Did you know that the Global Wellness Industry is now worth over 5 trillion dollars? In capitalism, everything is for sale, even the things that help keep us sane. I’m starting this series (which you can expect every second Sunday of the month), to share accessible ways that I have been managing my mental health that don’t require you to shell out . As we get traverse into winter (and global morale is at an all-time low), here are a few ways I’m keeping my head screwed on tight.
ClearSpace App (Free with a premium option)
With limited sunlight and depleting Vitamin D1 levels, it’s easy to fall into social media rabbit holes that get us stuck in a dopamine-driven feedback loop. This app has helped me significantly reduce decrease my TikTok2 usage which is the only app that is satisfying to use right now. When you want to open the app, it prompts you to take deep breaths (something that could benefit a lot of us!), and gives you a time limit in addition to a maximum daily allotment of app uses. If you’re looking to get out of your head and back into your body and the real world, spending less time on your phone is a great starting point.
Attention Lab (Free but in NYC only)
Speaking of social media depleting us of our ability to be presented in our real lives, I recently had the pleasure of attending an Attention Lab at The Strother School of Radical Attention. This was a free workshop whose primary goal was to get participants to disconnect from their phones and tap back into their bodies and imaginations. We did exercises such as a 3-step hand observation (step 1. observe your hand, step 2. close your eyes and feel your hand, step 3. open your eyes, feel and observe your hand). It may sound silly and a bit woo-woo but it was really cool discussing what each person experienced after each exercise, how our minds all worked so differently, and how it reconnected us with parts of the body we absentmindedly use all the time. The main objective of this (not-for-profit) school is to build a community that disrupts and resists the Attention Economy (another trillion-dollar industry). Their next workshop is in February so follow them to stay up-to-date on details.
Long walks by the water (Free)
I know, I know, it’s cold (and I know my people in the Midwest are looking at me crazy right now) but walks by the water are extremely therapeutic for me. Of course, they are fun in the warmer months but I find them to be more peaceful in the winter months because well, nobody wants to walk outside. My path is clear, and quiet, if I’m lucky there has been a rainfall the day before and the air is brisk and fresh, it is all so romantic to me in an Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind kind of way (which isn’t the kind of romance most people want but that is what Spring, Summer and Fall are for!). Staying physically active3 in general is very helpful for combatting depression and walking is one of the least intimidating and healthiest forms of exercise. So the next time you’re feeling in a slump, romanticize your life! Put on some layers, find your nearest body of water (or forest or trail, anywhere that is peaceful), and take a moment to decompress.
Journal Prompt
Put your phone somewhere out of reach, set a timer for 5 minutes, and go look outside of your window. When the time is up, write down what you experienced. It could be people, animals, plants, or elements you noticed, sounds you heard, thoughts that came to your mind, sensations you felt in your body, how quickly you had the urge to grab your phone, etc.
What do these findings reveal about your relationship with your phone, body, and direct surroundings?
That’s it for this first self-care toolkit! Let me know how you’re taking care of yourself this winter in the comments.
Catch me on these digital streets.
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With love,
LaChelle
If ya’ll ain’t taking your vitamin D every day, then you’re signing up for a longgg winter. I recommend this one because it has a fat (coconut oil) to help better absorb vitamin D3. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to a lot of mental and physical health issues, so if you’re experiencing an uptick of these symptoms, have your doctor check your levels (especially my melanated people).
The free version only allows you one app to limit.
Another thing that has been helping my mood tremendously is working out regularly, eating more protein, and doing low-impact cardio.