Strategic Wander

Why Are Scandinavians So Happy?

I think the “World Happiness Report” is pretty self-explanatory. It takes into account different factors ranging from the use of technology to social norms and ranks the happiest countries in the world. Since the first World Happiness Report in 2012, Scandinavian countries have topped the list. If you’ve been there, you know why. But from the outside looking in, there could be some curiosity. The question is: Why are Scandinavians so happy?

Why Are Scandinavians So Happy? 3 Reasons

There’s no science behind forthcoming content, and while there are some reports here and there, these three reasons are why I think there’s an abundance of happiness in Scandinavia. If you’ve been (or are going), you may have a different opinion. If so, leave a comment below.

Reason #1: The Work-life Balance Sways Toward Life

More than half of Americans have an unhealthy work-life balance. I’d bet every penny to my name that that number is significantly lower in Scandinavia. Actually, I don’t have to bet. According to the OECD’s “How’s Life” survey, only about 1.1% of Sweden’s employees work very long hours, while 2% of employees in Denmark work long hours.

Not convinced? Consider this:

According to Expert Market, Norwegians work an average of 1,424 hours per year, which is quite a bit less than most countries. Americans, on average, work 359 hours more or about 45 extra days, if my math is correct.

So, I think it’s safe to say that a work-life balance that leans toward life is at the heart of their happiness. I’d even go as far as saying that Scandinavians have a ferocious dedication to living.

Here are a few points to back that up:

Vacation Time: Denmark, Sweden, and Norway have laws mandating a minimum of five weeks of paid vacation.

Maternity & Paternity Leave: New Swedish parents get 480 days (per child) of paid leave while receiving 80% of their salary. Expectant mothers can get free childbirth coaching 60 days into the pregnancy, can reduce their normal working hours by up to 25% until their child turns 8, and can receive a monthly child allowance until their child turns 16.

Total Flexibility: Since the 1990s, Finland’s Working Hours Act has allowed people to adjust their start or end times by up to three hours. As if that weren’t enough, effective January 2020, Finland allows employees to determine the timing and location of their work for at least half of their regular working hours.

Of course, rules and regulations differ from country to country; however, the overall theme remains the same: Life comes first.

Reason #2: Mother Nature

Spend any amount of time in Scandinavia and you’ll quickly realize its natural beauty. Norway’s fjords, the Swedish Laplands, Iceland’s Blue Lagoon, the Northern Lights, and my favorite, The Lofoten Island, don’t even begin to cover the list of must-see places.

The Lofoten Islands
Source: John O’Nolan

I still remember one of my nights in Norway. After a day of exploring, we hopped in the car and drove for what seemed like hours through the snow-kissed mountain roads. When we got to our destination, there was nothing — and that was why it was so beautiful. The land was flat for as far as I could see. There was snow above my head. The night sky was completely wide open, in colors I’d never seen before. There was no light pollution. The only sounds came from the wind and the animals. (See the image below.)

Now, I should have prefaced this by saying that I’m fully aware that there’s a ton of natural beauty in the United States. But, here’s why I think this natural beauty makes people happier: Scandinavian culture truly values the outdoors; it’s in their DNA. Anna Vuonia, a consular officer from Helsinki said in an interview, “I realize that Finns do spend a lot of time outdoors and in nature. Even in winter, we always try to find ways to go hiking or walking. Here (in New York City), I’m struggling to find time to do all that.” A similar message came from Josh Dickstein, a dual US-Norwegian citizen. He said, “This society is designed for people to not be in a car. Norway isn’t interested in making exercise a compartmented part of your life, it’s supposed to be your lifestyle. People go to the gym, but they’re not running. They’re running outside. They’re biking in the mountains.”

Reason #3: There’s an Overwhelming Sense of Calm

This reason is from personal experience, and I’ll give you two examples to help paint this picture. I took a train to Oslo, Norway. I wasn’t staying there; just stopping and then driving to Koppang. That said, I spent a few hours exploring as much of Norway’s capitol as possible. The highlights included the Oslo Opera House and the Freia chocolate factory. At the end of exploring, I stopped at a bakery (I can’t remember the name) to grab a quick bite. I tried to order. I really did, but the language barrier wouldn’t move. So, the people I was staying with stepped in to help me order my pastry. Leading up to that point, however, the employee as well as the long line behind me didn’t complain. It was business as usual. No rush. Total calm and patience, which you don’t always get elsewhere in the world.

Freia Chocolate. Oslo, Norway
Source: Me

Second example: My flight from JFK to Copenhagen had a layover in Finland. You can imagine my disappointment when I looked at the on-plane flight tracker to see that we were flying over Denmark only to have to turn around. I’m always down to step foot in another country, but after 8 hours crammed in economy with the person in front of me reclining the entire time, I was ready to deplane. Nevertheless, we landed in Finland—and missed our connecting flight. Not a big deal, but we had to sort it out. I can’t express it enough: This was the easiest and most hassle-free experience I’ve ever had at an airport. It was so refreshing and a welcome experience after the flight.

How to Adopt a More Scandinavian Way of Life (and Be Happier)

I don’t want to be happy, said no one ever. However, when it comes to prolonged happiness, Scandinavians have it figured out. This was immediately apparent when I visited in 2018, but obviously, a long-term stay wasn’t an option. So, the question became: How can I apply this way of life at home?

When All Else Fails, Go Outside

If anything good has come out of the pandemic, it’s that I’ve grown fond of walking and now find myself walking several times a day. It took a bit to notice the positive impact of walking, but eventually, I realized the power of the outdoors.

Prioritize Being Calm

If I was to write down everything that’s ever made me anxious—or ignited my anxiety and OCD—I bet I could have maneuvered around the majority of them by just taking a step back and focusing on my breath. So, now whenever I feel like my brain is about to turn on me, I try to put things into perspective and ask myself if this situation will really have a long-term impact on my life. I also rely heavily on my hygge-optimized home to keep me calm.

I don’t know exactly why Scandinavians are so happy, although The World Happiness Report points to some pretty definitive reasons. For me, however, all that matters is that when I visited, I was the happiest I’ve ever been. And since the week and a half in 2018, I’ve tried my darndest.

Why Are Scandinavians So Happy? Final Thoughts

I don’t think we’ll ever know for sure why people living in Scandinavian countries are so happy. That said, we can make an extremely educated guess.

If we zoom out and look at Scandinavian culture from the outside, a few things stick out—all of which almost certainly contribute to their happiness: a good work-life balance, nature, and a sense of calm.

With this information, anyone living outside of Scandinavia’s borders can begin optimizing their lives for happiness. Before long, the question will go from “why are Scandinavians so happy?” to “why are you so happy?”

