Mental Health Love List
Winter can take a toll on your physical and mental well-being. You may find yourself more irritable, struggling with your day-to-day life, having a hard time sleeping and having low energy.
Yep, seasonal depression is reeeeal, y’all.
If you’d like to beat the winter blues and put these negative thoughts to rest, you need to maintain your mental health throughout the colder months. In addition to therapy, you can use everyday tools to boost our moods and fight off anxiety. From journals to stress balls to elixirs, here are the things that help us recenter ourselves and find peace of mind, even in stressful situations. What is your go-to? Tell us in the comments below.
Let That Sh*t Go Journal ~$9
A sassy journal with writing prompts to help you let sh*t go and enjoy your life more fully (without all the BS).
Essential Oil Diffuser ~$35
Fill with water and a few drops of your favorite oil(s) (this is my favorite brand) to create personalized, beautiful aromas throughout your home. My go-to’s are lemon and lavender. Mmmm.
Blank Journal ~$17
I always keep a blank journal on hand — usually in the drawer of my nightstand — so I can write and work through alllll my feelings and emotions whenever they become overwhelming. Journaling is my most helpful mental health tool; since I was a little girl I’ve always said that I don’t know what I truly think or feel until I write it down.
Anima Mundi Happiness Tonic ~$25
One drop a day keeps the anxiety away? I wish it were that simple… but these magical drops do help calm my nervous system and give me an overall peace of mind.
Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown ~$18
My therapist recommended this book to help me explore all the different emotions that may be arising when I feel anxious or am dealing with conflicts (which can bring on a lot of anxiety for me). It’s been quite eye-opening. ~Charlene
Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself by Nedra Glover Tawwab ~$16
And my therapist recommended this book to me! Learn how to set healthy boundaries, say “no” to people and things that deplete you, and “yes” to yourself. This book was a game-changer for me. ~ Marissa
DownDog Yoga App ~$10/month or $60/year
This yoga app allows you to practice yoga on your own terms — every class is fully customizable, and my favorite thing about it is that you can set up any kind of class for any length of time, because sometimes you just need a quick 10-15 minute reset. ~Brit
Weighted Blanket ~$109
If you’ve never tried one of these before, TRY ONE. They are so soothing and calming… ~Brit
The Chopra App ~$69/year
Deepak Chopra’s voice in and of itself is enough to calm my nerves, but this app is equally as helpful. It’s chock full of meditations (that you can personalize for whatever you need) and tips and tools to increase self-love and well-being. ~Marissa
Art of Tea, Flow ~$21
A friend of mine gifted me this herbal tea, and I am obsessed. I usually enjoy it while winding down at night. This loose-tea blend is specifically to calm and balance, and some of the ingredients are known to keep cardiovascular disease at bay. Sipping Flow makes me feel warm and healthy! Plus look how pretty… ~Charlene
Stress Balls (or any fidget!) ~ $8
If you’re a tactile person, a fidget to mess around with can really calm your nerves. I like a good stress ball and my children’s PopIts! Hehe. ~Charlene
5 Sense Mindfulness Exercise
When I’m in therapy and I get overwhelmed about a thought or question, my therapist guides me through this exercise where I have to list 3 things I see, 3 things I hear, 3 things I feel, and so on. This helps me get back in the moment (as opposed to being stuck in my intrusive thoughts). ~Charlene
Affirmation Cards ~$14
Need a prompt to remind you what to focus on during a mentally challenging moment? These cards can be a good tool to recenter your mind onto the positive. ~Charlene
What are your favorite go-to’s when you need a mental health boost? Tell us in the comments below.
Happy Mental Health Month, parents. Take good care of YOU!! 🙏
