Feeling Unhinged

Lately, a lot of people are feeling off—unsettled, anxious, maybe even a little unhinged. It makes sense. We’re trying to get through the last of our winter days, the flu is everywhere, and political shifts are stirring up uncertainty. Add the cold, the gray, and the daily grind, and it’s easy to feel like you’re barely holding it together.

But you don’t have to stay in that space. Here’s how to regain your footing:

1. Create a Sacred Routine

When everything feels chaotic, structure is your anchor. It doesn’t have to be complicated—just one ritual you do every day, no matter what. Light a candle with your morning coffee. Stretch for five minutes before bed. Meditate. The key is consistency. A predictable rhythm sends a message to your nervous system: You’re safe. You’re okay.

Right now, to help me feel on top of the household tasks and to tamper my resentment feeling like I have to do it all myself, we have initiated a “10 Minute Clean-Up” every night after dinner. We all meet in the kitchen, I set the timer and we count down- 1..2..3…Go! We focus on the most used areas of our home- kitchen, playroom and living room but are flexible when other areas of the house need attention (mostly due to neglect). It is incredible what can be done in 10 minutes. If you want to hear more about this; assigning tasks according to developmental age, how we got through the first two weeks of whining and protesting, etc., let me know!

2. Do One Small Extra Self-Care Practice

Not an overhaul—just one small thing. A cup of hot tea in the afternoon. A few deep breaths between tasks. Hand lotion that actually smells good. Self-care doesn’t have to be an event; it can be a pause. A moment of kindness to yourself in a day that might otherwise steamroll you.

Right now, I am having fun with makeup; watching tutorial videos on Youtube, experimenting with new techniques, buying a few reasonably priced items at Ulta and the grocery store. It feels really nice to get ready for the day with a little extra attention paid to how I present myself.

Another example is taking a deep breath as I want for the automatic doors to close on my minivan. For some reason, my new van doesn’t allow you to lock the car until all the doors are shut. When I am carting my kids around my hands are full and I don’t always have my keys in my hand. But I have reframed this annoying design feature and used it as an opportunity to stop rushing and take two (or three) deep breaths while I am waiting for the doors to close.

3. Create (and Schedule) Things to Look Forward To

When everything feels like drudgery, give your brain something to anticipate. A dinner date next weekend. A cozy movie night on Friday. A trip to the fancy grocery store just because. Put it on the calendar. Sometimes, having something ahead is enough to pull you through the in-between.

I have joked with my friends that I want to throw a F!*ng February party where I invite all my friends and we get dressed up super fancy just because February sucks and no one does anything in February. I have yet to make this party dream into a reality probably because it is such a huge task, which is more reason to plan smaller, more realistic events.

4. Break the “Same Old” Routine with One Small Change

When every day feels like a copy of the last, switch something up. Take a different route to work. Try a new recipe. Rearrange your living room. You don’t have to reinvent your life—just disrupt the autopilot enough to remind yourself that things can feel different.

5. Reflect

Right now can be the perfect time to start a journaling practice. Invest in a nice journal and write about what you’re going through. Reflected experience is the most valuable and it will be the only way to know if the above strategies are helping or not. And who knows, maybe in ten years you’ll look back on this time fondly and want to remember it, at least that’s what all the Boomers with grown kids keep telling me. There are so many ways to journal; write one sentence a day, gratitude journal, morning pages, or simply writing a log of what you did that day, so if you feel like journaling “doesn’t work for you”, then find a method that you can look forward to.

The world might feel shaky right now, but you don’t have to be. Small, intentional choices add up. You’re not powerless. You’re not unraveling. You just need a little grounding. Start small. Anchor in. You’ve got this.

Which brings me to the second part of this topic. Sometimes it just. doesn’t. work. Ohio winters are hardddd and I have a friend who especially doesn’t like the cold winter months. I thought having her voice on this subject might be interesting. Go to Apple Podcasts or Spotify to listen!