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There’s no shortage of ways to spend your time in New York City, but when most people think of things to do, they default to the many attractions, restaurants, concerts, and sporting events. For some, this can be stressful. But there’s an entirely separate world to explore—one that doesn’t involve much concrete. I’m talking about gardens. So, if you’re like me and want to carve out some time for a more serene setting, here’s a list of the best gardens in NYC.

The Best Gardens in NYC

Despite being named the “concrete jungle,” NYC is home to a lot of green space. Some are famous—like Central Park—while others prefer to maintain their “hidden gem” status. Still, there’s a lot to see, so start exploring. Here’s where I would start.

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Brooklyn

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s founding came at an inflection point for New York City as it transitioned to an urban oasis. Today, Brooklyn Botanic Garden “connects people to the world of plants, fostering delight and curiosity while inspiring an appreciation and sense of stewardship of the environment.” Today, you can see everything from Bird of Paradise, Chinese Juniper, Red Maple Bonsais, and a ton more. It’s a spectaular place.

See what’s in bloom each month at The Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Fun Fact: The Children’s Garden Program started in 1918. This one-acre vegetable garden, which offered a place for children can grow their own food plants, was the first of its kind.

Conservatory Garden
Central Park

Central Park-Conservatory Garden, 09.20.14, gigi_nyc

The Conservatory Garden is the famed Central Park’s formal garden. Built in the footprint of a pre-twentieth-century conservatory, the park’s only formal garden is now home to an array of tulips, lilacs, crabapple trees, summer perennials, and chrysanthemums.

The Conservatory Garden is separated into three areas: The French-style North Garden, the Italianate Center Garden, and the English-style South Garden, which each offer a stunningly unique experience. PS. Don’t miss Shakespeare Garden, which I love given its proximity to Swedish Cottage.

Fun Fact: The entry gate was a gift from Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney and once adorned the mansion of Cornelius Vanderbilt II.

The Ramble
Central Park

Looking for more green space in Central Park? Go check out The Ramble. This 36-acre woodland experience is magical. It officially opened in 1859, aiming to bring the forests of upstate New York to the hustle and bustle of New York City. It still does that decades later.

Whether you’re there for birdwatching, mindless wandering, a hike, or just some relaxation, The Ramble will not disappoint. Oh, and while you’re there, don’t forget to take a few pictures of The Lake, Bethesda Terrace, and Belvedere Castle. You’ll thank me later.

Fun Fact: Central Park was the first landscaped public park in the United States.

Battery Park
Manhattan

Looking for a garden with an interesting past? If so, add Battery Park to your list. While you’re taking in the beautiful gardens, you’ll also get the chance to see Castle Garden, which served as America’s first immigrant depot—even before Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. If you ask me, Battery Park is the perfect mix of nature and history.

Fun Fact: In addition to being an immigration depot, the structure has also served as a fort, theater, opera house, and aquarium throughout its long history.

West Side Community Garden
Manhattan

West Side Community Garden has an interesting past as well. In fact, the garden rests on a once trash-ridden vacant lot. Before that, the present state of the garden served as George Washington’s HQ. Today, the West Side Community Garden, the only privately owned example of its kind in the city, offers a pleasant respite from the mayhem of Manhattan.

Fun Fact: It was the scene of the Orange Riot of 1878, which saw Catholic Irish clash with Protestant Irish in celebrating the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne.

Heather Garden
Manhattan

Heather Garden, located in Fort Tryon Park, brings 3 acres of trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals of all colors, textures, and interests to the heart of Manhattan. Opened in 1935 under the tutelage of the Olmsted Brothers architectural firm, a renovation cost the garden much of its beauty, but a facelift in the 1980s brought it back to its original form.

Fun Fact: The Olmsted Brothers inherited the country’s first landscape architecture business from their father.

Creative Little Garden
Manhattan

For what it lacks in size, The Creative Little Garden makes up for in ambiance. Located in Manhattan’s East Village, the garden is maintained by volunteers with members working together to keep the garden in tip-top shape. Not a member? No problem. The garden is open to anyone looking to relax.

Fun Fact: The garden was renovated by GrowNYC in 2004 with funding from the Greenacre Foundation.

New York Botanical Garden
The Bronx

Bronx – NYBG: KUSAMA: Cosmic Nature – Hymn of Life–Tulips, Wally Gobetz

The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) is located on a 250-acre site that contains a landscape with over one million living plants (1 MILLION!). You’ll also find the LuEsther T. Mertz Library and one of the world’s largest collections of botany-related texts. If this is getting you excited, you’re not alone—over a million people visit the NYBG every year. That’s a plant for every visitor.

Snug Harbor Botanical Gardens
Staten Island

NYC – Staten Island – Sailors’ Snug Harbor: Staten Island Botanic Gardens – Allee, Wally Gobetz

Snug Harbor has been around the block; it was built in the 1800s as a home for retired sailors. (See below.) Today, Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden is home to nearly two dozen historical buildings, nine botanical gardens, and 10 acres of wetlands. You’ll also find the Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, the Noble Maritime Collection, Staten Island Children’s Museum, the arts school Art Lab and the Staten Island Museum.

Fun Fact: The Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Gardens is an affiliate of The Smithsonian Institution.

The New York Chinese Scholar Garden

New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden, Peter Miller

The New York Chinese Scholar Garden (NYCSG) brings the gardens of China to Staten Island. (Note: The NYCSG is one of the gardens inside the walls of Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden.) Most of what you’ll see at the NYCSG was fabricated in China, including the roof tiles, bridges, and doors. During your time in the garden, you’ll come across pavilions, a bamboo forest path, waterfalls, a Koi pond, and a whole lot more.

Gardens in NYC: More Greenspace Than You Think

Sure, NYC is known for its attractions, restaurants, and Broadway shows, and those are all fantastic. But for those who need a respite from the craziness, there are options, including a ton of gardens. So don’t be confused by NYC’s nickname—there’s a whole lot more than concrete.

8 of the Best Walking Tours in NYC for Stress-free Fun

New York City

10 Incredibly Relaxing Things to Do in NYC

Why Are Scandinavians So Happy?

The traffic. The horns. The crowds. The complex (at least, to me) transit system. All of this madness can make New York City a stressful place to spend any amount of time, which can be worrisome for people who aren’t accustomed to the hustle and bustle. I’m one of those people and since I moved to the area, I’ve realized that much of the Big Apple doesn’t mesh well with my mental health. But I wasn’t going to let that stop me from exploring, so here are ten relaxing things to do in NYC.

Relaxing Things to Do in NYC in 2022

The High Line

If you’re looking for an incredibly relaxing activity in NYC while also doing something that’s completely contradictory to what you’d expect from the Big Apple, head to the High Line.

