotional support, financial assistance, or even just the use of a spare room in your house. But what if there’s something else you can do?

When someone is struggling, they don’t always know how to ask for help—or what kind of help they need. Sometimes all they really want is a little practical assistance.

And it turns out that offering practical help can be really helpful, especially when someone is going through something difficult and uncertain.

• Be their Cheerleader

What is it about cheerleaders that makes them so great? They're always there to encourage their teammates to do their best, they know how to make people feel good about themselves and they don't mind putting in the work.

We can all be cheerleaders too! When you're cheering on a friend, you're not just telling them that they can do it—you're also showing them how much you believe in them. Your support will make a big difference in their mental health and help them feel motivated to achieve whatever they are going after.

• Let them know that you care

There are many ways to tell someone that you care about them. You can say this in person, over the phone, or through text messages or emails. It’s best if you can use a variety of communication methods so that they know they are important to you no matter where they are!

You can start by saying something like: “I really appreciate all of the time we spend together.” Or “I’m so glad we have each other as friends because I don’t know what I would do without you!” Then go on to tell them some specific things about yourself that make them special to you (like maybe something funny or interesting). This will show them just how much they mean to you!

• Be Involve (in a good way)

Have you ever noticed that the people in your life who are most supportive tend to be the ones who are fully present?

Maybe it's because they've decided to focus on one specific area of life where they can be fully present. Maybe it's because they're choosing to support a friend by purchasing her work, or taking a weekly walk with their relative.

Maybe it's just because they've chosen to go all in.

I think there's something beautiful about this idea of being fully present and involved in one thing—and then supporting it. If we're always giving our attention to many things at once, it's hard to make an impact on anything. But when we choose one thing and give it our full attention, we can really affect change for others.

We can also affect change for ourselves—we can feel more connected with the people around us when we're doing something together that matters to everyone involved. We can feel more connected with ourselves when we're able to focus on one thing instead of many at once.

• Avoid the Drama

Do you want to be the kind of person others enjoy being around?

One of the best ways to do that is to avoid drama.

When we're in negative relationships with others, it's hard to imagine how we could possibly be helpful to them. We might think that if we just avoid talking about other people or gossiping, or if we stop being moody and start being more cheerful, then everyone else will just magically become better at dealing with their own problems.

But here's the truth: all those things are true—they do help. But they aren't enough. Our own behavior needs to be on point too. When we control our own behavior by avoiding gossip, criticism, and negativity in general, it makes it much easier for us to have healthy relationships with others.

 I hope you've enjoyed this little guide and learned a few new ways to be supportive. Remember, it doesn't take much effort to show up for others! And the little things you do can make a huge difference in someone's life.