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Some feelings never quite fit “happy,” “sad” or “stressed.” Like the one where nothing’s wrong, but nothing’s moving either. Or when your brain jumps straight to the worst-case scenario before you’ve even had your coffee.
We’re not meant to just power through these moments and hope they pass. The same way you’d stretch before a run or rest a sore muscle, your mind needs everyday care too. Mental fitness helps us build small habits that help you notice how you’re feeling, name it, and take small actions to do something in response. It won’t stop hard days from happening, but it gives us a bit more in the tank when they do.
This Mental Health Month, we’ve designed six new feelings and added them to the Mental Fitness Gym app, each paired with an exercise to help you work through it.
Meet the new emotions
The Blahs
When nothing’s wrong, but nothing’s moving. It’s a flat, stuck feeling, like you’re going through the motions and can’t quite say why. You’re somewhere between down and buzzing, and it can be hard to explain to anyone, including yourself. Try the “How are you really feeling?“ exercise in the Gym to figure out what’s underneath it.
Pullaparted
When life’s pulling you in every direction. Work, family and everything you said yes to last month all want a piece of you at once, and there’s not much room left for you. When everything feels like a priority, it’s hard to see what could wait. “Take the weight off” exercise helps guide you to speak up by reaching out to your village and realising you are not alone.
Crisped
When you’re just trying to hold it together and close to burnout. You’re holding it together, but it’s taking everything you’ve got, and small things start to feel big. It can help to shrink your focus right down. The “Own the day” exercise helps you find one small thing to focus on instead of everything at once.
Breatho
When the pressure eases and you can just breathe again. Maybe a big deadline has passed or a tough week has wrapped up, and your shoulders drop a little. It’s easy to rush straight past a feeling like this, and noticing the good ones is part of building mental fitness too. The “Take a moment to pause” exercise gives you a chance to stay in it a little longer.
Spiralo
When your mind jumps straight to the worst-case version of everything. One worry turns into three, and before long you’re planning for things that haven’t happened. There’s often some uncertainty sitting underneath it all. The “Clear the mental clutter” exercise helps you untangle the thought from the uncertainty behind it.
The Glimmers
When you get a little lift from things going right. It might be a good chat, a sunny walk or something that finally worked out, and it’s easy to let it slide past when life is busy. The “Notice the small wins” exercise helps you catch those moments as they happen.
Checking in with yourself is a simple, everyday mental fitness habit that helps us navigate life’s ups and down. Meet the new feelings in the Mental Fitness Gym app, and try out an exercise today.
