the ward method

Tag: mental-health

  • 4 Simple Ways to Tap Into Your Inner Child (and Actually Have More Fun)

    4 Simple Ways to Tap Into Your Inner Child (and Actually Have More Fun)

    Somewhere between responsibilities, routines, and trying to “have it all together,” many of us forget how to have fun. Real fun. The kind that isn’t scheduled, productive, or shared for validation, just light, curious, and a little bit silly.

    Tapping into your inner child isn’t about being immature or avoiding real life. It’s about reconnecting with parts of yourself that knew how to feel joy without overthinking it. The parts that didn’t need a reason to laugh, create, or play.

    Here are four simple, realistic ways to invite more of that energy back into your life.

    1. Do Something Just Because It’s Fun (Not Useful):

    As adults, we’re conditioned to justify everything. Workouts have to burn calories. Hobbies have to turn into side hustles. Even rest has to be “earned.”

    Your inner child didn’t operate like that.

    Think back to what you loved doing as a kid, drawing, dancing in your room, baking for fun, riding a bike with no destination. Try reintroducing one of those activities without attaching an outcome to it. No goals. No productivity. No posting it online.

    When you allow yourself to do something purely for enjoyment, you remind your nervous system that life doesn’t always need to be so serious.

    2. Let Yourself Be Bad at Things:

    One of the biggest blockers to fun as an adult is the fear of being bad at something. We don’t want to look silly. We don’t want to fail. We don’t want to be seen trying.

    But kids learn through mess and experimentation, not perfection.

    Sign up for a class you’ve never done before. Try painting, pottery, surfing, or learning an instrument. Give yourself full permission to be awkward, slow, and imperfect. The joy is in the trying, not the result.

    Being bad at something can actually be incredibly freeing.

    3. Create Little Moments of Play in Your Day:

    You don’t need to overhaul your life to feel more playful. Sometimes it’s about small shifts.

    Wear something fun just because. Take a longer route home if it’s prettier. Dance while making dinner. Buy the colourful mug. Order dessert for the table. Watch a movie you loved when you were younger.

    Play doesn’t have to be loud or dramatic, it can be quiet, cozy, and woven into your everyday routine.

    4. Spend Time With People Who Make You Feel Light:

    Notice how you feel after spending time with different people. Some connections feel heavy, performative, or draining. Others make you laugh, relax, and feel more like yourself.

    Your inner child thrives around people who don’t require you to explain yourself or have everything figured out.

    Make space for the friendships that feel easy. The ones where conversation flows, laughter comes naturally, and you don’t feel the need to be “on.” Feeling safe and light is one of the fastest ways back to joy.

    Tapping into your inner child isn’t about escaping adulthood, it’s about softening it. It’s about remembering that joy, curiosity, and play are not things you grow out of. They’re things you grow back into.

    Life feels lighter when you let yourself enjoy it again.

  • How to manifest without forcing (the power of gratitude).

    How to manifest without forcing (the power of gratitude).

    For the longest time, I thought manifesting was all about willpower, writing down what I wanted, visualizing it, and somehow trying to force the universe to deliver. The harder I pushed, the more frustrated I got when things didn’t show up. It felt like I was stuck in a constant loop of trying and failing, and I started wondering if manifesting was just one big scam.

    Then I realized something: manifesting doesn’t have to feel like a full-time job. In fact, forcing it usually backfires. The key isn’t in chasing; it’s in noticing. It’s in being grateful for what you already have, for the small wins, for the everyday moments that often go overlooked. Gratitude shifts your energy in a way that chasing or stressing can never do.

    I started a simple experiment on myself. Each morning, I wrote down three things I was genuinely thankful for, not “I’m grateful for coffee because it’s trendy,” but real, specific things. Maybe it was the way sunlight hit my apartment floor, a text from a friend that made me smile, or even the fact that I had clean water to drink. Over time, I noticed a shift. My mindset started feeling lighter. Opportunities that I’d normally overlook began standing out. I wasn’t forcing anything to happen, but I was more open to receiving.

    Gratitude, in its simplest form, is like telling the universe: I see what I already have, and I trust that more good things can come my way. It doesn’t mean ignoring the things you want or pretending life is perfect. It’s about balance, honoring the present while staying open to growth. And the more consistent you are, the more it becomes a habit, a natural way of seeing life’s little gifts without stress or struggle.