Built on a historic, elevated rail line, the High Line is a public park located on the West Side of Manhattan that offers an almost out-of-world experience. In a city with more than 8.5 million inhabitants and even more tourists, it feels wrong to have the chance to stroll through something so peaceful.

But that’s exactly what you can do at the High Line.

Spend any amount of time walking through the gardens, looking at the art, watching a performance, or having a bite to eat, and you’ll see what I mean.

Aire Ancient Baths

Aire Ancient Baths are—hands down—one of the most relaxing ways you can spend your time in New York City. Nestled in a pre-twentieth-century building in Tribeca, Aire Ancient Baths tackles stress and elicits relaxation with thermal baths and massages—all in an environment reminiscent of Ancient Roman, Greek, and Ottoman civilizations.

Spending time here won’t be cheap—it’ll cost you anywhere between $125 to $836 per person—but if you’re in the area and have the means, it’s worth every penny.

New York Public Library

Don’t want to spend your entire budget in one place? Check out The New York Public Library instead. Since 1895, the NYPL has been an essential provider of books, information, ideas, and education for millions of New Yorkers. Today, the library system offers close to 100,000 free programs, like author talks and exhibitions. Of course, if you don’t have time for a program, nothing’s more relaxing than browsing the shelves and sitting down with a good book.

Keep in mind that if you plan on stopping here, you’ll need a library card (restricted to NYS residents).

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) is one of the largest art museums in the world (top-to-toe with the Vatican Museums and The Louvre), containing more than two million works, including “Washington Crossing the Delaware” by Emanuel Leutze and “Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat” by Vincent van Gogh. Pretty neat, right? For any art lover, The Met is a must.

The 2.2-million-square-foot building, located at 1000 5th Avenue, is a massive maze of art sectioned into seventeen departments, giving you the chance to see art from Africa and Oceania to the Americas and Egypt.

While a complete tour of the museum will set you back 3-5 hours—and even more if you’re a big plaque reader—any time spent at The Met will be a welcome break from the commotion of the city.

Admission to The Met: Adults $25; Seniors (65 and over) $17; Students $12; Free for Members, Patrons, and children under 12

Any Coffee Shop

If you’re looking for a relaxing time, you can’t go wrong with a coffee shop. Offering a uniquely calm atmosphere, the more than 3,000 coffee shops in New York City can act as a gathering place for friends, family, and a quiet respite or pit-stop for caffeine on an otherwise hectic day.

Cool NYC Coffee Shops

Lenox Coffee
Stumptown Coffee Roasters
Birch Coffee

The Strand

If you fancy a good coffee shop, you’ll like the endless shelves inside the walls of Strand Book Store. A fixture in NYC for nearly one hundred years, you’ll find a fascinating curation of new, used, and rare books bound to get anyone in their happy place. (Pun intended.) Before going, however, keep in mind that The Strand is a hopping place, so if you’re looking for a serene experience while you browse, you’ll be sorely disappointed. If that’s what you’re looking for, opt for Argosy Book Store, McNally Jackon, BookCourt, or one of my favorites, Kinokuniya.

The Uncommons

I’m not the biggest board-gamer—at least not yet—but if you are and rely on games to ease your mind, The Uncommon is for you. If you’re not familiar with the place, think of it as a game-store- and coffee-shop hybrid that offers a unique assortment of both common and, well, uncommon games, including Catan, Cards Against Humanity, 7 Wonders, Magic: TCG, and A Game of Thrones: The Board Game.

Brooklyn Botanical Garden

Spending time in Brooklyn? Make sure you carve out some time to stroll through Brooklyn Botanic Garden and take in 52 acres of some of the best urban gardening and horticultural displays. I’m a big fan of Aquatic House, which is home to plants from the garden’s orchid collection in addition to a variety of tropical and subtropical aquatic and wet-environment plants from around the world. And if you’re looking for something more than just smelling the roses—proverbial or not—you can plan your visit around activities like Yoga in the Garden.

The Met Cloisters Museum & Gardens

Didn’t get your art and garden fixes at The Met or Brooklyn Botanical Garden? Well, you’re in luck. The Met Cloisters has plenty more for you to see. Located in Fort Tryon Park, the uptown branch of The Met is America’s only museum dedicated exclusively to the art of the Middle Ages, giving you the rare opportunity to experience the rich tradition of medieval artistic production, including metalwork, painting, sculpture, and textiles. And do it all while shuffling through the cloisters (covered walkways) that surround a large open courtyard, providing access to other monastic buildings.

SoJo Spa Club

Admittedly, the SoJo Spa Club isn’t in NYC, but it’s close enough that you can easily make it part of your exploration. Located in Edgewater, NJ—just 10ish miles away from Manhattan—the SoJo Spa Club offers an unparalleled wellness experience that includes outdoor pools and baths, saunas and therapy rooms, a bathhouse, and more. There’s even coworking space if you want to add some relaxation to your workday.

Central Park

I mean, come on. Open a good book on a bench, walk the perimeter of the lake, visit Shakespeare Garden, stroll through The Ramble or fill your time with dozens of other activities and attractions. When it comes to relaxing in New York City, there’s no better place than Central Park.

A Walking Tour

This is a little more open-ended than the relaxing ideas listed above, but I’d be remiss not to mention walking tours on my list of relaxing things to do in NYC since 99% of them require you to do nothing more than showing up…and walk. Unsurprisingly, there are a lot of them around the city, but a quick Google search will show you some awesome options, no matter what you want to do. Two of my favorites are the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Tour and New York Catacombs by Candlelight.

Just Walk

If all else fails, you’ve exhausted all of your options, or don’t want to spend any more money, just walk. A stroll—however long it may be—in New York City is one of the most relaxing things you can do.

If you do find yourself opting for a walk around the city, I’d suggest at least doing a bit of research before you start putting one foot in front of the other. While New York City can be a good place for a mindless meander, getting lost won’t exactly help you stay relaxed.

Relaxing in NYC: It’s Easier Than You May Think

I’ll admit that I don’t always think of New York City as a place that oozes relaxation. I’m sure a lot of people feel the same way. Despite that, however, NYC can be a relaxing place. Whether you want to take a mindless stroll, go birdwatching in Central Park, browse The Strand or something in between, there’s no shortage of relaxing things to do in NYC.

5 Ways My Mental Health Has Affected My Family

I always thought that my mental health was a “me” thing. After all, it was my brain on the fritz. This is the assumption I operated under for over a decade. Selfishly, albeit unintentionally, I thought the unstable nature of my mental health only affected me. Well, I was wrong. It affected my family, especially my parents, too.

Here are 5 ways my mental health has affected my family—and what we could have done differently.

