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
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.
So, background is that I am a chef and I trained at Leiths so my recipe is based on the Leiths “ratio” of salad dressings but changed slightly from my experience and to my taste.
2tbsp evoo
2tbsp white balsamic vinegar
Scant 1/2 tsp smoked Dijon mustard (I always use Halon Mon but that is quite niche, you could just use normal Dijon)
Zest of 1/2 lemon
Generous pinch sea salt crystals
Generous grind of black pepper
I chuck it all in a dressing bottle or empty jam jar and use the bottle/jar to mix it by giving a good shake and then I store it in that.
Depending on the dish I will change the vinegar (I am a vinegar addict and collect them) or maybe add 1/4 tsp maple syrup or honey but this is my “house dressing” so to speak…
If you try it, let me know and lmk how it compares - I know tastes are subjective!
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!
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
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
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.
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
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!
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. 🤍
You have got some really useful and practical advice in this blog. I could really apply them in order to feel JOY😁
Report back if you do!
This is so helpful!
I’m so glad 🤍
Love this so much - sending to my grown up offspring forthwith
Thank you 🤍
Washing a blow drying my hair properly is my power move to feel better - that and spraying my perfume on me even if I’m home alone with the puppy.
I LOVE your salad dressing idea, I’m stealing it - but not the recipe as I have one of my own but the Sunday night prep…genius thanks 🤩
Well wait — what's your salad dressing recipe?! I could be inspired!
<3 scent therapy is real
Agreed on the scent therapy!
So, background is that I am a chef and I trained at Leiths so my recipe is based on the Leiths “ratio” of salad dressings but changed slightly from my experience and to my taste.
2tbsp evoo
2tbsp white balsamic vinegar
Scant 1/2 tsp smoked Dijon mustard (I always use Halon Mon but that is quite niche, you could just use normal Dijon)
Zest of 1/2 lemon
Generous pinch sea salt crystals
Generous grind of black pepper
I chuck it all in a dressing bottle or empty jam jar and use the bottle/jar to mix it by giving a good shake and then I store it in that.
Depending on the dish I will change the vinegar (I am a vinegar addict and collect them) or maybe add 1/4 tsp maple syrup or honey but this is my “house dressing” so to speak…
If you try it, let me know and lmk how it compares - I know tastes are subjective!
Smoked Dijon…. I think you just changed my life
It’s a game changer!