A few weeks ago I shared that I’m pulling out all of the stops in an effort to lessen overwhelm and manifest more peace in my life this year. My mental health has taken a severe dip over the past several years and this is the year that I take back control of that part of my life.
But if you know ANYTHING about me, you quickly notice that a main theme of my life is to go big or go home. Which, ironically, is what got me in this situation in the first place.
On a positive note, I have noticed over the years that having a can’t – stop – me attitude comes with a good amount of discipline and intention. I just needed to learn how to lean into it in ways that would help me chill rather than stress.
If you are making an effort to manifest more peace this year, keep reading because I’m sharing 10 things I’ve been implementing lately that have made a world of difference for my mental health.
- AUDIO BOOKS – are helping to make everyday things more exciting. Cleaning the house? Listen to a book! At the gym?Listen to a book! Getting ready for the day? Listen to a book! It’s been so great to make time for something that I have been longing to do for years. EVERYTHING I READ IN JANUARY.
- PAINT SOMETHING. Painting has always been therapeutic to me. My boys bathroom has needed a fresh coat of paint since we moved into this house and last week I randomly dove in. ANNNDDD now I think I want to do a budget-friendly, phase one makeover on the whole space. When you give a mouse a cookie…
- GET OUTSIDE – Living in the desert, one of my favorite outdoor activities is hiking! I was on top of a mountain at least once a week last month. There were also a few days that I paused my work day to take a stroll with a neighbor. The fresh air was SO good for my soul, and helped clear my head for a productive rest of the day!
- PLAYING CARDS WITH THE KIDS – most days after school we have been playing a few rounds of PLAY NINE to help us all unwind from the day. These little moments of connection have been the best part of my day!
- DECREASE SELF-IMPOSED PRESSURE – I thrive under pressure. Over the years I have noticed that I am constantly giving myself a deadline, or telling myself I HAVE to do something, when in the grand scheme of things, it’s not that pressing. I have decided to stop with the self-induced pressure to do things like show up on social media every day or giving myself
- MORNING/NIGHTTIME ROUTINES – I am a creature of habit, especially at the beginning of the year when solo parenting is a big part of my life. I find that when I have designated time to myself i’m not only setting myself up for a good day (or a good night of rest) , but I’m also able to show up for my kids with a better attitude.
- SMALL PROJECTS OVER LARGE – In an effort to re-align my views of productivity, I’ve been tackling small projects around my home that I have been putting off for a while. There will always be time for large projects but I’m learning that I need more small wins and instant gratification at this point in my journey. Im sure the large projects will come soon enough (ahem, the boys bathroom) but I’m determined to slip in more small projects during the in-between time.
- DAILY MOVEMENT – I used to think that going to the gym 3-4 days a week was enough for me, until I started realizing how well a mix of yoga, walking and weight lifting worked at fighting my high cortisol levels. I dont do heavy workouts every day but I have started implementing some kind of movement into my everyday routine. This is where getting outside (as mentioned above) has come into play, and it’s another opportunity for me to listen to an audio book. If i’m taking the day off from the gym I’ll schedule a walking lunch break into my day to clear my head.
- DAILY JOURNALING – I started journaling at the end of 2024 after my therapist recommended it. It took me a long time to find a good fit. I didn’t want a journal with a daily prompt or something where I just listed what i was grateful for each day. I needed something where I had flexibility to reflect, plan AND brain dump all in one place. I found SILK AND SONDER in November of 2023 and it is the perfect journal for regulating my busy brain. If you have been looking for a joirnal that helps you organize your entire brain use THIS link and enter code KERA15 for 15% off your first subscription.
- LISTENING TO MY BODY – As many of you already know, I had a wealth of hormonal and gut issues I worked to navigate through in 2023. Resulting in my personal choice to go gluten and dairy free. After a followup with my naturopath last month i’m still showing some markers for chronic inflammation and low progesterone. We made a few adjustments like cutting refined sugar and adding prescription progesterone during the second half of my cycle and I can already feel things heading in a positive direction. If you have had labs done and your Dr says everything looks normal, but you don’t FEEL normal. Keep advocating for yourself. You deserve to feel your best!
If you are looking to manifest more peace this year I hope this gives you a few ideas of where to start.
The Comments
Tina
Can you share your skin care routines morning and night?