Simply Calm Mind Blog

I’m going to be honest with you, there was a time in my life when I felt completely disconnected from myself. I didn’t recognize the person staring back at me in the mirror. Every day felt heavy, like I was carrying a weight no one else could see. I wasn’t sleeping well, I wasn’t eating right, and most of all.. I wasn’t happy. I felt lost.

If you’re in a similar place right now, I want to share a few small things that gently pulled me out of that dark space. They didn’t fix everything overnight. But they were the quiet beginnings of my healing, and they might be yours too.

1. I Changed My Eating Habits (Even Though I Didn’t Want To)

At first, I didn’t care what I was putting into my body. I was exhausted, unmotivated 24/7, and honestly, just lazy to cook. Fast food was the easiest option. It was quick, it didn’t require energy, and for a while, it became my normal.

But something in me knew I had to try something different.

So I started small, by replacing one meal a day with something healthier. I added more fruits, leafy greens, and drank water instead of soda. I did it because I was tired of feeling so mentally foggy and drained.

And then something surprising happened.

I started cooking. I’d find simple recipes on YouTube, follow along in my kitchen, and before I knew it, I felt proud of myself. Not just because the food looked good (though it really did!), but because I was showing up for myself in a way I hadn’t in a long time. I was feeding myself with care.

And slowly, without even realizing it, I started to feel… better. My mind felt clearer. My mood didn’t swing so wildly. I had a bit more energy to get through the day.

That’s when it clicked: there really is a connection between healthy food and a healthy mind. It’s not just about nutrition, it’s about how you feel when you take care of yourself, one meal at a time.

2. I Moved My Body Even When I Hated It

Exercise was something I used to roll my eyes at. I didn’t want to do it. I didn’t have the motivation, the cute workout sets, or the perfect routine. But I had YouTube. And I had 10 minutes.

So I started there.

Whether it was stretching, dancing in my living room, or taking a short walk, I moved. And yes, I hated it at first. I complained. But afterward? I always felt a tiny bit lighter. And over time, that movement became a kind of therapy for me. It reminded me that I was still alive, still in control, still capable of doing something for me.

And here’s something I didn’t expect:
As I started moving my body more regularly, my GERD symptoms became more manageable. I’ve struggled with GERD for a while, and it would flare up often, especially when my anxiety or depression were at their worst. But as I added gentle exercise to my routine, those symptoms didn’t hit me as hard anymore.

It didn’t make the GERD disappear, but it became something I could live with instead of something that controlled me. I realized how deeply everything is connected, our body, our mind, our emotions. When I took care of one, the others started to respond too.

That was a powerful shift for me. It reminded me that healing doesn’t just happen in your head, it’s a full-body journey.

3. I Made a Routine I Could Actually Stick To

Not a perfect morning routine or a 6 a.m. gym schedule. Just something realistic that brought me peace and kept my mind in check.

For me, that looked like:

• Drinking a full glass of water right after I woke up
• Eating something nourishing by 10 a.m.
• Moving my body for at least 15–20 minutes.
• Writing down how I felt at night.

But as I kept experimenting, I also noticed certain patterns. Like how eating something sweet on an empty stomach would mess me up for the whole day. I’d get this sugar rush that made me feel amazing for about 20 minutes… then crash hard. I’d feel tired, unmotivated, and honestly kind of emotionally drained. So now, I never eat sweets first thing in the morning, YAY! I always make sure to have protein or fiber first to keep my energy stable.

Another small but super helpful change was adding Ashwagandha to my routine. I can’t even explain how much this little herb helped me emotionally. I started drinking it as a tea. My anxiety wasn’t as sharp. I felt a little more grounded, and calm. I’ll definitely write a full post about that soon because it deserves its own spotlight.

Update: You need to read about: Ashwagandha benefits for stress relief: How Ashwagandha Helped Me Overcome Panic Attacks and Severe Anxiety

These small habits became the backbone of my healing. They gave me structure on days I felt scattered. And they reminded me that I’m allowed to take care of myself in quiet, simple ways, even when life feels loud.

4. I Started Writing Everything Down

Journaling wasn’t always easy. Some days, I had no words, just feelings. But I kept a notebook nearby and wrote when I could: how I felt, what hurt, what helped, what I was grateful for. It was like untangling the mess in my mind and putting it somewhere safe.

I realized that I didn’t want to keep it all to myself. I wanted someone out there, anyone, who might be feeling lost like I was, to know that they’re not alone. That someone else had been there too. That healing is messy, and absolutely possible.

That’s why I started blogging. I wanted to turn my private thoughts into something public and helpful. To say, “Hey, I feel you—more than you know.”
And if anything I’ve been through can bring someone even a tiny bit of peace or hope… then it’s worth sharing every word.

💗 My Final Thoughts:

I didn’t realize at the time that those little habits, eating better, moving more, writing things down, were slowly saving me. They didn’t feel like much when I started. But they were quiet acts of self-love during a time when I had forgotten how to care for myself.

If you feel lost right now, please know this: You don’t have to fix everything today. Just pick one thing to try. Drink water. Take a walk. Eat something green. Breathe.

Healing doesn’t always feel magical in the moment, it feels hard. But looking back, I see now that those hard things were building a new version of me.

You’re not alone. And you’re not stuck forever.

— Fifi 💛