Oh! Also! Simmer pots are a quick way to feel better!! Simmer some rosemary and bay leaf in a pot over low heat for several hours. The water turns a really cool blood red color somehow and the steam makes your whole house smell good. Rosemary and bay are very cleansing and healing, spa vibes. For peak happy vibes, I simmer cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg instead. It has the added benefit of making you feel like a witch with a cauldron. Also an excellent way to get smells out of the house in general.
I do this too and add my lemon or orange peels in there after juicing them - you can then even use the remaining liquid as a natural cleansing spray for counter tops etc
All of these are incredibly valid (does staring into the void count as meditation?) An additional little trick I use is going for a long, HOT shower. Usually feel at least 10% better and if not, then at least I don't notice the tears so much.
I love this!! A little space reset does the trick for me. If the apartment needs a serious deep clean but I don't have the time/energy, I just put away clutter in the kitchen and wipe down the counters. Makes everything feel so much fresher!
I relate to everythingggggg on this list! The simplifying your meals is such an underrated tip!! Not only is it easier to put together a healthy meal that way, but it’s easier for your body to digest it. I keep a “bad day” journal because I don’t want to run into those entries on good days, and writing out all the overthinking going on in my head really helps me release it.
dredge around bandsintown find some music or band that you (even kind of) like MAKE yourself get a 🎟️ or 2 (but don't wait or defer or rely on others) and GO out to see/hear some music. You will feel alive (and proud of yourself).
Dude you are so right about simplifying your skincare. My POD only went away when I exclusively used one cleanser and one moisturiser for about a year alongside a non-steroidal topical ointment. I couldn't even put sun cream on my skin for a while without a flare up so I got super comfortable styling hats. Thankfully I can wear sun cream again but I'm sticking by one cleanser, one moisturiser, minimal disruption, only washing at the end of the day. My personal fav salad dressing is lots of lemon, LOTS of olive oil, salt, pepper, and a drizzle of balsamic and I have my own playlist for the sad times called "Izzy's club classics".
I'm South African so I'm not sure if it's available overseas, but it's a brand called Environ that uses a lot of ingredients that are genuinely good for your skin (like jojoba oil). If it's not available where you are, I can dm you pictures of the ingredients and you can see if there's a brand near you doing something similar?
It’s funny that you included a still from Ferris Bueller because that is my “depression prevention” movie. I had a bad reaction this summer to some medication that made me feel really horrible all of a sudden. So, I stopped taking the medication, but it was Ferris Bueller that made me feel ok again.
It’s such a classic, it truly feels like home to me! I love the idea of depression prevention — something you do when you feel the creeping feeling start to come back. 🤍
Hard relate on so much of this. I'm trying to get back into meditation because I KNOW it will help, but it can be so hard to make time for it if I don't do it first thing in the morning. I enjoy the Open app, but I'm excited to check out this meditation playlist! If I'm feeling "bad" both physically and mentally, I also try to get back to a gratitude practice - I know, totally new and revelatory, we've never heard that one before! It does help my mindset though. I'll typically habit stack meditation and gratitude together when I wake up.
Haha no I agree! Gratitude, as corny as it is, does wonders. Lately I’ve been making a list of what I’m proud of myself for at the end of the day to give it a little variability
Loved all of this! I am also all about salads when I feel low energy and it works - I like it with a super simple vinaigrette - just Olive oil/ Apple cider vinegar and a big spoon of dijon mustard
Oh! Also! Simmer pots are a quick way to feel better!! Simmer some rosemary and bay leaf in a pot over low heat for several hours. The water turns a really cool blood red color somehow and the steam makes your whole house smell good. Rosemary and bay are very cleansing and healing, spa vibes. For peak happy vibes, I simmer cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg instead. It has the added benefit of making you feel like a witch with a cauldron. Also an excellent way to get smells out of the house in general.
I do this too and add my lemon or orange peels in there after juicing them - you can then even use the remaining liquid as a natural cleansing spray for counter tops etc
Incredible idea!
Vacuuming the floor is a quick way for me to feel better in my space!
I have so much resistance to vacuuming, but once I force myself to do it, there's no better feeling
Martha Stewart Living had a tip years ago saying to go slowly to ensure your vacuum picks everything up, and that method works well.
All of these are incredibly valid (does staring into the void count as meditation?) An additional little trick I use is going for a long, HOT shower. Usually feel at least 10% better and if not, then at least I don't notice the tears so much.
So true, growing up when I was in a bad mood my mom would say "take a shower." Little did I know how wise she was...
