Advice for a happier life / healthier mindset?

[MintheMiddle]

Hi,

I wasn't quite sure where to post this, I feel a slight hint of my mental health taking a fall lately and looking for ways to hopefully pick this back up.

I am studying at the moment and im mum to a DS (3) so life is quite hectic but I have a wonderful support network and wonderful DP.

There are some things that I will actively try and change however I have thought of trying to get out even just for a walk more, taking my DS to nursery and walking there and back, im currently calorie counting so my meals are very healthy (but I do need to drink a lot more water) and take some more time to have my own self care routine.

What other things do you all do for a bit of a pick me up? I don't know if it's possibly a mix of SAD or just anxious over university/feeling a bit low mood from the cold dark morning/dark night and waiting for summer I guess 🤷🏽‍♀️

Any help at all would be so massively appreciated!

I'm not religious but I literally count my blessings every morning before I get out of bed.

Can be big or small eg
I have a roof over my head
I'm employed
It's not raining
I'm not pregnant and never will be again 😄
I'm not hungover
My family love me
Today I'm having something nice for lunch

Etc.

It's a good habit to get into

One thing that really helps me is trying to do something new every single week.

It stops things feeling so stale.

It can be a big project or a tiny thing. So it might be seeing a public footpath sign in the local town and following it to see where it goes, watching someone on youtube cooking something random but delicious sounding from another country and then going to the world supermarket for the ingredients and cooking it , getting on a bus/train if they are going anywhere i haven't been and going for a wander around, doing any local free special interest stuff i can gatecrash like a walking festival guided walk or an am dram theatre production etc

I find exercise helps me, it doesn’t have to be strenuous but getting outside in the countryside makes me feel so much happier. I always sleep better too.