They Blame Themselves

I’ve done a lot of research on mental health, and from my understanding, the earlier you identify a mental illness and intervene, the better. Said another way, the earlier you notice something isn’t quite right and begin addressing it with medication and therapy, the less severe it could be down the road.

Unfortunately, hindsight is 20/20 and this doesn’t always happen. In fact, the average delay between when symptoms first appear and intervention is approximately 11 years. I’d say my gap was about half that, but a lot of that was on me. For years, I hid my feelings and masked my symptoms as stress from school and pressure from sports. But looking back, there were some abundantly clear signs that something was off and my family feels responsible for not intervening sooner.

They Feel Helpless

My OCD comes with a lot of reassurance.

“Did I touch that?”

“Did I lock the door?”

“Is the stove still on?”

“Did I just eat poison?”

Since I was living at home during my darkest days, these questions and a host of other types of reassurance tactics landed squarely on my family. While I think it’s normal for one to turn to their family in times of need, they didn’t know how to respond or act when I came to them for help. So, they basically guessed at what they thought I needed and wanted to hear. Unfortunately for them, they rarely got it right, causing my symptoms to intensify and things to spiral even more. As a result, my family often felt helpless and like they couldn’t do anything right.

They Feel Alone

I was always home, so when I say my family, specifically my parents, felt alone, I don’t mean literally. I never left. What I mean is that they were isolated from everyone else they loved, including their friends

When my OCD was at its worst, I spent hours making sure our house was “clean;” that there wasn’t anything inside its walls that could spark my OCD and compulsive thoughts. I did this at all costs, so you better I was going to put up a fuss if they wanted to have someone over. This meant no friends over for birthdays, reunions with long-lost high school friends. Nothing. It was my mom, dad, me, and the dogs. Looking back, I see how lonely this must have been.

They Don’t Feel Loved

Let me explain because I absolutely love my family. My OCD makes me avoid a lot of things—a lot of very normal things that families do on a regular basis. Like, hugging, for example. Similar to how I tried to avoid people coming into the house, I did the same with physical touch. I did everything in my power to keep my body “safe.” To me, hugging would mess that up.

So, I did the obvious thing and put the kibosh on any hugs, no matter what. While I simply saw this as avoidance and a way to keep my OCD in check, my family, specifically my mom, took this a completely different way. She thought I didn’t love her, when in reality, all I wanted (and needed) was love.

They Feel Uncertain

OCD Is a fickle beast. Heck, I don’t even know how it’s going to act most of the time. While I now have a firm grasp on it, there were years when I didn’t. There was a level of uncertainty that I can’t explain.

Of course, I wasn’t the only one experiencing uncertainty. The fickle nature of my OCD confused the crap out of my parents and left them confused as to what I wanted, what was bothering me at that time, and what they could do to help. A tall task, I know. My family walked on eggshells for years.

A Retrospective: What We Could Have Done Differently

As I sit here editing this, I realize how awful this all makes me look; how controlling the OCD made me. And that sucks and I’m not denying it. But OCD has a grip on so many facets of my life and no matter how bad I know they’re affecting people, including my parents, there wasn’t anything I could do to rid myself of the feelings. I tried. Trust me.

So, looking back, what could we all have done differently? Communicate. That started with me. Simply acknowledging the fact that I didn’t feel right would have helped a lot. Not only would that have opened the door to treatment years earlier, but it would have given my family the opportunity to learn about OCD and strategies to help me much sooner.

I’d imagine others can relate.

10 Relaxing Gift Ideas to Get the Traveler in Your Life (That Can Fit in Their Carry-on Bag)

Traveling is a lot about getting outside of your comfort zone. At least it is for me. Knowing that my OCD breeds on familiarity, I use travel as a way to fight back. It’s stressful, but I find it to be one of the best forms of therapy (second only to exposure response therapy (ERP)). That said, pushing boundaries can have the opposite effect and put me on edge. So quickly that I find myself reverting back to my old ways; ways that let my OCD win. To counteract that, I’ve found some products that do a good job keeping me in a relaxed state before, during, and after my travels. So, if there’s someone in your life who fits this bill, here are a few relaxing gift ideas—all of which will fit nicely in their suitcase.

Note: These are NOT affiliate links nor was I compensated for including them in this post. I just genuinely love them.

A Wellness Journal

I’ll admit that I haven’t always been the biggest fan of journaling nor have I committed to it for any long period. Nevertheless, I try to bring a wellness journal with me wherever I go. Here’s why: It’s not abnormal for me to get lost in my own head. A wellness journal—like these ones—can be an escape. The journal also serves as a constant reminder of happiness post travels. I think of it as a scrapbook just as much as I do a wellness journal.

Comfy Socks

Long fights, never-ending road trips, long layovers in unfamiliar airports, and unruly walks can all be stressors. So why not give them a pair of comfy socks that’ll keep their feet happy the entire time? I’m a big fan of Bombas as I think they strike a good balance between quality and price. (Surprisingly, socks can get expensive.) If someone you know frequently takes long flights or car rides, consider a pair with compression to keep the blood flowing. Whichever route you choose, look for something with some cushioning. Heck, even slipper socks could come in the clutch.

A Travel Pillow

I’m actually between travel pillows right now; I left mine in an airport in Norway. Such a shame. That said, I’m a big fan of this inflatable travel pillow. Yes, it looks a little wonky, but hear me out. When I’m traveling with other people around (on a plane or on a train), the idea that people could be looking at me while I’m sleeping freaks me out. This hood lets me hide a bit more. Pair it with a facemask and some noise-canceling headphones, and I’m basically invisible.

A Sleep Mask

Talk about a good segue. People who can automatically fall asleep on planes, trains, and in cars are a special breed and I envy them. I can’t do that. I need some help. A sleep mask does that—specifically, this one from MZOO. I’ll admit that it’s taken me some time to get used to opening my eyes and seeing absolutely nothing, but it does help me get some much-needed sleep, which pays dividends down the road. No pun intended.

Noise-canceling Headphones

Back-to-back segues are what my dreams are made of. A pair of good noise-canceling headphones is an absolute must for me. Seriously. I’ll miss my flight if I don’t have them. There are a lot of ways you can go with noise-canceling headphones, but I’d strongly encourage—finances permitting—opting for a higher-end pair. They can be expensive, but they’re totally worth it. I have the Bose – QuietComfort 45 Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-the-Ear Headphones. Note the “over-the-ear” part. There are other options, such as Apple Airpods, that offer noise-canceling, but I find completely surrounding my ears really helps.

Pro Tip: Look for the previous model. Companies like Bose are constantly updating their products and releasing more expensive versions. When it does, the previous models almost always go on sale.

