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.
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 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.
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!
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
Thank you so much for this, Katie – these words seriously found me at the perfect time and I'm grateful to have found your writing. I've been craving a reset for months now and you articulated so many of the feelings that I've been walking through lately. Here's to less guilt and more fresh starts 🤍
Thank you for such a thoughtful response, I’m so glad it resonated. Makes me feel better to know other people are feeling the same things, as simple as it sounds
Just sitting in sunlight, preferably by a tree for at least 30 minutes. No walking, no phone, no sunnies: just find a beam of sun and bathe in it. 😎
As someone who is severely thrown out of my wellness routine when I travel for conferences which force me to talk to people for 4 days straight (8 times this year)… i have a routine to get me back, but sunlight is always the most effective.
This is a great list 💛 I’d also add being of service! Call a friend and let them vent, give a stranger a compliment, Venmo money for coffee to a loved one going through a hard time, get a gift ahead of time for someone’s birthday. Volunteer, donate money, etc.
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.
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 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
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
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
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
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!
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!
lowkey neededdd this thank you
pleasure is all mine
Thank you so much for this, Katie – these words seriously found me at the perfect time and I'm grateful to have found your writing. I've been craving a reset for months now and you articulated so many of the feelings that I've been walking through lately. Here's to less guilt and more fresh starts 🤍
Thank you for such a thoughtful response, I’m so glad it resonated. Makes me feel better to know other people are feeling the same things, as simple as it sounds
It can feel kind of silly at first, but this movement video is perfect for a quick reset - https://youtu.be/9DhwZqNJkIU?si=Gfa4gbzgPOVmTNkQ
I use it if I'm getting into a spiral and need to quickly divert energy.
Going to try this today! Thank you!
Just sitting in sunlight, preferably by a tree for at least 30 minutes. No walking, no phone, no sunnies: just find a beam of sun and bathe in it. 😎
As someone who is severely thrown out of my wellness routine when I travel for conferences which force me to talk to people for 4 days straight (8 times this year)… i have a routine to get me back, but sunlight is always the most effective.
That would absolutely take me out too lol. But you’re right - straight up vitamin d is a cure all!
This is a great list 💛 I’d also add being of service! Call a friend and let them vent, give a stranger a compliment, Venmo money for coffee to a loved one going through a hard time, get a gift ahead of time for someone’s birthday. Volunteer, donate money, etc.
Funny you say that, because that was the advice I gave someone last week! Literally helping your neighbor with their groceries was my example. 🤍