Barely Holding it Together
Life can be heavy.
Sometimes, it’s a slow build… the little stresses stacking on top of each other.
Other times, it’s like a tidal wave, hitting all at once and leaving you gasping for air.
I’ve lived through both.
As a woman, a mom, an entrepreneur, and someone who’s walked through deep loss and daily anxiety, I know what it feels like to wake up and wonder, “How am I going to get through today?”
There have been seasons where the grief felt endless, my work felt overwhelming, and the noise of life just wouldn’t stop. Some days, I’ve felt like I was barely holding it together on the outside while falling apart on the inside.
Some days feel like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.
I’ve lived with anxiety and deep sadness most of my life. Add in the heartbreak of watching someone you love fight for their life, and it can be hard to even breathe… let alone smile and pretend everything’s okay.
The truth? Life is heavy. And if you’re feeling it too, you’re not alone.
It’s no wonder that every day people are searching for ways to improve mental health…
The Weight We Were Never Meant to Carry
We live in a world where we’re bombarded with stimulation 24/7.
We know what’s happening across the globe, in our friends’ lives, and in strangers’ lives on social media… all in real time. But I don’t think we were ever meant to carry all of that.
Even the people who look like they have it “all together” are often struggling with something. They just don’t talk about it.
And sadly, mental health is still something people shy away from discussing, as if it’s a shameful secret. But it’s not shameful… it’s human.
How To Improve Mental Health
If you’ve ever felt that way too… please hear me… you’re not broken, and you’re not alone.
Our minds, like our bodies, need care. And sometimes that care has to be intentional.
So… how do you start to feel better?
When life gets too heavy, I have a go-to list of things that help me find my footing again.
They’re not magic fixes, but they’re tried-and-true for me.
Here are 7 ways (plus a bonus) that have helped me improve my mental health… and might just help you too.
1. Spend Time in God’s Word
When my thoughts spiral, opening my Bible slows my heart and shifts my focus. Verses like Psalm 34:18… “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted”… remind me I’m not carrying my burdens alone. Even a few minutes in God’s Word can help me slow down, shift my focus, and remember where my hope comes from.
2. Ground Yourself… Literally
Grounding, sometimes called earthing, is the practice of making direct contact with the earth, such as walking barefoot on grass or sand. There are also grounding products designed to provide a conductive connection to the ground while you’re indoors.
But here’s the part that fascinated me: why would touching the ground matter?
Your body is conductive, and the Earth is part of a natural electrical system. The idea behind grounding is that when your body makes conductive contact with the Earth, it becomes electrically connected to that system. Researchers are studying whether that connection may influence things such as stress regulation, sleep, mood, and other processes in the body. The research is still developing, so I don’t look at grounding as a treatment for mental health. I look at it as one more wellness practice that has made a meaningful difference for me personally. Read the research on grounding here.
And THAT is why I include grounding in a post about mental health.
Grounding has become a meaningful part of my own wellness routine. I personally use several grounding products, including mats, pillow covers, and a grounding bed cover. I’ve gathered the products I actually own and use, along with a book about grounding, into one place if you’d like to see them.
Browse my grounding favorites on Amazon.
This is the company I’ve personally chosen for my grounding products.
For me personally, grounding has become one of those simple practices I wouldn’t want to give up. It’s been a meaningful part of slowing down and taking better care of myself.
3. Try the Pause App
Some days, my brain feels like 47 browser tabs are open all at once. That’s when I use the One Minute Pause app… it gives me space to breathe, pray, and clear mental clutter. Sometimes even that one intentional minute helps me slow my thoughts and come back to what matters.
4. Write It Out (Writing Therapy)
Writing has been my therapy for as long as I can remember. Even as a child, when life or my emotions felt like too much, writing helped me breathe. It still does.
When life feels too heavy to hold inside, I grab a notebook and pour it all out… no filter, no editing, just release. I call it my writing therapy because that’s what it feels like to me. It gives me a place to put the thoughts and emotions swirling around in my head and helps me make sense of what I’m feeling.
When my mind feels cluttered, writing helps me breathe again.
Try journaling prompts like: “What feels like too much right now?” or “What do I wish someone would say to me?
You don’t need anything fancy, but if having a notebook you love makes you more likely to write, here’s one I like.
5. Create Something
Sometimes, words aren’t enough. That’s when I turn to creative outlets… coloring, crafting, or even simple DIY projects. Creating something gives my mind somewhere else to go for a while. Coloring, especially, gives me something simple to focus on when my thoughts feel noisy.
I’ve gathered the coloring books I personally enjoy into one place if you’d like to see them.
Browse my favorite coloring books.
6. Step Away from Social Media
We’re not meant to carry the weight of the entire world in our pockets. News, comparison, notifications, and the constant stream of other people’s lives can become a lot for our minds to process. For me, stepping away from social media creates space to quiet some of that noise and come back to my own life. Sometimes I don’t realize how much the constant scrolling is affecting me until I stop.
7. Get Outside and Move
Walking clears my head in a way almost nothing else can. When everything feels too loud, getting outside and moving my body gives me somewhere to put some of that restless energy. Sometimes even a short walk helps me come back feeling a little clearer. And the best part? It doesn’t cost anything.
Bonus: Ask Yourself… Will This Moment Matter in 20 Years?
This is my power weapon to better mental health and less regret…
There was a time when I lived in constant regret. I’d replay conversations I wished I could do over.
I’d ache for one more day with someone I’d lost.
I said “no” to moments with my kids because I was “too busy”… only to realize I’d missed time I could never get back.
One year, I skipped visiting my dad at Christmas because I thought I’d have more Christmases with him. (I was “too busy” with work) That was his last one.
The regret was too heavy to carry, so I made a choice: before I make a decision now, I ask myself… Will this moment matter in 20 years?
It’s a simple question that changes everything.
No, it won’t matter that I took the back road instead of the highway.
But it will matter that I sat with my daughter and listened to her heart instead of answering one more email.
It will matter that I said yes to a last-minute beach trip with her… and now have pictures that still make me smile years later… instead of working on a project I can’t even remember.
When you ask yourself this question, you give yourself permission to live for what really matters.
And often, those choices are the ones that heal our hearts the most.
Final Thoughts
Mental health isn’t a one-and-done fix. It’s a daily choice to care for your mind, your heart, and your soul.
Some days will still be hard… but you can keep choosing small, life-giving habits that help you care for your mind, heart, and soul.
You don’t have to have everything figured out today. God is still with you in the heaviness. And He is there to carry you when you can’t carry yourself. 💜
Resources That Help Me:
- 📱 The Pause App… mental clarity & connection with God
- 📖 Lectio 365… This is a free daily prayer app I use to slow down, return to Scripture, and intentionally spend a few quiet minutes with God. I especially appreciate having something simple to turn to when my thoughts feel noisy.
- 🌿 Curious about Grounding?… Learn what grounding is, how it’s believed to work, and how I personally use it in my wellness routine.
- My Favorite Coloring Books: Coloring gives me something creative to focus on when my mind needs a break. I’ve gathered the coloring books I personally enjoy into one Amazon Idea List.
Browse my favorite coloring books.
If life feels heavy today, start with just one thing from this list. You don’t have to do it all.
You just have to start. 💛
Start small. Take one step. Try one thing from this list today.
And if all you do is breathe and whisper, “Lord, I need You,” that’s enough.
A gentle note: These are practices that have helped me personally, but they aren’t a substitute for professional mental-health care. If you’re struggling, please don’t be afraid to reach out to a qualified mental-health professional for support.
Until next time…