A Meditation App Subscription

I’m a fan of Headspace, but there’s a long list of meditation apps available. They all pretty much do the same thing, albeit in different ways. Headspace, for example, is known for its guided meditations, which I find particularly helpful since I’ve struggled sitting through sessions in the past. Calm is another popular option.

A Fidget Toy or Stress Ball

Fidget toys aren’t as popular as they were a few years ago—remember fidget spinners?—but they’re still worth their weight in gold. I have a few. My favorite is this worry stone. I also usually have a stress ball on me, which I find particularly helpful when writing. I find both of these offer a great alternative to anxious habits, like nail biting. And the best part is that they’re almost always affordable. (I said most of the time. This fidget spinner costs roughly $17,000.)

Some Comfy Clothes

For better or worse, I have a travel uniform. It consists of a hoodie, pair of sweatpants, and a pair of shoes that I can slip on and off in a matter of seconds. Not only is this getup comfortable, but it also makes going through airport security a breeze. I love Under Armour’s sweatpants, but you can’t go wrong with anything from Uniqlo. I’d argue it offers the best bang for your buck. That said, if you’re looking to splurge, take a look at Reigning Champ.

A Coloring Book

Who doesn’t like to color? If you Google “coloring books for adults,” you’ll get billions of websites offering thousands upon thousands of options from which to choose. Want to get them a coloring book with a mindfulness twist? Here you go. Want one to remind them of nature? They’re available, too. How about one that’ll make them laugh? You got it (beware, these are definitely for adults). Coloring books are an affordable option that can eat into a lot of time on the road while also providing some much-needed relaxation.

A Good Book

If all else fails, opt for a book. It could be your favorite book, one from an author you know they like, or something about the place they’re going to visit. Here is a list of some of my favorites to inspire your search.

What other relaxing gift ideas can you think of? Leave a comment below.

One Year In: 3 Things I Would Do Differently to Help My Mental Health

I did it. It’s been exactly 365 days since I packed up (I didn’t really pack. I brought a suitcase of clothes) and headed out on my next adventure. All in all, it’s been a good year and I’m confident the decision to move was a good one. But in retrospect, there are some things I’d do differently given another chance; things I know would’ve helped my mental health quite a bit.

Bring More Stuff From Home

When I say I arrived at my apartment with a suitcase, I mean that. I walked into an empty apartment. The only thing there was a LoveSac I had shipped ahead. I didn’t even have the Internet—and wouldn’t for a few weeks. (Side note: My incredibly poor planning meant that I spent the first few weeks in a hotel.)

When I left home, I told myself that I didn’t want to bring anything from home because everything there reminded me of my OCD. I wanted to start fresh. It was a rationale thought, but not true. In reality, I was avoiding an opportunity for an exposure. By wiping the slate clean, I was ensuring I wouldn’t bring anything “contaminated” to my new home. I wanted to start off on the right foot and knew that if I brought something that caused compulsive thoughts, I’d spend the first few weeks struggling. I wanted to avoid that. At all costs.

If I had to do it again, I’d fight through the avoidance and bring any and everything that reminded me of my OCD. I know the impact exposure response therapy (ERP) can have on OCD and it was dumb to neglect another opportunity to kick OCD’s butt.

Control My Impulsivity

Three weeks. That’s the amount of time between when I decided and when my landlord handed me the keys. If you read my post about buying a ticket for a cruise, you know I struggle with my impulse control. This is another example. Impulse control is something I struggle mightily with and this is certainly a prime example. While I knew the move was a good life decision, I also knew the serotonin that’d come with it. But once again, I failed to account for the inevitable downfall a few days later.

Due to my impulsivity, I ended up making a very poor financial decision. Like really poor and one that added an incredible amount of stress to my life (sorry, Mom and Dad). The high ticket price for my apartment along with the exorbitant cost of living in Hoboken was compounded by the fact that I didn’t have a job. While I don’t regret making the move, I’d have been better off spending more time searching for a more cost-effective place to live. My bank account would have thanked me.

Go Outside (Literally)

I spent a year in my apartment. For about half of that, I didn’t do much of anything. No exploring. No walks along the Hudson. No cafe-hopping or hefty doses of vitamin D. Instead, I opted for Netflix. Oh, and a ridiculous amount of job interviews.

While a lot of this isolation was due to the pandemic, there wasn’t anything stopping me from ridding myself of my hobbit-esque living. The sidewalks along the Hudson certainly didn’t close. I avoided them nonetheless, and thinking back to these first months, it was a lot like my life at home. I was letting OCD win.

I don’t remember what made me “get out” for the first time, but once I did, I kept going and things got progressively better. I’ll chalk this up as a slow start, but a win in the end.

Moving Out: The Best Decision I’ve Ever Made

There’s not an inkling of me that regrets moving. Not only was it necessary to advance my career, but I wasn’t doing my OCD any favors by staying in my comfort zone. I needed to push myself outside of that and prove to myself that I was more than my OCD. And that’s what I did. One year later, I know I made the right decision. Would I do some things differently? Absolutely. Would I change my mind about moving? Not a chance. I genuinely feel like the move helped my OCD recovery more than anything else has.

Adrian Monk & OCD: 10 Super Relatable Quotes From the Show

I’m the type of person who gets bent out of shape when someone misrepresents OCD, so it could be easy to see how the Emmy-award-winning show, Monk, could ruffle my feathers. But for whatever reason, it doesn’t. In fact, I find Adrian Monk and his OCD incredibly hilarious and on-so-relatable. Here are ten of Monk’s funniest quotes.

Adrian Monk Quote #1

Gail: Do you lie awake at night, thinking about ways to disrupt my husband’s campaign?

Monk: No, ma’am. I lie awake at night and try not to think at all.

Anyone struggling with OCD knows how hard it is to turn their brain off daily, let alone at night when you’re doing nothing but lying in bed with time to think. Monk shares the same challenge.

Episode: Mr. Monk and the Candidate

Adrian Monk Quote #2

Natalie: Are you afraid of frogs?

Monk: I don’t know. I’ve never been this close to one. [A frog lands on Monk’s shoe] Yes. The answer is yes. Put frogs on the list. Where’s the list?

N: I got it. I got it. Where does it go?

M: Put them between possums and, uh, soccer riots. No, no, no. Uh, after soccer riots. And before, uh, before hailstones. Yeah, so it goes…

N: I got it, I got it: Soccer riots, frogs, hailstones.

M: At least now we know. Information really is power.

I’ve never met someone with OCD whose compulsions only revolve around one thing; it’s usually an ever-evolving list with different things taking precedent in the brain. The list is never complete, and always looking for additions.

