I haven’t felt my best lately … and when I say lately, I mean the last couple of months. I’ve been anxious, stressed, overwhelmed … or just sad (and sometimes for no reason at all). I haven’t felt like myself and found little to no enjoyment in things that I usually loved enjoying.

I’m slowly coming out of those feelings and starting to love the things that I typically enjoy again. I found it’s important and healthy to take those breaks from the things you typically enjoy—can you burn out on a typical self-care routine? Changing things like routines and self-care tips from time to time to prevent burnout is a healthy coping mechanism, or at least in my book.

These are some self-care strategies that helped me when I was in those moments of feeling sad, overwhelmed, anxious, lonely, or whatever. I hope that if you’re going through these same or similar feelings, that these help you but if anything, know that you are greatly loved and you will get past this. <3

Go on a long walk.

A long walk outside can truly help wonders. I hate to break it to you … but exercise actually freaking works. Taking a long walk with either a podcast or audiobook can be so soothing and relaxing. I take a long walk with my dog (who loves these long walks as much as I do) and typically, I put on an audiobook. But I found that when I have a bunch of racing thoughts racing in my brain, a fun and chatty podcast usually does the trick of slowing those anxious thoughts down—or at least pushing those thoughts to the side for a brief moment. In the past couple of months of feeling down, a long walk would lift my mood.

Take an exercise class.

A fun one, too! I recently got back into the gym and solely taking fitness classes—mainly Zumba, though. I absolutely love it. I have a goal of getting back into spin classes, but I’m slowly working my way towards spin classes (and even Body Pump!). Scheduling these workout classes and then actually getting in my car to drive to them has me feeling … accomplished. Let me tell you: my energy has drastically increased since returning to Zumba class. It’s also just really fun getting to dance for 45 minutes two times a week!

Journal.

Again, I hate to break it to you, but journaling really does help your mental health. Even if you’re just writing down three things that make you happy, or three things that you’re grateful for, your mood begins to increase. Something about writing down your thoughts and anxieties—and journaling your prayers and anxiety to God—is healing for the soul. Recently, I gave in and bought the Hobonichi Cousin journal. I’m not sure how I feel about it yet (I need to buy a new pen because the paper is so thin and my pen bleeds through almost), but the simple act of journaling each morning, again, improves my mental health and my mood.

Watch a comfort show—and a new show.

I will watch Gilmore Girls until they (Netflix) tell me I can’t anymore. That is my ultimate comfort show because it’s so … wholesome. However, I found that the more I watch the same shows on repeat, it doesn’t actually help my anxiety and sad emotions. What I’ve been trying to do is in addition to watching Gilmore Girls on repeat, I try to have a new show that I’m watching to look forward to throughout the week. This can be new episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Abbott Elementary, or the new season of Bridgerton: Queen Charlotte. I finished The Perfect Match in a weekend and the new season of Queer Eye in a day. And even better—I pick up a new hobby while I’m watching these shows. Which leads me to my next point…

Start a new creative hobby.

I recently picked up a newfound love of embroidery, and I think I am obsessed. I started embroidering an old jean jacket when I found this video of this girl embroidering all of Taylor Swift’s albums on the back of a jean jacket for the Eras Tour. I embroidered Lover on the back of an old jean jacket and then after that, I was hooked. I’m already thinking of new projects at the time of writing this blog post. Picking up this new creative hobby has done wonders for my mental health.

Read a book—or don’t.

I only read three books in the month of April. Ever since I started a bookstagram account, I felt this pressure to read a lot of books in one month. But that shouldn’t be the case. I love reading because I love diving into new worlds. I love being able to experience new characters and plots and settings. I love bookstagram for connecting with fellow readers on their favorite books and whether or not those favorite books are shared with mine. When I was feeling particularly more sad in these past couple of months, I hadn’t felt like reading. But I didn’t force myself to read. Instead, I just focused on other things. I listened to a few audiobooks and again, picked up a new creative hobby. That all being said, I have an exciting TBR that I’m looking forward to for the rest of May.

Those are just a few self-care strategies that I’ve kept to myself in the past couple of months as I navigate feelings of sadness, overwhelm, and anxiety. I hope this helped as writing this blog post even helped me. I love blogging and writing these blog posts. It’s a fun creative outlet for me and I truly hope that I can continue doing it as long as I can.