What’s something you’re doing for your own mental health right now?

Ask a Biologist Monday 4/28/25

Answers from Biologists:

• Visiting friends

• Reading so many romance novels and knitting excessively.

• Planting flowers.

• Ride my bike and make art.

• Actually trying to get 9 hours of sleep and stretching.

• Running

• Trying to read more

• Lots of baking

• Meditation, mindfulness, gratitude, and being immersed in nature as much as possible.

• Gardening

• Foraging sustainably and gardening with friends.

• Getting back into writing and sewing projects.

• Trying to pay attention to the good things around me.

• Stepping back from constantly chasing new opportunities and investing in my own happiness.

• Being a scout leader so I can teach youth about nature.

• Dedicating time to my hobbies and working out.

• Rewarding myself with a sweet treat

• Connecting with community through music.

• Spending lots of time outdoors with my community.

• Spending as much time as I can with my kids

• No phone Saturday/Sunday

• Taking a day away from reading the news

• Taking a day off alone and doing as little as humanly possible.

• Spending time in the ecosystems I am concerned about. Joy is protest.

• Gardening and crafting

• Pick up trash on walks with my dog. Makes my area cleaner, small win for my community.

• Weightlifting. Makes my body feel good and it’s a hobby outside work.

• Beach combing

• Organizing local protests and demonstrations.

• Spending quality time with friends/my community.

• Tide pooling and birding

• Cuddle my dogs

• Volunteering for good causes outside work.

• Training for a running race

• Learning a new language to connect to my heritage, not for work.

• Using my PTO and not feeling bad about it.

• Disconnect at home and intentionally doing hobbies.

• Crafting

• Not reading work related materials after hours, even if it’s interesting. Setting a boundary.

• Making art and reading the trashiest of books.