    Manifesting without forcing doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s not about performing rituals or hitting a checklist. It’s about pausing, noticing, and appreciating what’s here right now. Once you start practicing gratitude regularly, you’ll notice that the things you’ve been trying to manifest sometimes show up in ways you didn’t even expect, effortlessly, naturally, and often at just the right time.

    So if you’ve been trying to force outcomes or feeling frustrated that your dreams aren’t coming fast enough, try this: start with gratitude. Shift your focus from chasing to appreciating, and watch how your energy, and your life, begin to align in its own gentle, powerful way.

  • How to focus on yourself (without disappearing from the world).

    How to focus on yourself (without disappearing from the world).

    There’s this moment we all hit , usually after giving too much of ourselves to people, jobs, situations, or just the chaos of life, where you’re like, wait, when did I stop checking in with myself?

    Focusing on yourself doesn’t mean going full hermit or cutting everyone off. It’s about redirecting your energy inward for a bit. Slowing down enough to ask, what do I actually need right now?

    If you’ve been feeling stretched thin or a little lost, here are 4 ways to gently shift the focus back to you, without guilt, drama, or disappearing completely.

    1. Romanticize your solo time

    Start small. Take yourself for a drive, make your morning coffee slower, read in silence, sit in the sun. You don’t need a full “main character energy” routine to reconnect with yourself, you just need to stop filling every moment with noise.

    The more time you spend alone (and actually enjoy it), the more grounded you feel. It’s like your nervous system finally exhales.

    2. Stop tracking everyone else’s timeline

    You’re not behind. You’re not late. You’re not missing out.
    It just feels that way because we’re constantly scrolling through other people’s highlight reels.

    Remind yourself that comparison isn’t clarity. You can’t hear your own voice if you’re tuned into everyone else’s channel. When you notice yourself spiraling into “they’re doing more than me,” take a step back. Ask, “what’s one small thing I can do for my life right now?”

    It’s a quiet shift, but it changes everything.

    3. Take inventory of your energy

    Think of your energy like a bank account, every conversation, habit, or thought is a transaction.
    Start asking, is this giving or taking?

    If something constantly leaves you drained, a person, a routine, an obligation, it might be time to adjust your boundaries. Focusing on yourself is sometimes just saying “no” more often. Not out of selfishness, but out of self-preservation.

    4. Do something that reminds you who you are

    Not who you were , who you are now.
    That might mean picking up a hobby you dropped, dancing in your room again, taking a walk without your phone, or starting that project you’ve been scared to do.

    It’s so easy to lose yourself in the noise of “what’s next.” But you already know who you are, you’ve just been too distracted to notice.

    Final thought:
    Focusing on yourself isn’t about becoming some perfectly put-together version of you. It’s about getting back to the version that feels real, the one that isn’t trying so hard to prove anything.

    When you start treating yourself like someone worth prioritizing, your whole world starts to shift quietly in your favor.

  • how to mentally prepare for summer (eeek).

    how to mentally prepare for summer (eeek).

    Summer’s coming, and honestly, that’s kind of exciting.
    The energy shifts. The days stretch longer. Everything feels lighter, freer, a little bit golden. But with that comes this quiet pressure to do more, to fill every weekend, to make memories, to be “on” all the time.

    And while it’s fun to crave a main-character summer moment, it’s also okay to want something slower. Maybe this year isn’t about changing everything. Maybe it’s about actually being present for the good stuff you already have.

    Here’s how to mentally prepare for the season, without the pressure to glow up, fix yourself, or turn into a beachy Pinterest board version of you.

    1. Romanticize the real summer.

    Let’s be honest: the perfect summer doesn’t exist, but the real one? That’s where the magic is. Think: long walks at sunset, cold drinks on a warm night, hair that smells like sunscreen, music playing from someone’s car. That’s the good stuff.
    Try this: instead of planning the perfect summer, make a “feel list”, how do you want this season to feel? Calm? Playful? Free? Once you know that, build small moments that match it.