Mr. Monk Is at Your Service

Adrian Monk Quote #3

Monk: We used to come here all the time.

Monica Waters: You and your wife?

M: Yeah, it’s so different. That blackboard was over there, and I think the salt and pepper shakers are new.

MW: Is that it?

AM: Yeah, that- That’s it.

MW: You don’t like change, do you?

M: I have no problem with change. I just don’t like to be there when it happens.

Change can be good or bad. When I moved away from my support system, the change that followed was fantastic. But it’s not always like that. Sometimes, change—even change you know is coming—can make OCD flare up. I believe this is why studies have found that people with anxiety crave predictability and a sense of comfort. It’s probably why I’ve watched Dexter 8 times.

Episode: Mr. Monk and the Other Woman

Adrian Monk Quote #4

Natalie: He’s actually kinda cute (talking about a mouse)

Monk: Natalie, don’t touch him! Later on when we have time, I’ll tell you a little story about the BLACK PLAGUE.

Uh, hypochondria. Amirite? Hypochondria was my first glimpse of OCD’s power over my brain. It’s no longer the primary focus of my obsessions, but it still pops up a few times a year to remind me of what it’s capable of. Case and point: COVID-19.

Episode: Mr. Monk and the Captain’s Marriage

Adrian Monk Quote #5

Sharona: You’re going straight to hell.

Monk: I am in hell.

This is what irks me the most about how people who don’t have OCD view it. From the outside looking in, I can see why and how OCD can be so appealing. For example, a few years ago, I was at a friend’s house and we started talking about how punctual he is. The next thing out of someone’s mouth was, “Oh, so you’re OCD like that?” I don’t think this person meant anything by it, but it bothers me how OCD is so often misrepresented as being incredibly clean or “perfect” in every way. It’s not. It’s hell.

Episode: Mr. Monk Meets the Candidate

Adrian Monk Quote #6

Monk: [About to shake hands with five people] It’s a stampede. Get a wipe ready.

Anyone who has OCD knows how predictable it is, at least in terms of what will bother them. For me, germs get me every time. If I know I’m going to contact someone I don’t know, coming in contact with them, e.g., shaking hands will absolutely set me off. I’ve gotten better at preventing the inevitable, but OCD still knows how to affect me.

Episode: Mr. Monk and the Marathon Man

Adrian Monk Quote #7

Monk: What if she doesn’t like me?

M: I mean, I’m not crazy about me.

OCD isn’t just about obsessive thoughts and compulsions. For a lot of people with OCD, it impacts how they view themselves. I know it does for me. At my lowest point, I blocked everyone out. The depression was too much. I was embarrassed about how I was acting and the weight gain that came with the stress. OCD has the power to make you think that there’s a giant sign over your head that lets people know something’s wrong.

Episode: Mr. Monk and the End (Part Two)

Adrian Monk Quote #8

Natalie: Wait. My belt. My good luck belt.

Monk: How’s that working out for you?

N: Can you help me? Get the beads out. It’s hollow. We can make it like a snorkel. I’ll buy us some time. It works. Try it.

M: No, I’m fine.

This quote comes from an episode in which Monk and Natalie are on the verge of drowning in a submarine. Despite the desperate situation and the fact that Natalie identified a means to survive while they waited for help (she used her lucky belt as a makeshift snorkel), Monk refused to use it. This is so relatable, and I liken it to ERP. Unfortunately, despite the proven efficacy of the therapy that can tackle OCD head-on, I sometimes refuse to practice it.

Episode: Mr. Monk Is Underwater

Adrian Monk Quote #9

Ms. Lennington: Mr. Monk, what would you say is your greatest strength?

Adrian Monk: Oh. Mmm… [long, expectant pause] My decisiveness.

I often struggle to make decisions because I’m afraid of what’s to come (from an OCD standpoint). If a friend asks me to grab a bite to eat, I don’t know what to say because I start worrying about germs. If someone wants to go on a road trip, I worry about having an anxiety attack on the road. When it comes to OCD, it’s never an automatic “yes” when it’s time to make a decision.

Episode: Mr. Monk Gets Fired

Adrian Monk Quote #10

Sharona: Don’t you ever wonder why you don’t get invited anywhere?

Monk: No, not really…”

Before I started sharing my struggles with my friends, one of them called me out for ghosting him seemingly every chance I could get. Of course, he didn’t know what was going on, so to him; it looked like I didn’t want to be friends anymore. While the conversation was tough, it was incredibly impactful and made a huge difference in our friendship. That said, I completely understand why people may decide not to invite me somewhere. It’s not that I’m not interested. It’s that OCD puts a proverbial brick wall that I sometimes can’t get by.

Episode: Mr. Monk Meets Dale the Whale

The Oh-So-Relatable OCD Detective

As someone who takes it personally when someone intentionally or unintentionally misrepresents OCD, I understand why it may be surprising that I’m so fond of Adrian Monk.

Maybe it’s because when I fell in love with the show, I was too naive to the impact OCD had on millions of people. Perhaps if I were to start watching now, my POV would be different. I don’t know. What I do know is that I find comfort in Monk and watch it often. It makes me laugh and has someone who’s seen some dark days, I’ll never turn down one of those.

Working in Healthcare During the COVID-19 Pandemic, According to Real People

Working in Healthcare During the Pandemic

Scary, isolating, and terrifying are just a few of the words people used when I asked them what it’s been like working in healthcare or a healthcare-related setting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Long hours with limited breaks. Few interactions with the outside world. Burnout and stress like never before. This is the perfect recipe for deteriorating mental health. Literally perfect.

I remember when I first started ERP, I would carry around a chart jotted down on a piece of paper. My goal was to keep track of some environmental factors that could be having an impact on my OCD—think stress at work, sleep schedule, and time spent with friends and family. When these things were high, or low in the case of interactions with friends and family, my OCD went on overdrive. Every. Single. Time.

See what I mean by the perfect recipe? If you don’t believe me, consider the science. For example, studies have shown that loneliness has a number of negative health effects and is linked to both physical and mental health, including depression. Additionally, long-term stress increases the risk of mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.

I never got anywhere close to the frontlines of the pandemic, but I can only imagine the impact it would have had on my mental health. And the worst part, in my opinion, is that it was so sudden; there wasn’t any time to prepare. Yes, isolated outbreaks happen around the world, but who could have expected something of this magnitude? The world hasn’t experienced something of this magnitude since influenza infected 500 million people and claimed the lives of at least 50 million worldwide between 1918 and 1919.

Most of the time, I’m proactive in the way I approach my mental health—I know it’s an inevitability so I take steps and adopt strategies to help minimize the impact when the symptoms flare. I practice controlled breathing, for example. These things help me. For people on the frontlines of the pandemic, they couldn’t do these things—they didn’t have the chance to build a barrier and prepare. I have to imagine it was like a rogue wave.

