5. When something’s wrong, I bite my nails.

Over time, I’ve learnt the importance of listening to my body, I mean, a lot of things are hard to ignore when they’re screaming. With Easter just around the corner, I became lenient with every routine I’ve had and it’s taken a toll on my entire being; because I only seem to realise such deterioration of the inside when there is deterioration of the outside, because when something is wrong – I bite my nails.

The consequences of a stormy mind are nothing short of dire because it’s easy to forget that routine is a form of regulation, and you owe yourself that. When you’re lenient, all the little leniencies begin to catch up on you and your body pays the price.

It’s time to pay attention to yourself and everything your body is telling you. There is reason behind why you feel so tired, why you’re in pain and more prone to catching a cold. Any and all thoughts reside in your brain, which is part of your body, which carries you. So, you better had look after it.

Think of it as running low; you’re trudging along the muddy shores of should of’s and could of’s and your tired boots are caked with negligence of the fact that there’s no-one chasing you in this marathon.

I read somewhere that “one thing about people who have hit rock bottom is they’ve looked at every corner, every wall and floorboard, [and so] the only way left is to look up.” So, when you feel like you’ve hit your rock bottom, break it down into what matters.

The 3 fundamentals: FOOD, WATER, MOVEMENT – going back to basics is all you need to start steering yourself back on track.

Eat meals, not snacks. You’re fuelling your body for the long run, not just the sprint. Next is water, in every sense. Hydration is something everyone forgets, so find a bottle and get serious about it. Just as water cleanses the inside, keep on top of your hygiene; go have a shower and do your hair. Finally, movement can be as simple as going on a walk for not everyone has to run – and all of it matters. When you’re not tending to these fundamentals, encompass it all in solid nights of sleep.

An absolute bonus is to reconnect with your inner child. Reground with the innocence of yourself and revisit you at your core. Simply playing the Sims 4 or kicking a ball about seems to work for me (I fell to my knees yesterday because I broke my personal record for keepy uppies.)

If it sometimes takes a lack of fingernail to put the last nail in the coffin to notice something is going wrong, just know it’s never too late to get back in touch with you.

“you’re trudging along the muddy shores of should of’s and could of’s and your tired boots are caked with negligence of the fact that there’s no-one chasing you in this marathon.”