Here's to wise moms!
I am a parent and 100% give this advice all the time. 😭
tears, tea, the bath - all cleansing water. (I have a favorite cartoon of this concept en Español)
I love this!! A little space reset does the trick for me. If the apartment needs a serious deep clean but I don't have the time/energy, I just put away clutter in the kitchen and wipe down the counters. Makes everything feel so much fresher!
Such a good point! It's Deep Clean Lite
I relate to everythingggggg on this list! The simplifying your meals is such an underrated tip!! Not only is it easier to put together a healthy meal that way, but it’s easier for your body to digest it. I keep a “bad day” journal because I don’t want to run into those entries on good days, and writing out all the overthinking going on in my head really helps me release it.
Ha! I love the idea of a bad day journal. Although, that feels like it wouldn't be as fun to look through past entries... lol
yess to all of this + taking a book to read in a solo date at a café has saved me multiple times!
You’re right - I love a coffee shop solo date where I can buy myself a fun drink
Your list really speaks to me! Also I have the same mahogany polish on my fingers :) you’re so right about that
Love that! And love the name mahogany for this color
dredge around bandsintown find some music or band that you (even kind of) like MAKE yourself get a 🎟️ or 2 (but don't wait or defer or rely on others) and GO out to see/hear some music. You will feel alive (and proud of yourself).
SUCH a good idea! Love this. Maybe paying thousands of dollars for Oasis tickets can be excused by mental health
One of my go to's is legs up the wall! ☁️ And the self-imposed rules, yes! ugh... thanks for that reminder to let go of that guilt.
ha! replying to this with my legs up the wall. <3
Dude you are so right about simplifying your skincare. My POD only went away when I exclusively used one cleanser and one moisturiser for about a year alongside a non-steroidal topical ointment. I couldn't even put sun cream on my skin for a while without a flare up so I got super comfortable styling hats. Thankfully I can wear sun cream again but I'm sticking by one cleanser, one moisturiser, minimal disruption, only washing at the end of the day. My personal fav salad dressing is lots of lemon, LOTS of olive oil, salt, pepper, and a drizzle of balsamic and I have my own playlist for the sad times called "Izzy's club classics".
We are so aligned!!
I'm curious, which cleanser / moisturizer duo do you use for your POD?
I'm South African so I'm not sure if it's available overseas, but it's a brand called Environ that uses a lot of ingredients that are genuinely good for your skin (like jojoba oil). If it's not available where you are, I can dm you pictures of the ingredients and you can see if there's a brand near you doing something similar?
Ooh I feel like I’ve heard of them!
the brand amperna cured my POD!
Cleaning my bathroom and kitchen usually helps! And washing my hair!
Unfortunately cleaning my apartment is the solution for everything and yet…
It’s funny that you included a still from Ferris Bueller because that is my “depression prevention” movie. I had a bad reaction this summer to some medication that made me feel really horrible all of a sudden. So, I stopped taking the medication, but it was Ferris Bueller that made me feel ok again.
It’s such a classic, it truly feels like home to me! I love the idea of depression prevention — something you do when you feel the creeping feeling start to come back. 🤍
Hard relate on so much of this. I'm trying to get back into meditation because I KNOW it will help, but it can be so hard to make time for it if I don't do it first thing in the morning. I enjoy the Open app, but I'm excited to check out this meditation playlist! If I'm feeling "bad" both physically and mentally, I also try to get back to a gratitude practice - I know, totally new and revelatory, we've never heard that one before! It does help my mindset though. I'll typically habit stack meditation and gratitude together when I wake up.
Haha no I agree! Gratitude, as corny as it is, does wonders. Lately I’ve been making a list of what I’m proud of myself for at the end of the day to give it a little variability
I like that twist!
This piece found me at the tail end of a down bad week. Thank you for this, and yes I will be making salad dressing today.
i’m so glad. report back on the salad!
Loved all of this! I am also all about salads when I feel low energy and it works - I like it with a super simple vinaigrette - just Olive oil/ Apple cider vinegar and a big spoon of dijon mustard
Everything is better with a big spoon of Dijon
things that have worked for me this January (currently snowing, windy, and -2)
Peloton app barre, yoga, pilates, meditation
listening to KMHD on streaming radio
buying a box of Meyer lemons and making lemon juice, zest, curd, preserves
attempting to put an old dog in new shoes
seeing the church of my childhood go ham at inauguration
reading Parable of the Sower as a graphic novel
poetry blogging
Love this - and I especially love the note about Meyer lemons. Such a subtle yet fun difference