Kosky

Four Things That Help When Everything Feels Like Too Much

By

Rachel Kosky

I haven’t been feeling well for a while now. Probably since February.

Even while traveling to Chicago—a trip I was excited for—I didn’t feel calm. If anything, I felt manic. Restless. Stuck in a cycle I couldn’t name.

Not sure if it’s tax season, the endless to-do lists, or the paralyzing thought that I’m just… not good enough.

Nope. None of that’s ringing a bell.

(Okay okay, you know I’m kidding—it’s 100% all of the above.)

Let’s Be Honest:

Depression and anxiety follow me constantly. I honestly can’t remember a time in life when I didn’t feel some low-level (or high-level) dread. School, more school, work, self-employment, unemployment… it doesn’t matter the setting.

There’s more to this story, and I’ll share it in time. But for now, I want to talk about the question that keeps me grounded:

How do we catch our breath when everything feels like too much?

-i’v been asking this to myself for a long time.

Here are four things that help me get through the hard days

1. Move Your Body

I didn’t realize how important this one was until just this year when I joined a workout community here in my hometown of Maryville, TN. I started doing Barre workouts (yes—me! Barre!) and now, somehow, I’m waking up at 5:30am on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to make it to the 6am class.

And get this—I love it.

The women there are so kind, and genuinely happy to see you. That sense of community makes the early wake-up worth it. But even more so, I’ve learned the power of getting out of my head and into my body.

That feeling where you just need to shake it out, sweat it out, move through it?
Yeah. That’s real. Sometimes we laugh, sometimes we cry, but we always get a good tuck in (Barre joke, sorry not sorry).

If you want to learn more about Barre, I’ll link it here! If you want to try it out for free, reach out! I have plenty of guest passes to share!

And here’s the thing: you don’t need a gym or a class to move your body.
Take a walk around your neighborhood.
Dance it out in your living room.
Go for a run with your favorite playlist.
Join a rock climbing gym or check out a hiking group in your area.

Moving your body doesn’t have to be intense—it just has to get you out of your head and into your feet.

2. Read Something Good

And no—I’m not talking about scrolling your phone or reading YouTube captions. I mean real, soul-filling stuff. A book. An article. A blog post (mine, maybe? 😏). My favorite? Scripture.

Some of my favorite moments are Sunday mornings. I make a good cup of coffee with oat milk, and sit with my Bible.

My little brother gave me this amazing gift last Christmas: Scripture in a bottle. I can pull out a verse, look it up, and use it as a place to dive deeper, pray, and meditate.

It’s a moment of calm. A place to meet God. A reminder that grace is real and near.

I’m not perfect. I want to do it more often—and I’m working on it. But when I do show up, it changes things.

(I’ll also link some book and recs here—both fun and thought-provoking!)

3. Write It Down

This blog? It started because I needed a place to get it all out.
To not just scribble into a notebook that sits closed on a shelf—but to curate it.
To shape my words into something that feels like a project. A process.

Writing helps me untangle my brain.
It helps me release what’s spinning around inside.

If you want to start journaling, check your local thrift store—they always have fun notebooks! Or, if you’re feeling bold, start a blog. It’s free with WordPress.

4. Have a Good Laugh

Seriously. I don’t care how you do it—just do it.
There’s actual science behind how laughter is healing (and yes, I’ll link it here). But beyond the science, laughter just feels like a breath of fresh air in a foggy mind.

Some ideas:

  • Watch your favorite comedy special or sitcom
  • Call up an old friend and swap stories
  • Put on a funny podcast
  • Scroll through memes that don’t leave you spiraling

Here are a few of my go-to recommendations for a good laugh and a good story.

  • Watch: Netflix comedy specials, Ted Lasso, Parks and Rec, The Office, SNL, St. Denis Medical, New Girl, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
  • Podcasts: True Crime Obsessed, Girls Gotta Eat, The Vendor Table (for all my wedding pros out there), and Was I in a Cult,
  • Inspiring Podcasts: The Liz Moody Podcast, The Daily Grace Podcast, DOAC, and The Daily – New York Times Podcast

And a Reminder…

These four things aren’t magic. They won’t fix everything. And if you’re living with anxiety or depression, please know: therapy and medication are incredibly helpful and worth exploring. I’ve found so much support in both. Here are links that I have found helpful on my mental health journey.

But these are the little things that help me.
Things I can do without needing anyone else.
Things that bring me joy.
Things that help me regulate, stay grounded, and move through the heavy stuff.

What is your list of small things?

What’s your version of a 6am Barre class or a slow Sunday morning with coffee and scripture? Let’s start a little list of the small things that help. Drop yours in the comments—or join my Small Things Pinterest board to share your favorites and get inspired by others!

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