3 ways to be a better mate today

Be a better mate to yourself and your crew with these 3 steps.

When life gets sticky, it’s easy to lose touch with yourself and your mates.

If you aren’t looking after yourself and don’t have a good mate in your corner, it doesn’t take long until you feel bogged down.

We’ve seen and experienced this first hand.
We know what it’s like to be stuck between a rock and a hard place…

But we also know some epic strategies to help you or your pal get out of there.

We’ve narrowed these strategies down to 3 that you can use right now. 

Before we get started, we want to acknowledge that we aren’t experts in psychology. 

These next 3 tips weren’t crafted by an expert in mental health.

They’re simply what we’ve learned and found useful throughout our journey. 

They’ve helped through many highs and some crushing lows, so we’re hoping that they’ll be useful to you or your mates in some way. 

Let’s go!

1. Take care of yourself first

This may sound counterintuitive, a little selfish even. 

But it’s actually the first and most important step to being a better mate. 

Is it possible to be a good mate to others without being a good mate to yourself?

No.

Well, not really.

You can be a lesser version of a good mate, but you’ll find that it’s impossible to be the best mate you can be if you aren’t mates with yourself first.

So how do you take care of yourself? 

The answer to this question really depends on the individual, but for us, self-care comes from taking the time to do what we love, outside of work and family.

When was the last time you did something for the pure enjoyment of it?

When was the last time you went fishing, for a surf, for a quiet walk?

When was the last time you took the time to follow your passion, whatever that may be? 

Whether you did it this morning, or haven’t done it in years, we want you to schedule it today.

You don’t actually have to do it today, we just want you to find a time in your calendar and lock it in TODAY (and stick to it).

2. Send a text message to 3 mates, right now

Even though checking in with your mates has never been easier, we’re doing it less than ever. 

Feeling connected to your tribe is crucial to happiness. 

Don’t wait until they hit you up first, grab your phone right now and start typing. 

It doesn’t really matter what you say.

The fact that you’re thinking about them will be a huge pick me up, especially if they’re going through the ringer. 

3. Shout a mate a beer 

Although we’re beer slingers by trade, we wholeheartedly acknowledge that alcohol is a depressant. 

We understand the negative impact it can have on a person and society when consumed for the wrong reasons. 

Conversely, we know how powerful it can be when consumed for the right reasons. 

When consumed appropriately, beer plays an influential role in mateship. 

Its ability to break down emotional barriers is unmatched, particularly in those mates who are tough nuts to crack.

Organise a cheeky beer with a mate (maybe one of the three mates you just texted?).

After you knock one back, ask them how they are and actually listen to what they say.

If they aren’t okay, offer them your support, but don’t try and fix their problems for them. 

Sitting and listening is often the best method to help unravel someone’s issues. 

If things are really concerning, let them know about some of the services out there to get more help, like Beyond Blue, Lifeline or headspace.

What’s your favourite ‘good mate’ practise?