    2. Protect your peace (and your social battery)

    Summer can be social overload, plans, parties, beach days, last-minute everything. It’s easy to burn out trying to keep up with everyone else’s version of “fun.”
    Try this: be intentional with your yes’s. For every social plan, plan a recharge moment too, a solo coffee, a quiet beach walk, a day with no expectations. Summer is supposed to fill your cup, not empty it.

    3. Let “good enough” be the vibe.

    You don’t have to transform just because the season changed. You don’t have to become “that girl” or have your life together by June.
    Try this: do one thing every day that helps you feel like you. Read outside. Go for a drive. Make your favourite playlist. It’s not about being ready for summer, it’s about feeling alive in it.

    This summer isn’t about pressure. It’s about peace.
    It’s soft mornings, salty skin, laughter you didn’t plan for. It’s giving yourself permission to exist, as you are, where you are, right now.

    Same you, just a little sunnier.

  • i deleted instagram for 2 months. here’s what actually happened.

    i deleted instagram for 2 months. here’s what actually happened.

    i’ve always joked that instagram is my toxic boyfriend. i know it’s bad for me, but somehow i keep going back. the mindless scrolling, the comparing, the random dopamine hits, it’s like emotional junk food for the brain. but this year, something in me snapped. one morning, i opened the app, scrolled for two minutes, and realized i didn’t actually care about anything i was looking at. so i deleted it. no big announcement, no “digital detox” story post, i just… left.

    and honestly? it was weird at first. like my thumb kept going to the exact spot where the app used to be, as if muscle memory was exposing how addicted i really was. but after a few days, the noise started to fade, and i started noticing things. real things.

    1. i actually have time.

    turns out, when you stop scrolling through everyone else’s life, you get to live your own. shocking, i know. i didn’t realize how much time i was wasting until my weekends started to feel longer. mornings felt calmer. i was making breakfast without also mentally drafting a caption about it. there’s something strangely freeing about doing things without thinking about how they’ll look online.

    2. my brain got quieter.

    without the constant stream of opinions, aesthetics, and “inspo,” my thoughts stopped feeling so crowded. i didn’t realize how much space instagram took up in my head, always comparing, analyzing, trying to keep up. after a few weeks, i felt… lighter. more focused. i could actually sit in silence without reaching for distraction.

    3. i reached out more.

    when you’re not liking everyone’s photos, you actually text them. weird, right? i started texting friends instead of just watching their stories. i had longer conversations, met up more, and realized how much deeper connection feels offline.

    4. comparison lost its grip.

    there’s something about being away from the highlight reel that makes your own life feel more than enough. i stopped obsessing over what everyone else was doing, where they were traveling, what they were wearing. instead, i started noticing how good my own coffee tasted in the morning, how peaceful it felt to walk without headphones, how lucky i am to have the people i have.

    5. i figured out what i actually like.

    this was the most unexpected one. without being subconsciously influenced by trends, I started gravitating toward things that genuinely made me happy, not just what looked “aesthetic” or got likes. i realized i love slick back buns, minimal make-up, baggy clothes, random playlists, and long walks with no purpose. my taste, my style, my thoughts, they felt like mine again.

    stepping back from the app reminded me of something i kind of forgot: scrolling isn’t living. it’s observing. it’s watching other people’s lives through a tiny glass window. but when you shut it for a bit, you realize how much beauty is sitting quietly in your own world, your people, your routines, your quiet mornings, your bad days, your good ones.

    and life offline? it’s slower, softer, more real.
    and honestly… it feels pretty damn good.

  • Every step forward is a victory. Here’s why.

    Every step forward is a victory. Here’s why.

    We live in a world obsessed with the “big wins.” Landing the dream job. Hitting 100k followers. Finally moving into the Pinterest-perfect apartment.

    And while all of that is amazing, the truth is most of life happens in the in-between, the small, sometimes unglamorous steps no one claps for.

    But here’s what I’ve been realizing: every step forward counts as a victory.

    The problem with “all or nothing” thinking?

    How many times have you brushed off progress because it wasn’t the big thing?

    • “I only wrote one page today.”
    • “I went for a 15-minute walk, but it’s not like I ran a marathon.”
    • “I pitched one client, but I didn’t land ten.”

