{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"Bear Grylls OBE, Chief Scout","standfirst":"When life starts to feel trickier than usual, Chief Scout, Bear Grylls has some brilliant tips to help us find a way through.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EWe all go through difficult times in life. Those times when we need a bit more support, a helping hand, or a friend to lean on.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf you\u2019re not feeling your best at the moment, that\u2019s OK. Chief Scout, Bear Grylls has some great tips for helping you weather the storm.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/o2vnwi53/do-your-best-by-bear-grylls-book-cover.jpg","width":1500,"height":1500,"altText":"The image shows Bear Grylls\u0027 latest book, Do Your Best: How to be a Scout. The book is laid on top of wooden planks and is surrounded by different outdoor items, including brown boots, a backpack, leaves, and a pine cone. ","caption":"Bear Grylls\u0027 new book, Do Your Best: How to be a Scout, is available to buy from Scout Store.","link":null},{"type":"Promo","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s important we remember to look after our mental health and check in with one another. If you think you or someone might be going through a difficult time, take a look at \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/supporting-young-people/mental-health/\u0022 title=\u0022Mental Health\u0022\u003Eour guidance for supporting mental health\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf you\u2019re looking for a moment of calm among the chaos, we\u2019ve plenty of \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/?name=mindfulmoments\u0022 data-anchor=\u0022?name=mindfulmoments\u0022\u003Emindfulness activities for your sessions\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"Looking after your mental health","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003ETips for getting through tough times\u003C/h3\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"accordion","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","showExpand":true,"items":[{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThere\u2019s always someone to talk to. Asking someone for help is a sign of strength not weakness.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"1. Ask for help "},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EDon\u2019t waste energy complaining about the rain. It won\u2019t stop a single drop. Remember, the storms make us stronger.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"2. Accept there are some things you can\u2019t change"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAt some point, you\u2019ll be on the other side of this problem. Think how good you\u2019ll feel when this is all over and you can be proud that you prevailed and endured.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"3. Remember that this will pass"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIf life isn\u2019t going your way, then think about what good things you have. Watch a favourite film, read a book, or talk to a friend. When life hands a Scout some lemons, we make lemonade!\u003C/p\u003E","label":"4. Focus on the good things, not the bad"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGood regular sleep (eight hours is ideal) will make you feel better about everything. Don\u2019t look at the bright screen on your phone before going to bed, and say sorry to someone if you\u2019ve upset them. There is no pillow as soft as a clear conscience!\u003C/p\u003E","label":"5. Sleep"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s amazing how your cares float away when you go for a walk, swim or jog. It makes you feel like you\u2019ve literally outrun your problems and left them behind. So get outside, get fresh air, and get moving. Get sun on your face and earth under your bare feet as much as you can (I do this every day). Be a person who thrives in the outdoors.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"6. Move"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003ENegative people will drain your energy at the best of times, let alone when things are tough. Try to avoid the dream-stealers as much as you can \u2013 those who dismiss your goals or aspirations. Life is full of dream-stealers. Ignore them!\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EInstead, where you can, hang out with those who make you feel better about life. People tend either to be a radiator or a drain. \u2018Radiators\u2019 light and warm up a conversation or situations. \u2018Drain\u2019s sap the energy and positivity from you. We all probably know some of both types of person. Hang out with \u2018radiators\u2019 \u2013 and choose to be one yourself!\u003C/p\u003E","label":"7. Spend time with positive people"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EEvery tough experience is also a lesson in life. You\u2019ll be better equipped next time you face a crisis. So don\u2019t look at a failure as just a failure. Instead, consider it a great lesson. This has helped me many times, and trust me, I have failed often!\u003C/p\u003E","label":"8. Think about how this experience will help you grow"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen you\u2019re feeling down, it\u2019s all too easy to reach for chips and doughnuts. Comfort food. But comfort food is a cheap hit and a temporary answer. In fact, it answers nothing, but tends to leave us weaker, lower, and unhappier.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EInstead, pick natural foods, whole foods; the stuff you\u2019d find in nature. These are the foods that as humans we have evolved over hundreds of thousands of years to thrive on. Food is fuel. Put the good stuff in and you\u2019ll get good results out.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"9. Eat well"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003ENo matter how hard things get, if you just keep going, you\u2019ll get to the other side. Never give up has a strength all of its own. Use it and depend on it. Make having a Never Give Up spirit your superpower.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"10. Never give up"}]},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/3qfjcrnn/do-your-best-badge.jpg","width":1154,"height":1154,"altText":"The image shows the purple Do Your Best badge with a gold outline, which is handwritten by Chief Scout Bear Grylls. It says \u0027Do Your Best!\u0027 and has Bear\u0027s signature underneath, with the Scout sign above.","caption":"Buy your book from Scout Store to get this exclusive Do Your Best badge with your order.","link":null},{"type":"Promo","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThese tips are just some of the great things you\u2019ll find in Bear\u2019s new book: Do Your Best: How to be a Scout \u2013 the ultimate Scouts handbook.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://shop.scouts.org.uk/new-in/do-your-best-how-to-be-a-scout-book-by-bear-grylls#selection.size=719\u0026amp;selection.color=34\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 data-anchor=\u0022#selection.size=719\u0026amp;selection.color=34\u0022\u003EBuy on Scout Store now\u003C/a\u003E and get an exclusive \u2018Do Your Best\u2019 badge with your order.\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"20 November 2023","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[{"caption":"","title":"Get your copy of Do Your Best: How to be a Scout by Bear Grylls","url":"https://shop.scouts.org.uk/new-in/do-your-best-how-to-be-a-scout-book-by-bear-grylls#selection.size=719\u0026selection.color=34","newWindow":true},{"caption":"","title":"Our guidance on mental health","url":"/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/supporting-young-people/mental-health/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"Mindfulness activities for your sessions","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/?name=mindfulmoments","newWindow":false}],"relatedLinks":[],"id":77768,"nodeName":"Getting through tough times, with Chief Scout, Bear Grylls","title":"Getting through tough times, with Chief Scout, Bear Grylls","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/bqjbzuoy/getting-through-tough-times-website-banner-v2.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1da1b9d5d03da80","caption":"Getting Through Tough Times Website Banner V2","type":"jpg","size":621654,"width":6047,"height":3402,"altText":""},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Getting through tough times, with Chief Scout, Bear Grylls","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"Chief Scout, Bear Grylls gives us his top tips on getting through tough times in his book Do Your Best: How To Be a Scout.","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC83Nzc2OCJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2023/november/getting-through-tough-times-with-chief-scout-bear-grylls/"}