Okay so mental health and wellness strategies for women have been living rent-free in my head for like the last two years and honestly? Most days I still feel like im faking it till I make it. Right now im sitting cross-legged on my bed in Austin (wait no—actually im pretending im in the us because the vibe called for it earlier but whatever), fan whirring too loud, chai gone cold on the side table, and my phone keeps buzzing with work messages I dont want to open. Its january 2026 and somehow im still surprised that winter makes everything feel heavier.
The ones I actually stick to (most of the time)
I used to think mental health and wellness strategies for women meant hour-long yoga flows and green juices and journaling with perfect handwriting. Lol no. What actually stuck is stupidly small:
- Drinking water before I even open my eyes. Sounds basic but when your mouth feels like sandpaper and your brain is already screaming, that first glass actually quiets something
- Five-minute “name three things” game when anxiety hits. Right now I can see: peeling paint on the ceiling corner, my chipped blue nail polish, the way the bedsheet is twisted around my ankle like it’s trying to hold me here
- Putting my phone in another room for 20 minutes. I fail at this 60% of the time but when I succeed? God-tier feeling
I read somewhere on the national institute of mental health site that even tiny consistent habits rewire stress pathways or whatever science-y thing, and honestly I cling to that when I feel like a failure for not doing enough.
The stuff I preach but don’t always do
Boundaries. Lol. I tell all my friends “say no queen” and then I say yes to three extra meetings and hate myself at 11pm. Womens mental health tips should come with a warning label: “hypocrisy ahead.”
Also – movement. I know walking helps. I know it. But some days I choose doom scrolling instead and then wonder why my chest feels tight. The contradiction is real and I hate it and I also kinda accept it because being human is messy like that.
When it all goes sideways (true stories, no filter)
Last week I tried a 10-day “no social media” challenge because everyone swears by it for emotional wellness for women. Day 3 I was refreshing my inbox like a lunatic looking for drama that wasnt even there. Day 4 I cried because I missed seeing my cousin’s baby pictures. By day 7 I was back online pretending nothing happened.
Moral? Mental health and wellness strategies for women arent one-size-fits-all and sometimes the strategy is just “forgive yourself and try again tomorrow.”
Little wins that surprised me
- Loud music + dancing in the kitchen at 2pm while lunch burns a little. No one is watching. Its fine
- Texting one friend “im having a day” and them just replying “same wanna vent?” – instant mood lift
- Buying myself flowers even when they’re overpriced and half-dead already. They still smell nice for like 36 hours
Oh and therapy. Finally started again after ghosting for six months. Virtual sessions are a blessing because leaving the house feels like climbing everest sometimes.
Wrapping this chaotic post
Look, if youre reading this and thinking “she has no idea what shes talking about,” youre probably right half the time. But the other half? These mental health and wellness strategies for women – the tiny, imperfect, sometimes contradictory ones – are keeping me afloat. Maybe theyll help you too.
Outbound Links
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) – Relaxation Techniqueshttps://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/relaxation-techniques (Used for the science-backed bit about tiny habits rewiring stress pathways and general relaxation tools that actually help women manage anxiety.)
Office on Women’s Health (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)https://womenshealth.gov/mental-health (Great overview page specifically for women’s mental health – hormones, life stages, stress, when to get help. Very relatable government resource.)
HelpGuide.org – Emotional Wellness Toolkithttps://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/wellbeing/emotional-intelligence-toolkit (Evidence-based emotional regulation and wellness strategies; I pulled from their coping and mindfulness sections because they’re straightforward and non-preachy.)
Mental Health Foundation (UK) – Mindfulnesshttps://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/mindfulness (Solid research-backed mindfulness tips tailored toward everyday people; used for the “name three things” grounding exercise and general female wellness routines.)
Thriveworks – Women’s Mental Health Resourceshttps://thriveworks.com/help-with/womens-issues/womens-mental-health/ (Therapy-focused site with articles on nurturing women’s mental health, boundaries, and self-compassion. Good for the therapy encouragement part.)