    We act like progress only matters when it’s massive. But the big moments are literally just stacks of small ones.

    Every time you choose to show up, whether it’s sending the email, journaling for 5 minutes, or just deciding not to give up, you’re building proof. Proof that you’re consistent, that you’re learning, that you’re moving.

    And the brain loves proof. It’s like tiny receipts that add up to self-trust.

    That’s why those little steps aren’t “meh.” They’re victories. They’re you proving to yourself that you’re capable of more than your fear wants you to believe.

    Every step forward, no matter how small, is a win. And when you start to see it that way, you stop waiting to feel “successful someday” and realize, you’re already building it today.

    Future you will thank you for the steps you’re taking now.

  • Ghosting your negative thought patterns.

    Ghosting your negative thought patterns.

    We’ve all been there, caught in a loop of overthinking, self-doubt, or that one embarrassing thing we said in 2016. Negative thought patterns have a sneaky way of making themselves at home, like uninvited guests who refuse to leave the party.

    But here’s the thing: just like you can ghost a toxic ex, you can ghost your own negative thoughts. The trick isn’t pretending they don’t exist, it’s deciding they don’t get front-row seats in your mind anymore.

    So, how do you actually do it? Here are two practical (and kind of freeing) ways to start:

    1. Call them out like a bad Tinder date.

    The next time your brain tells you: “You’re not good enough” or “You’re never going to figure this out”, don’t just accept it. Call it out. Literally say (in your head or out loud if you’re dramatic like me): “Cool story, but not true.”

    It’s wild how much power negative thoughts lose when you stop letting them be the authority. Label them for what they are, fear, insecurity, old conditioning, and move on.

    Think of it as swiping left on mental clutter.

    2. Replace the story with a better one.

    Ghosting isn’t just ignoring, it’s choosing something better for yourself. Once you’ve called out the negative thought, replace it with a new story.

    Example:
    Negative thought: “I’ll never be successful.”
    Replacement: “I’m still learning, but every step I take is proof I’m building something real.”

    You don’t have to jump from zero to “I’m a billionaire genius” (though hey, manifest away). Just shift the story into something that feels possible, true, and kind.

    Ghosting your negative thought patterns doesn’t mean you’ll never overthink or spiral again. You’re human. The goal is to stop letting those thoughts run the show. Every time you call them out and rewrite the story, you’re proving to yourself that you’re in charge, not the voice in your head.

    And honestly? That’s the kind of glow-up no one can take from you.

  • How to be non-toxic.

    How to be non-toxic.

    Let’s be real, no one wants to admit it, but we’ve all had moments where we overreacted, got defensive, or just plain made things about ourselves. Being non-toxic isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being self-aware, thoughtful, and willing to grow. Here are some simple ways to keep your energy healthy for yourself and the people around you:

    1. Stop Making Everything an Issue

    Not every little thing needs a reaction. Sometimes, it’s fine to let things slide. Not every word, action, or mistake has to become a debate. Chill a little. Your energy will thank you, and so will the people around you.

    2. Stop Reacting to Everything

    Pause before responding. Take a breath. Ask yourself: Does this actually matter? Not every comment or situation needs your emotional energy. Reacting less doesn’t make you weak, it makes you in control.

    3. Learn to Be Supportive

    Celebrate others’ wins, listen without judgment, and offer help without expecting anything in return. Support isn’t transactional, it’s about genuinely caring. When you lift others up, you lift yourself too.

    4. Don’t Let Insecurity Drive You

    Jealousy, comparison, and defensiveness often come from insecurity. When you feel triggered, pause and reflect: What am I really afraid of? The more you work on self-confidence, the less you’ll project negativity onto others.

    5. Humble Yourself

    Ego is a fast track to toxicity. Be willing to step back, admit you don’t know everything, and let others have their moment. Humility doesn’t make you small, it makes you approachable and trustworthy.

    6. Admit Your Mistakes

    Nobody’s perfect. Saying “I messed up” is far more powerful than insisting you’re always right. Owning your errors builds respect and keeps resentment from creeping into relationships.

    7. Be Thankful

    Gratitude is one of the easiest ways to detox your mind. When you focus on what’s good, you naturally stop obsessing over what’s not. A little appreciation goes a long way, for yourself and for others.

