habits i ditched in order to heal
6 am spin class? no thank you xoxo
Last November, my body sent me a rather strong message. One that I couldn’t ignore: sharp pains, joints cracking, tingling limbs, relentless fatigue. Every meal brought chest aches. I lost hair, felt muscles twitching, and barely recognized myself.
I had always been the “healthy one.” The green smoothie girl. The 6 a.m. spin class girl. The girl who carried magnesium in her tote and swore by electrolytes. (And yet, somehow, I missed all the signs.)
It felt like the third act of a play I didn’t audition for: “Ignore the red flags until they knock you flat on your bathroom floor.” Starring me, in leggings, googling “why do my limbs tingle?” at 2 a.m.
Co-starring: dread. And an unshakable sense that something – everything – was off.
For weeks, I barely moved, cycling through denial, dread, and a quiet curiosity. What was my body trying to tell me? The answer didn’t come from books or frantic internet searches, but from listening deeply to myself.
While I still don’t know what ultimately caused an auto-immune spiral within me – whether it was a virus, stress, or mere genetic predisposition – I realized through introspection that I had conformed to a fast-paced lifestyle and developed habits I could take control of to start feeling better. For much of my life, I’d been living at a breathless pace, chasing an impossible perfectionism in many endeavors, and normalizing small neglects until my body couldn’t bear the weight. It took a complete shut down for me to get honest with myself.
What follows is not a checklist.
It’s a new kind of list. An SOS guide. Literally. Small daily changes that can help anybody prioritize their nervous system before it screams for help.
Here are ten habits I let go of to start my own healing.
habits i ditched in order to heal
Fasted workouts (bye, 6 am spin classes)
Somewhere along the way, I learned that hunger was noble. That I had to earn breakfast by sweating first thing in the morning.
But our bodies don’t speak in food morality. They speak in cortisol spikes and night cravings and a bone-deep fatigue that whispers: please eat sooner.
Now, I eat within 30 minutes of waking. And funnily enough, my body loves this! Because, as the science states, eating soon after waking supports blood sugar, brain function, and sustained energy. It's biology, not a trend.
The science around fasted workouts is mixed, especially for women. But skipping breakfast impacts stress hormones. Fasting too aggressively, especially before exercise, puts added stress on the body, elevates cortisol, and can contribute to hormone imbalances over time. In the wise words of Randy Jackson:
Buying random supplements off instagram
If it had elderberry, ashwagandha, acacia fiber, or a $50 price tag, I probably bought it. Turns out, many of these trendy wellness products are inflammatory for people with autoimmune issues (see the research on ashwagandha and lupus here). Yes, your nervous system actually isn’t a science fair project!
I’ve compiled a list of sneaky trigger ingredients - please comment or dm me if you want to have it on hand. More people should know about this.
Ignoring my body’s signals for rest
I used to be physically incapable of napping. Even watching television with friends, I always battled an internal thought spiral of, “Shouldn’t I be doing something more productive with my time? I’ll draw while I watch, to make it feel like I’m at least being creative.” Now, I see this was bat-shit crazy thinking. Great to be productive, not great to be productive all day every day and every waking minute. It just makes you tune out from your body - which can be dangerous when your body is really trying to signal something important to you.
Rest is now a prerequisite. When my body says, “Nap.” I nap. I don’t push through or chug another coffee. I nap. If my body wants to watch 7 hours of Ginny & Georgia on a Saturday night rather than go out - I watch Ginny & Georgia (a cheesy show but it’s also so freaking good lol).
Refusing to snack
“I just don’t snack. I just eat three big meals” used to feel like a badge of honor. But it turns out: snacks = sanity.
Blood sugar crashes do not build character. Now, I carry almonds in my bag like a little love note to myself.
Have some rice cakes with almond butter and blueberries on top. A little yogurt cup. Apple slices! Carrots with hummus. Snack. Snack. Snack if your body wants to!
Doomscrolling
The news. The microtrends. The endless expert opinions. My brain was on fire by 9am. Now I set time limits on my apps, and my mornings feel like mine again.
Do yourself a BIGGG FAVOR and watch this very simple tutorial on how to set time limits on your apps here. Now, I pick up a book before bed because my phone literally doesn’t let me open Instagram or TikTok after 9 p.m. Nor do I even want to anymore. It’s funny how quickly our brain’s can switch patterns once we actually start doing what’s right for them. It’s really just about committing to take care of yourself.
Comparing my life to everyone else’s highlight reel
This one snuck in daily. The career wins. The weddings. The book deals. The six-figure salaries. Comparison is a nervous system threat. There's no timeline for healing, for success, for life. No applause. Much of it happens in silence, where no one else can see it.
Sometimes healing looks like doing a slow workout for the first time after months of inactivity. Sometimes it’s starting a new medication that works. Sometimes it’s brushing your teeth slowly and mindfully. These are all big milestones. These are all enough. Remember that.
Google-diagnosing myself into a panic
Yes, I wanted answers. But searching for them at 2am on Google and Reddit was not helping. I used to diagnose myself into a panic spiral.
Now, I keep a notes app of questions. A symptom journal. A journal specifically for Nicole Sachs’ “Journal Speak” to unwind the connection between my body and mind in tough moments.
And a very necessary Pinterest board called “healing girl era” with pictures of fluffy cows, ocean waves, cool matcha tumblers, and cake decorating tips.
Because sometimes distraction is medicine too.
Your nervous system deserves fewer horror stories (which the algorithm loves to feed us front & center) and more peace.
Suppressing emotions to stay “cool” or “fine”
Pretending I was okay took so much energy. Now, I cry when I need to. Journal when I can. Let myself rage on a walk or have dance party by myself if that’s what my body’s asking for. Somatic release is real. Emotions are meant to move.
i had a dance party with myself
Saying yes to everything (or no to everything)
I used to say yes out of guilt—out of obligation or fear of missing out. Now, I stay home when I need to, no explanation required.
That said, I’ve still said yes to plenty of social plans during my healing journey, even when I didn’t feel up for it. The truth is: you might not have the same energy you once did. But you also know that you can’t stay in bed forever.
Healing isn’t just rest—it’s also connection. It’s meeting up with the people you love, joining new communities, and letting moments of joy back in.
Spending too much time alone, especially when you’re feeling off, can make things feel heavier.
The key is balance: saying yes to what lifts you up, even if you’re not at 100%. And giving yourself full permission to call it a night when your body tells you it’s time.
Where does the SOS list leave you?
At the end of the day, I haven’t found healing on WebMD, or in $60 tinctures, or under a jade roller. I found it in the quiet, daily practice of not doing things that hurt me anymore.
So where does the SOS list leave you?
Maybe with your own list.
Of things to let go of.
Of habits that once felt harmless — or even aspirational — but now feel like they’re quietly stealing your life.
Ask yourself:
What am I still doing out of fear?
What would happen if I stopped?
Then write it down. Scribble it in a notes app or a journal or on the back of a grocery receipt. It doesn’t matter.
Your body is already trying to tell you the truth.
It always has been.
Even when you weren’t ready to hear it.
This is your reminder:
You don’t need to hustle for health.
You don’t need to become someone new.
You just need to come home to yourself and what feels good for you.
Again. And again. And again.
Did any of this resonate with you? Are you in your own era of unlearning? I'd love to hear habits you’ve let go of & never looked back on. If any of this information feels confusing to you, reach out to me separately. I’d love to forward you more resources to further your reading on the mind-body health connection.
With love, Delaney <3
Love this Del!! This is so true. Couldn’t agree more- great read! 💕
Thank god you're done with the 2am WebMD diagnoses!!!!