Simple little things that, nevertheless, fill our souls with peace and tranquility, make us breathe deeply, and feel the taste for life again. And it is precisely these things that are the subject of a recentonline thread, a selection of the best opinions from which we present to you today.

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Walking into the woods and bathing in the sunlight and coolness. There’s something about trees that gives me a sense of calm. That and petting cats and dogs.

Sunlight shining through a leaf held up to the sky, evoking a calming therapy-like atmosphere.

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Petting a cat while eating ice cream in pajamas.

A person’s hand gently petting a cat with a calico face, creating a calm and soothing atmosphere.

Being at the beach, listening to the ocean.

Person sitting on sandy beach at sunrise, with ocean view, flip-flops, and a bag beside them.

The original thread appeared a little less than two weeks ago in the AskReddit community, where the topic starter, the useru/Radiant-Assumption53, asked people the question: “What’s something that isn’t therapy, but feels like therapy?”

Taking a nap in the middle of the day.

Person relaxing on a gray sofa under a blue blanket, with cozy cushions and a room lamp in the background.

Laughing so hard with a friend that your stomach muscles ache.

Three friends laughing on a picnic blanket in a grassy field, enjoying a day outdoors under the sun.

Alone time.

Woman in a white shirt using a laptop seated by a window, with books in the background.

It’s quite interesting that the simplest things often turn out to be the most effective in improving your mental health. Just walking in the forest or along the seashore, reading interesting books,huggingyour loved ones,pettingyour cat or dog - all this really helps. However, it’s important that what you do really brings you pleasure. For example, many people love doing chores - so why not do it as a kind of therapy?

Hands crocheting with a purple hook, creating a calming experience.

Person sitting alone in an empty theater wearing 3D glasses.

A good talk with a friend isn’t therapy, but sure feels like it.

A woman in a checkered jacket smiling while talking, evoking a sense of warmth similar to petting a cat.

“It is a well-known fact that the famous writer Agatha Christie came up with a significant part of her detective plots and stories whilewashing dishesmanually in the sink,” says Maria Kryvosheeva, apsycholgostand NLP coach, with whomBored Pandagot in touch with for a comment here. “She simply distracted herself from everyday life in this way, and could think over ideas for her books.““This actually perfectly illustrates how such mechanisms work. Simple, familiar things give us the opportunity to clear our heads and get a share ofdopamine, ‘the pleasure hormone.’ And regular repetition of this gradually smoothes out almost any wounds in the soul. Of course, all this will not replace therapy, but as an addition to it, it’s nothing but great and useful.”

“It is a well-known fact that the famous writer Agatha Christie came up with a significant part of her detective plots and stories whilewashing dishesmanually in the sink,” says Maria Kryvosheeva, apsycholgostand NLP coach, with whomBored Pandagot in touch with for a comment here. “She simply distracted herself from everyday life in this way, and could think over ideas for her books.”

“This actually perfectly illustrates how such mechanisms work. Simple, familiar things give us the opportunity to clear our heads and get a share ofdopamine, ‘the pleasure hormone.’ And regular repetition of this gradually smoothes out almost any wounds in the soul. Of course, all this will not replace therapy, but as an addition to it, it’s nothing but great and useful.”

When I get home from work and my wife picks up our 5 month old boy so he can see me approach, and he does a full-face wide-mouthed squinty-eyed smile once he sees me. It resets my entire soul.On a similar thread, once he is asleep and my wife is asleep and I have cleaned the kitchen and reset the house for the next day, I feel like I’m crossing some kind of finish line.

Smiling baby in a striped hat lying on a fluffy rug, conveying the joy similar to petting a cat.

Gardening. I cannot speak to the WHY of it but in numerous real world settings, such as post-WW2 relocation camps, people who participated in gardening found their way back to health at a rate far greater than those who did not.

Seedlings in biodegradable pots on a sunlight-filled table, ideal for home gardening therapy.

Playtime with my dog.

Dog playing tug-of-war with a colorful toy on a carpeted floor, eyes focused and playful.

Drawing.

Art supplies on a table, featuring colored pencils, sketchbooks, and a butterfly decoration, evoke creativity and relaxation.

Music / dancing around to music.

Woman enjoying music with earphones, smiling and wearing a casual shirt in an urban setting, capturing a carefree moment.

Sunlight with good weather, greenery and tasty food that doesn’t make you feel bloated, sick or uncomfortable after.

A dog stands on a sunny autumn street, surrounded by golden trees and parked cars.

Going for a long drive with no destination in mind, just your favorite music blasting. There’s something about the road, the tunes, and your thoughts that can really clear your mind and soothe your soul. It’s like a reset button for a bad day.

View from a car’s interior, driver on a deserted road, capturing a sense of solitude and adventure.

A massage.

Person receiving a relaxing face massage, evoking a peaceful therapy-like experience.

Baking bread from scratch. Something about kneading dough for 10 minutes straight just hits different. Plus, my apartment smells amazing and I get to stress eat warm bread after. Win-win.

Freshly baked bread on a cooling rack beside a red pot on a kitchen counter.

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Cleaning and organizing, it’s oddly therapeutic for my mind.

Person cleaning a glass surface outdoors, surrounded by greenery, evoking a calm and therapeutic atmosphere.

Travel. I’m always better in a new place.

Person with a map leaning on a car, wearing a striped shirt and headband, in a sunny desert, unrelated to petting a cat.

For me it’s exercise, being able to turn off my brain while listening to music and exerting all of my energy into something positive is something I wouldn’t be able to find in anything else really except fitness.

Woman in a black workout outfit doing lunges in front of graffitied wall, focusing on exercise.

Listening to music while reading the lyrics.

Woman with headphones smiling at her phone, feeling relaxed like petting a cat.

Person holding a smartphone with “Do not disturb” settings displayed.

Talking to my plants like they’re my therapists. no judgment, just leaves.

Woman joyfully cleaning plant leaves, reminiscent of petting a cat, in a serene indoor setting.

Dungeons and DragonsI’ve had many bad games through the years but I can noticeably track the positive changes its had on my confidence and interpersonal skills, which is crazy for a game where you do funny voices and math.

Dice scattered on illustrated tarot cards, highlighting a whimsical blend of gaming and fortune-telling.

Bob Ross!

Ceramics- something about getting your hands in that malleable clay, being creative and making a mess.

Hands shaping clay on a spinning pottery wheel, capturing a therapeutic and calming moment similar to petting a cat.

A good cry.

Person lying down in a hoodie, appearing thoughtful and calm.

Person in red plaid outfit, sitting at a desk with feet up, smiling while drinking wine.

Psychedelics, i would argue they are superior to therapy.

Woman in a cozy sweater with closed eyes, arms outstretched, bathed in soft light, evoking a sense of tranquility like petting a cat.

A solo motorcycle ride.

Lying on the floor, staring at the ceiling, and letting my existential crisis play like a slideshow. Surprisingly calming.

Woman in a blue dress lying on a wooden floor, surrounded by scattered confetti, capturing a serene moment.

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