    Bottom line: being non-toxic isn’t about controlling others or suppressing your emotions. It’s about taking responsibility for your energy, being mindful of your reactions, and choosing growth over defensiveness.

    Small shifts, big impact, the more you practice, the more effortless it becomes.

  • 4 ways to feel more positive (even on the messy days).

    4 ways to feel more positive (even on the messy days).

    Let’s be real, life isn’t always Instagram-perfect. Some days you wake up, spill coffee on your shirt, and wonder if anything’s actually going right. But positivity doesn’t have to be some grand, unattainable state. Sometimes it’s just about the little things that help you shift your vibe. Here are four ways I try to feel a bit lighter, even when life gets messy:

    1. Move Your Body Without Pressure

    You don’t need a full workout or an intense gym session. Walks without a destination, dancing around your room to that one album you’ve been obsessed with, or even stretching while your coffee brews, all of it helps shift your energy. Moving your body reminds your brain that you’re alive, capable, and ready for whatever comes next.

    2. Give Yourself Small Wins

    Positivity grows when you actually see yourself doing things, even tiny things. Make your bed, finish that podcast episode you’ve been putting off, or make yourself a snack you genuinely enjoy. These small wins tell your brain, “I’m doing okay, actually.”

    3. Curate Your Mental Diet

    What you consume affects your mood. Music, books, podcasts, even the social media accounts you follow, all of it adds to your mental landscape. Surround yourself with things that uplift, inspire, or entertain you, not just things that stress you out or make you compare.

    4. Celebrate the Small Joys

    It sounds cliché, but noticing little things makes a difference. That matcha you’ve been obsessed with, a hilarious show you can’t stop bingeing, a cute outfit, or just the sunset on your evening walk, these tiny moments are the fuel for positivity.

    Bottom line: positivity isn’t about ignoring the hard stuff. It’s about creating pockets of light, energy, and comfort in your day, the things that remind you life isn’t only chaos.

    Sometimes it’s just that small shift that makes the whole day feel a little brighter.

  • A few things I’m loving rn.

    A few things I’m loving rn.

    Life feels a little less overwhelming when you slow down and notice the little things that are currently making you happy. Here’s a list of what I’ve been obsessed with lately, the random mix of music, drinks, hobbies, and small joys that are making my days feel more like me.

    1. G-Eazy’s HELIUM album (on repeat, literally)
    I don’t think a day has gone by without me playing this album. It’s one of those soundtracks that just gets under your skin in the best way, moody, therapeutic, nostalgic, but also motivating in a weird way. There’s something about having an album on repeat that feels comforting, like you’re creating the backdrop to your own movie.

    2. Justin Bieber’s Swag album
    Okay… Justin came back with this album and it’s everything I didn’t know I needed. It has that confident, playful Bieber energy but still hits you with emotion in the right places. It’s been giving me 2010s nostalgia while still feeling super fresh and artistic. I catch myself humming it while making coffee, which is basically the ultimate stamp of approval.

    3. Matcha Frios (my current personality trait)
    I’m in my matcha era. I don’t know what it is, but an ice-cold matcha frio feels like therapy in a cup. Maybe it’s the earthy flavour, maybe it’s the ritual of sipping something green and aesthetic, but it’s definitely become my go-to little pick-me-up.

    4. Reading weird poetry
    Lately I’ve been gravitating toward poetry that doesn’t necessarily make sense right away. The kind that feels more like a vibe than a structured story. There’s something freeing about reading words that just exist for beauty and emotion, without needing to be “solved.”

    5. Vintage-style sunglasses
    Big, bold, slightly over-the-top sunglasses have become a part of my identity. They’re dramatic but effortless, and the right pair can make you feel like the main character even if you’re just running errands. I love anything vintage that has some real character.

    6. Making jewelry
    This has been my creative outlet lately. There’s something so grounding about sitting down with beads, chains, and wire, and turning them into something you can actually wear. It’s almost meditative, plus, it feels good to make something tangible in a world that’s mostly digital.

    It’s funny how these little obsessions come together to paint a picture of where I’m at right now, nostalgic, creative, slightly caffeinated, and finding joy in small, beautiful details.