Whether or not we like to admit it, each and every one of us has bad days. Whether stressed, cranky, or going through a difficult time emotionally, not feeling your best can really take a toll on you. Sometimes, when you just cannot seem to pick yourself up, the help and support of a friend is all you need to start feeling better. Here are ten ways to help cheer someone up in his or her time of need:

1. Listen

More often than not, someone just needs to express his or her ideas and feelings in an open forum without others passing judgement. Someone may be seeking advice, help, or clarification, and listening to someone will help validate his or her feelings.

2. Giving a small gift

Baking cookies, picking up a special gift, or giving some of your valuable time and attention to another person is a great way to show you care. Often times, it is the thought of someone else caring that affects someone more than the physical object. Knowing that someone was thinking about him or her will make the person in distress feel loved and appreciated.

3. Physical help

Offering to help someone complete a task when he or she is overwhelmed and feels unable to handle the situation may be the best way you can help someone. As they say, the more the merrier, so you may be surprised to see that giving your assistance helps more than you had expected.

4. Give a compliment

A compliment is one of the best ways to make someone feel more confident. They do not always have to be about the way someone looks, either! Is someone great at planning events? Tell him or her! An awesome chef? Make it known! Genuine compliments can change a person’s whole outlook, and who doesn’t appreciate some kind, genuine words every once in awhile?

5. A handwritten note or card

Not only are words from the heart valued and respected by people, but writing these words down is also a great way of preserving them. Writing down some advice, support, or encouragement serves as a reminder that someone cares. Additionally, card stores offer unique cards for different situations that are perfect for showing someone you care.

6. Make someone laugh

Laughter is the best medicine. Providing comic relief or shedding positive light on a difficult situation, if done tastefully, can make all the difference.

7. Distract someone

Take someone out to dinner, go see a movie, plan a spa day, go on a walk, shop around the mall for a bit, or help plan an activity to take someone’s mind off of whatever is distressing him or her. This may be all it takes to get someone to calm down and see things in a new light.

8. Empathize

While sympathizing may be efficient, showing empathy is often a more effective way of helping someone move on and improve after a difficult time. Talk it out and find some common ground so that the person does not just feel like a charity case.

9. Cry

“Crying is the only way your eyes speak when your mouth can’t explain how broken your heart is.” -Benjamin Franklin

Letting out anger, frustration, sadness, disappointment, and other pent-up feelings is human nature. Letting someone cry may be the best thing to do.

10. Be positive

No matter how hard we try, sometimes life throws us into situations that are nearly impossible to deal with. The only thing that can be done during these times is to remain positive and keep an upbeat attitude and outlook. Whether the person you are trying to comfort is feeling a little down or extremely upset, he or she will undoubtedly appreciate your help if you try any of these ten suggestions. In fact, you may find that by helping someone else, a level of peace and happiness will find its way into your heart.