Self-Care for Anxiety in a Busy World: My Journey Back to Balance

"Instead of focusing on the uncertainty of the future, I tune into the sounds, colours, scents, and shifting light."

I haven’t posted anything for a while.

I took some time off during the summer, knowing it would be a busy season. And it was. Friends and family came to visit, which was lovely, but it also meant my usual routine was disrupted and I had more people to look after. Even though I had a break from my counselling work, I felt mentally exhausted by the end of summer. I decided to give myself another two weeks off, hoping it would help me recover.

During those two weeks, I found it surprisingly hard to relax. I felt constantly alert and tense. Sometimes anxiety crept in without a clear reason. Everyday life felt overwhelming, as though I couldn’t handle the outside world. My anxiety worsened when I read the news: climate change, wars, AI development, the economy. The world and the future felt unpredictable and, to be honest, scary. I realised I had to pay extra attention to my mental health during this time, and focus on practical self-care for anxiety.

I spent a lot of time in my garden because it brings me peace. My worries fade when I’m tending to the plants. Instead of focusing on the uncertainty of the future, I tune into the sounds, colours, scents, and shifting light. The fragrance of herbs like rosemary and mint grounds me, the breeze through the trees soothes me, and when sunlight catches the petals of a flower, they glow like translucent porcelain. Gardening also gives me a sense of empowerment. By gardening in an environmentally friendly way and creating food and shelter for wildlife, I feel I am doing something positive for the earth and making the world just a little bit better. For me, gardening for mental health has become a powerful way to reconnect with calm and regain perspective.

I also set clearer boundaries. Saying “no” isn’t easy for me. I don’t like disappointing people, and I often feel guilty if I can’t meet expectations. But I’ve learned that constantly saying “yes” often comes at the cost of my own wellbeing. As both a counsellor and an introvert, I know I need solitude to process, recharge, and simply breathe. By giving myself permission to step back, I protected the space I need to feel grounded. It isn’t about rejecting people, but about choosing when and how I can show up for them in a way that’s sustainable. Respecting my limits actually helps me to be more present and supportive when I do engage.

I also changed the way I engage with the news. Staying informed matters—I want to understand what’s happening in the world. But I realised there’s a point where information stops being useful and starts becoming overwhelming. The constant flow of updates thrives on urgency, and if I take in too much, I end up carrying stress that isn’t mine to hold. Now I choose specific times to check reliable sources and give myself permission to switch off. This doesn’t mean ignoring reality. It means recognising that I’m steadier, kinder, and more effective when I don’t drown in information I can’t control. This shift has been one of my most effective strategies for coping with overwhelm.

Life is full of ups and downs, and it’s normal not to feel good emotionally at times. It’s a bit like catching a cold. When our minds are “under the weather,” we need to pause and care for ourselves. For me, that has meant gardening for grounding, setting boundaries to preserve energy, and being intentional with how I consume news to protect my mental space. Just as we rest, nourish ourselves, and wrap up warm when we’re physically unwell, tending to our inner world with the same care can help us recover too.

I share this because I know many of us face similar challenges—feeling drained after a busy season, struggling with boundaries, or being overwhelmed by the world around us. What small acts of care help you restore balance when life feels overwhelming?