The thing about your mental health is that it can ebb and flow. For me, it’s exacerbated by the environment. For example, when my Grandpa passed away in 2007, the sadness led to a deterioration in my mental wellbeing. When I was laid off at the beginning of the pandemic, my OCD spiked. When these things happen, I address them. I read. I meditate. I do ERP. Millions of healthcare workers on the frontline didn’t (and still don’t) have this choice, and the effects are, well, kind of what you’d expect. According to a survey from Mental Health America of 1,119 healthcare workers, 93% were experiencing stress, 86% reported experiencing anxiety, 77% reported frustration, 76% reported exhaustion and burnout, and 75% said they were overwhelmed. The healthcare professionals I spoke with shared a similar sentiment:

Resident Care Aide at a Senior Living Community

It definitely impacted my life, I didn’t see any of my family, it was especially hard during the holidays. Work was extremely difficult because during the last year we did not allow visitors to come to see their families so I was their “family”. I wanted to be there for them then more than ever because I felt like I was all they had. We did a lot of video calls so they could see their families but it’s not the same as seeing and hugging your loved ones in person. I spent many drives home from work in tears because I was just emotionally drained and exhausted not only for not being able to be with my own family but for the sadness my residents were feeling during those difficult times.

Registered Nurse

It affected my life in a way that I couldn’t see my family and friends. I directly worked in the Covid ICU so I didn’t want to potentially pass it to anyone. I never got it but the thought of being around my loved ones was terrifying. I noticed that I was very lonely. I felt like I was in my own isolated bubble and that made me anxious and had me overthinking everything. Those around me (meaning at work) we’re all in the same boat. We saw each other at work but barely talked because we were just so busy. Even at work, we were really isolated. There was just too much to do. My social interaction decreased drastically.

Continuous Improvement Consultant at Boston Children’s Hospital

When the pandemic first hit and we were all instructed to work from home, I went into a very depressed state. I live alone and wasn’t allowed to see anyone. After weeks of being by myself, sleeping at every chance I got (in between and even during meetings, sometimes), my colleagues started to notice negative changes in behavior and performance, so I decided to go back to NY and stay with my parents. After I was deemed an essential worker, I was in a constant state of emotional flux, bouncing between wanting to support the hospital during the pandemic and being scared to go to work/mad at capitalism for putting profits above employee safety.

Licensed Therapist

When the pandemic initially began my whole life went online. That was a trying time for sure, as I was sharing a small space with my boyfriend who was also working online, and his 3 other roommates. Personal space was nonexistent, and there were definitely moments of tension within the apartment. Eventually, I had to be in the office at the Hospital in person. My mental health was definitely affected, including that I was a lot more anxious and sought my own therapy. My life was strictly at home, work, and online school. There was no room for family time or a social life – many spaces were shut down anyway & many, including myself, were scared of contracting the virus. Working at a hospital during this time was also a bit nerve-wracking considering I met with patients face to face during therapy sessions. While this is lower risk than if I were a nurse, doctor, or PA seeing infected patients, I still found myself getting very nervous if I felt sick and had a cold for example. The mental health of many people around me also changed. My close friends who are nurses were definitely more stressed and had symptoms of depression. We spoke about the things they saw and witnessed, and I can imagine that being truly life-changing. I also noticed friends and family were more anxious and hyper-vigilant.

12 Fantastic Travel Tips for People with Anxiety

There’s nothing worse than wanting to travel but shying away from it because you’re worried that your anxiety will get in the way. Whether it’s anxiety related to flying, concern about being away from your support system, the unknown, or something completely different, anxiety can be quite the barrier. But I’m a firm believer that there are steps you can take to make traveling a little easier—even if you’re struggling with anxiety. Here are some of my favorite travel tips for people with anxiety.

Travel Tips for People with Anxiety

Prepare

I’m a sucker for spontaneity, especially when it comes to doing new things, but I’m aware that it’s not always the wisest move. For that reason, I try to prepare as much as possible—think refilling my prescription and identifying where I can find resources (if needed) once I get there. Steps like making a packing list, setting a travel notice for credit cards, or making sure you have a travel plan for your phone. I find that the more I etch in stone before departure, the less likely something anxiety-provoking will happen.

Communicate

Whether you’re traveling alone or with friends, don’t forget your support system at home. Before you leave, let any friends and family know where you’re going. If you’re seeing a doctor, talk with them, too. In my experience, talking to my doctors ahead of time supplied me with additional strategies I ended up using when my anxiety popped up. You also shouldn’t shy away from reaching out to your friends and family when you’re away. Call them. FaceTime them. Text them. Send them a postcard. I stay in touch constantly with my friends and family when I travel and find it to be a great way to keep me grounded.

Don’t Neglect Therapy

Sometimes, when I travel, I do it to disconnect and sometimes I pack my schedule so full that I don’t have time to think. Either way, I can find myself forgetting the strategies and therapies that have helped me thus far, e.g., ERP. While it may seem like no big deal to skip therapy in lieu of an adventure or a late night out, I’ve found that doing so too many times will eventually come back to bite me.

Practice Mindfulness and Self Care

You need a break when traveling. If you feel yourself getting anxious while traveling or you’re noticing triggers, slow down and give yourself time to relax. This could mean focusing on your breathing, going back to the hotel, Airbnb, or hostel for a nap, or sitting by the water with a good book. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with taking a break from the hustle and bustle of traveling to give your mind a break.

Bring a Good Book

I’ve talked about this before, but I’ll say it again. Books are so underrated in terms of ways to deal with anxiety when traveling. That said, I’ll admit that it can be hard to concentrate when your mind is spinning, but once I get into the story, I tend to forget what I’m anxious about. So, if you’re feeling anxious when traveling, try sitting down with a good book.

Be Healthy

When I think of keeping my anxiety in check, I think about two things: exercise and diet. The former is generally easy to maintain when traveling given all of the walking and exploring, but the diet aspect can go unchecked. When traveling, I have a cheat meal here and there, but for the most part, I try to keep to a healthy diet because I know that the foods I eat have an impact on my anxiety and overall mental health.

Know Your Patterns

Anxiety is unpredictable, but it also has patterns that can help you identify when your anxiety is about to spike. Does your heart beat faster? Do you isolate yourself? Do you stay silent during conversations when you’re normally talkative? If you notice these signs, take action to suppress them with therapies and strategies that have worked in the past. Better yet, if you’re traveling with someone, let them know what to look for and to let you know if they notice a change.

