When it comes to mindfulness, it don’t get much more iconic than a mandala. It just so happens that we had a mandala tee designed by Tom Findlay – who also painted one on the wall in our old shop! We’ve made the shirt design available for you to download & colour in for yourself. Tom’s also donated 2 other mandala designs for us, so there’s plenty to keep your hands & brain busy if you need a distraction.
Tag us in any pictures of your finished pieces too – we love to see ’em!
This phoenix design by Helen Riley was sick on a shirt (if we do say so ourselves). It so happens that it’s also sick for doing some mindful colouring with too. So for the first time, we’re sharing it here on the site for you to download and colour in. Once you’re done, share some snaps with us on social media!
If you’re looking for an activity to keep your hands busy, and calm you down, have a bash at some mindful colouring. We’ve uploaded a couple of designs by Alex Roberts that have featured on our merch in the past. Download ’em, print ’em out, colour ’em in! And don’t forget to tag us in any pictures of your finished artwork that you upload!
Please only download the Bright Sky app if it is safe to do so and you are sure that your mobile phone is not being monitored.
Bright Sky is a free to download mobile app and webpage app that’s been developed to help provide support & information to people in abusive relationships, and victims of domestic abuse. It also helps those who are concerned about a friend or a family member they know being in an abusive relationship.
It’s available in English, Welsh, Urdu, Punjabi and Polish.
Bright Sky aids the user in identifying and understanding their current situation, whilst supporting them to reach out to specialist services. It provides information, support and education all in one place, that is accessible whatever your location in the UK may be.
Features include:
We’ve got Hub of Hope up in our Helplines section, and there’s also an app you can download to find help in your area. Either enter your postcode, or use the location on your phone to find support groups, places you can talk, and services where you are. This is great if you’re looking for something a bit more local to you.
Ok, so usually we’re big fans of talking to other human beings. But with Youper, you’re talking to Artificial Intelligence. It’s neat living in the future, ain’t it? The wildest part is that it doesn’t feel like you’re talking to a computer. And because Youper replies straight away, it means no more being left on ‘read’. It’s responsive, it’s smart, and most importantly, it’s useful.
The chat with the bot is just one part of it. You can set yourself goals and track your progress towards them. You can have a daily check in where you pick out words that describe how you’re feeling, and think about what might be leading to those feelings. You get insights that sum up what’s making you feel Happy, Overwhelmed, Anxious, Calm, etc.
In short, this is a really cool tool that’s available to you 24/7, doesn’t require you having to speak to anyone, and lets you clearly see your progress and what you can do to help yourself.
Insight Timer is possibly the biggest & best library of free meditations I’ve found. There’s so much choice on this app. It’s not just meditations too; here you’ll find music, soundscapes, courses & bedtime stories.
I’ve also really liked the fact that it tells you other people around the world who have been listening to the same thing as you at the same time. A nice lil reminder that you’re not alone.
Calm Harm is designed to help you resist or manage the urge to self-harm. It’s based on an evidence-based therapy called Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT). When you first log in, you have the chance to set up a password to help keep it private.
We love it because Calm Harm offers a bunch of different suggestions that might help based on whatever you need. For example, there’s things to try if you need comfort, a distraction, a release, or just to express yourself. It’s also class because each activity gives you a timer to make sure you’re giving it a real go, and then time to reflect on how you feel at the end. You can then track your progress over weeks and months, looking for patterns in terms of triggers, but also what helps you.
Download this Action Plan for the next time you’re feeling down. Print it out, fill it in, and stick it up somewhere you can see it as a reminder when you need it.
It’s important to have a few different things to try so that if one thing doesn’t help, you’ve got a back up!
You can also find a bunch of places to talk in our helplines section.
And make sure you stick with it too! Don’t be disheartened if something doesn’t work out straight away; some things take time.
