Supporting your friends through hard times
By Amanda Scali

19/05/2020 2:10pm

Supporting your friends through hard times

To say that 2020 so far has been a bit of a doozy would be an understatement, from bushfires to floods and then to something that no one could plan for or comprehend going into it, it has been a tough year for a lot of people, and we are not even six months into the year.

Covid-19 has thrown up so many challenges for everyone. From work issues to varying degrees of personal upheaval, I don’t think there is anyone who hasn’t been touched or affected.

You might have many people around you going through a hard time right now, but the good news is that there are ways you can help and support them.

Here are some ideas of the way to support your friends through these crazy times.
 

Touch base

Now more than ever, we need to stay connected to those that mean something to us.

So, pick up the phone, schedule a Zoom chat or meet for a socially distanced coffee or walk outside if you know that a friend is going through a tough time touch base with them regularly to check in and see how they are doing.
 

Send them some flowers or a card

Sometimes sending a little something to say that you care from a distance can help lift their moods and make them feel warm and fuzzy, reach out and send them something that means something.

It doesn’t need to be expensive; a card should do the trick.
 

Cook them a meal

Cooking something in your own kitchen with a little dose of love and dropping it around to your friend who is going through a hard time is love in motion.

It will make them feel loved and cared for and the most special person on earth.
 

Listen with compassion

It can sometimes be uncomfortable to sit with someone in their time of need or despair and listen to them with a compassionate and an open heart, without judgement and without trying to fix it.

Giving your friends the time of day to talk through what they are going through is a beautiful gift that you can provide another that doesn’t cost anything other than your time.
 

Offer to help with the everyday items

It might be doing their shopping for them, picking their kids up from school or helping out around the house. Giving them some space and time to process what they are going through right now can help your friends out in their time of need.