Find a Routine

I remember seeing a poster in my high school library that illustrated six things you can apply to your life to help with your mental health. A routine was one of them. So, if you have a routine at home, try to keep it when you’re travelilng. For example, if you go for a walk every morning (like I do), keep that up.

Work in Buffer Time

I’ve found that if I pack my schedule with back-to-back-to-back activities, I not only get burned out quickly but my anxiety increases because I’m constantly worried I’m not going to make it to the next thing. It’s like when you’ve landed and are taxing and keep looking at your watch because your next flight takes off in 10 minutes. I try to navigate this anxiety by working in plenty of buffer time between activities.

Be Flexible

Anxiety can be restricting. Don’t add to that by obsessing over maintaining the perfect schedule. Although I think it’s important to prepare as much as possible, I also know that traveling brings with it a lot of unexpected. I could miss a flight or my credit card could get declined. There’s an endless list of ways that can derail a plan. By maintaining a flexible mindset, however, you can minimize the chance of your anxiety taking over during your travels.

Treat Yourself

I find one of the best ways to help with my anxiety when I’m traveling is to treat myself (or give myself something to look forward to). That could mean by buying the souvenir I’ve been eyeing, dining on unhealthy cuisine, or planning an extra excursion, if I have something to look forward to, I’m generally less anxious.

Trust Yourself

At the end of the day, know that everything is going to be ok. Cliche, I know. But also true.

Hanna Hall: Battling Mental Health’s Stigma On & Off the Basketball Court

A star for Team Canada at the 2016 FIBA U17 Women’s World Championships. A cornerstone of the University of Buffalo (UB) Women’s Basketball team that made a run at a National Championship. One of the hardest workers you’ll meet. A perpetual smile. This is Hanna Hall—at least the one most people see. But there’s another side to her—a side that battles mental health every single day. Few people ever saw this side of her, but that all changed when she shared her story with the world.

Andrew: When did you first notice a shift in your mental health?

Hanna: I was just on the biggest stage, starting for Team Canada and winning a bronze medal, but then I came off that and went to college and it was a completely new environment. I went from the top to the bottom really quickly. I definitely wasn’t ready for that. I loved it, though. I loved every second of it. I loved my coach, team, and teammates, but it was difficult not to play much. It brought out this competitive side in me that I’d never had before. I’ve always been a competitor, but I wanted to play so bad and just wanted to get better. It turned into an unhealthy cycle of working out and training, which is a common thing that actually happens a lot among athletes but is not really seen. Then I developed a pretty serious eating disorder and was diagnosed with anorexia. It got to the point that it was either gain weight or never play basketball again.

A: When did you tell your teammates? What was their reaction?

H: Before my sophomore season, my coaches and I decided I would take time off because I needed to gain weight and focus on my mental health if I actually wanted to play. So that’s when I sat down with my team and explained to them what was going on. But even at that time, I was so unaware of what I was really going through. It’s one of those things that you really just don’t know until you take the time to understand it. Like when you’re in sixth grade, you’re not going to be like, “oh man, I have OCD,” unless someone’s telling you and you’re really looking into it. Mental health isn’t that black or white. So that’s when I explained to them what I was going through, and it definitely made us really close. We all really came together. It opened up a lot of conversations with my teammates and gave them a safe platform to speak.

A: What were the next few months like?

H: I had a really good support system and was able to kind of get through it. I took some time off that summer to take care of my body and my mental health and then continued to see a therapist and counselor. That following year ended up being a great season for our team and me; our team played really well. We had a big follow-up season after my freshman year.

A: Is that when you decided to tell your story?

H: Yes, after my sophomore season. I am a faithful follower. It was on my spirit to release my story and help other athletes who were probably going through similar things but couldn’t talk about it. So I kind of changed paths and realized that advocating for athletes and using my platform was something I was really passionate about.

We had a great video guy who was able to capture what I wanted to do. I wasn’t saying that I’ve overcome mental health. I struggle and will struggle with this probably for my whole life, but I’m going to be completely open about it, so someone else can be too—that was the point of it. I think that’s what the message became. That was right after that season, and I was like, I don’t know if we’re ever going to have a season like this again. This is an opportunity for me to tell my story from a platform.

A: Did you ever think about leaving basketball behind for good?

H: Honestly, no. I think that basketball kind of saved my life in a way because it allowed me to have something to work toward. Without basketball, I wouldn’t have prioritized my health enough to actually get the help I needed, which is why eating disorders have the highest mortality rates among all mental health disorders.

It wasn’t until this past season (2021) when there was obviously some back and forth in my mind. My body was fatigued. My brain was so fatigued. COVID fatigued me 10 years in advance of what I wanted to be. It wasn’t until this year that I made the decision to step away from the game. I honestly don’t even feel like I quit basketball. If it comes back to my life in a few years, then it does. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t, you know what I mean? I’ll always be around it, and I’ll always love the game, but I was ready to take the next step.

A: Now that you don’t have basketball, what strategies are you using to take care of your mental health?

H: I still carry over a lot of the stuff I did before with self-care. I’m really big into yoga and meditation. I’ve been an athlete for so long, I’m trying to learn how to exercise like a normal person, which has been hard because it’s always been strenuous training. So now it’s about being able to do stuff that just feels good. I’m still seeing counselors, therapists, and still trying to rewire my brain from the regular life of an athlete.

A: Looking back, how has your view of your mental health changed?

H: I had to change the perspective from “maybe I won’t ever be back to 100%” because it really is a part of you, but being able to change that perspective and celebrate it is something that I want to do rather than see it as an illness. So it’s accepting it and using the help to change your perspective rather than seeing it as such an awful thing.

A: Have other people opened up to you since you told your story?

H: Yeah, all the time. People come up to me or message me on Instagram and tell me what they’re going through and that they didn’t realize how serious it was until they saw my story. A lot of people say that they didn’t think I could go through that. I’m always like, “I’m a human, just like you.” So it’s being able to normalize it. That’s why it’s so important for athletes and celebrities to speak about it; because we have a platform.

A: What’s next for you?

H: I’m not quite sure yet. I’m working with Canada Basketball on the communications and marketing side of things, which has been really cool because I have a big interest in nonprofit work. Eventually, I want to take my own ideas and see where I can go with them. But right now, it’s really about giving myself time to transition out of sports and figure things out. I’ve been keeping it all open. I’m just going to keep using my platform.

I really love social media and advocating for things. I’m doing a lot of work around NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness), talking to different court members with other athletes, so that was really cool as well. That’s kind of where I’m at right now—I’m just continuing to use my voice and transitioning out of being an athlete to being an everyday person.

Want to learn more about Hanna’s story? Check out her interview with ESPN during Mental Health Awareness Month in 2020.