Nicole's Favourite Ways To Keep A Calm Mind
When it comes to mental health, it goes without saying that everyone is different. As a person who lives with anxiety, I’ve taken many years (literally sixteen years) to figure out what helps me feel my best, and I’m still learning even now. If these ideas work for you amazing, but if they aren’t quite hitting the mark know that you’re not alone and working with your mental health is a lot of trial and error.
*Please note these are opinions based on my mental health experiences and are by no means a replacement for professional support. If you are looking for professional support connect with your family doctor or check out mental health resources in your local area.*
Start With A Kettle
For me, a lot of my mental health support starts in the morning. The AM has always felt like a special time so I like to treat it as such. I have an affiliation in my mind between warm beverages and rest (a connection I’m sure I share with many) so starting my day with coffee is essential and helps me focus on one simple task before I start massaging my brain awake.
Brain Dump AKA Pages
Lovingly borrowed and adjusted from Julia Cameron’s ‘The Artist’s Way’, I like to begin my day with light journaling to help calm my normally loud mind. While the kettle is boiling for our French Press, I sit down with my dated journal and write. There are no requirements for what I write down, it can be anything from how I’m feeling, to what dreams I had the night before to total nonsense. After writing a few sentences I like to write done five things I’m grateful for, and again have very few limitations, things like ‘coffee’ and ‘quiet’ are often on my list. After those five things, I’ll also put down one thing I’ll do for myself that day. Again this can be anything from “go for a walk” to “take things slow”. I started doing this activity two years ago and have truly found a lot of benefits in giving my mind a morning outlet. I also permitted myself to do this activity at any time of the day if things get busy, or I even miss the day if I can’t make it work. By giving myself this permission I’ve been able to show myself some simple kindness, which for me is a big deal.
Headspace
My husband and I have been using headspace on and off for several years now and honestly, we love it. Its animations are endlessly charming and the instructors are experts in their field. We like to start our mornings (after journaling of course) with their deep breaths animation (different daily) and watching ‘The Wake Up’ a short daily video on a variety of topics. It’s a relaxed way to ease into the day and know that we’ve taken a moment to simply breathe.
Just Sitting
This probably sounds a little silly but honestly just sitting has helped my mental health a lot. I often have a rushing mind so taking a moment to sit down and feel the weight of my feet on the floor, the texture of the chair or bed, and the sounds around me is a mindfulness exercise that helps keep me present.
Taking Up Reading Again
To some, it is likely a wild notion to ever stop reading, but I found after university that I didn’t want to read much anymore, especially after being told what to read all day every day for so many years. Lately, I’ve been dabbling back in and being selective about what books I commit to instead of simply reading whatever is recommended to me. I also have trouble focusing for long periods of time (thank you anxiety brain) so I’ve found sitting down with a tea and setting the intention of reading until the tea is done has been a great way to commit my time to it.
Exercise
I’m a certified Yoga teacher so it is unsurprising to most in my life that I bring this up. I find yoga helps my mind slow down and forces me to be present as I work through different postures. However, some people are more inclined to something quicker-paced depending on how their mind is wired, so find what movement feels good for you.
Self-Care Calendar
A few months ago I found my anxiety worsened when I wasn’t feeling like I was doing much more with my time than working, ignoring many home responsibilities until the end of the week, and my larger personal goals. I would find myself spending hours cleaning and doing chores instead of enjoying my free time and working on my dreams. Being a very logistics-driven person I knew there had to be a better way, so I got a diary with monthly calendars, featuring free pages and took some time to do an analysis. I laid out each major life category including Health, Environment, Growth, Relationships, Finances, Career, and Interests, walking through each one, and identifying what I wanted to accomplish in these different aspects of my life. Some goals were clearer, like financial savings or career plans. In others, it was broader like spending less time on chores and taking care of my health more thoughtfully. Once I knew what I wanted to accomplish I made a plan for each category and in the calendar plotted out actionable items for each one throughout the month. By creating this calendar I was not only constructing a prioritization of my self-care but creating a sense of routine, knowing that I was consistently touching on each aspect of my life as opposed to working for the weekend. My Self-Care Calendar is a new project so I’m still analyzing what works best for me, but I will say it has been a huge help in feeling like I can prioritize myself on a regular basis.
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