5 Things I Reach For When My Mental Health Needs Support

Life isn’t perfect, and it’s not meant to be.
Some days flow with ease. Others feel heavy before I even open my eyes. That’s the nature of being human.

For me, navigating life with a chronic illness, a business to run, struggling with infertility, early menopausal symptoms and, well, just the mental load of being a functioning adult - life isn’t always smooth.

But over the last few years, I’ve learned to tune in.
To practice self-awareness.
To pause and ask myself: What do I need right now?

No two days look the same. But over the years, I’ve built a bit of a toolkit for myself… five go-to practices that help me support my mental health when I’m feeling off, overwhelmed, anxious, or disconnected.

Here they are:

1. Breathwork when my sleep’s been off

When I wake up from a restless night, everything feels harder. I’m more reactive, more anxious, more foggy.
Before diving into the day, I’ll often do a 10-minute breathwork meditation.

→→ It helps calm my nervous system and ground me before the noise of the world kicks in.

2. Strength training when I feel sluggish

On days I feel bloated or just blah and picking apart my body, I head to the gym - even if I don’t feel like it. Because I know that every single time I go lift heavy weights and make time for myself, my whole mood and body negativity shift.
There’s something about a solid strength workout, paired with a great playlist, that shifts my energy fast.
I leave feeling stronger, more confident, and more connected to my body.

→→ It's not about burning calories. - it's about building myself back up.

3. Movement when I’m stuck on a task or problem

If I’ve been staring at a screen too long or spinning my wheels on a problem - I move.
A powerwalk or a jog, just a little something that gets the heart rate up a bit for even just 20-30 minutes or so, often clears my head. I’ve said this before - sometimes I have the best creative ideas on a run.

→→ The movement reset allows me to come back to the laptop with a bit more clarity and some fresh perspective.

4. Journaling when I feel emotionally off

If I’m anxious, frustrated, or just feeling low - I write it out.
Sometimes it’s a stream of consciousness. Sometimes it’s writing out how I feel about a situation that’s bothering me.
Even in my relationship, if my partner and I are in a disagreement, I’ll write out what I’m trying to say. It helps me get to the heart of what I’m feeling, especially when the words are hard to speak.

→→ Sometimes I write things out that are really deep and I rip it up after. Sometimes if a client is driving me crazy I write out an email with how I am really feeling and delete it after. Writing it down lets me get it off my chest.

5. Music when I need to feel my feelings

When I’m just having a moment or a day, feeling sorry for myself, overwhelmed by something I can’t fix, or weighed down by my illness - I let myself feel it. Music can be a beautiful therapy. I’ll put on my favourite Girly Mix, Slow Morning Mix or Hype-Up Playlist and just let the emotion move through me. Sometimes I cry, sometimes I sing along as loud as I can. It all depends on the day, moment and mood.

→→ There’s something about music that gives you permission to feel without needing to fix.

What This All Comes Down To:

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being present.
It’s about building a relationship with yourself where you can say, “Hey... what do I need right now?” and then actually do it.

None of these things take the place of therapy or professional support. But they help me stay connected—to my body, my mind, my energy, and my truth.

Try This:

Take 5 minutes today and write down a few things that help you feel better when you’re off.
Things that clear your mind. Calm your nervous system.
Make you feel more like you.

Stick the list somewhere visible. And next time you feel stuck, sad, or overwhelmed, reach for it.

And, Remember:
Only you can shift how you’re feeling—physically or mentally.
No one can do it for you.
But the beautiful thing is... that power has always been yours.