Welcome to Living Well Daily, the newsletter serving up a daily dose of care designed to support you, cheer you on and remind you, always, just how wonderful you already are.

In Today’s Edition:

You are allowed to dream big.
You are allowed to go for it.
We believe in you!!!

Sometimes nothing is explicitly wrong, and yet everything feels wrong. You might feel irritable, flat, tender, disconnected, or uneasy without a clear reason you can point to.

Your mind often wants a clear explanation, a story, or a problem it can solve. But not all emotional states arrive with words or obvious causes.

This doesn’t mean you’re broken or failing at emotional awareness. Often, it means your system is processing something below the level of language, like accumulated stress, subtle emotional shifts, unmet needs, or old experiences moving quietly through you.

Being unable to explain how you feel can itself feel unsettling. You might try to “figure it out,” push through, or dismiss the feeling altogether. But you don’t need a perfect explanation to respond with care. Sometimes, the most supportive response is simply gentle curiosity and compassion.

You’re allowed to feel off without needing a neat explanation.

Common reasons this can happen and how to support yourself:

•🌫️ Emotional buildup: Sometimes emotions accumulate quietly.
→ Support idea: Cozy care “It’s okay if I don’t have words, I can offer comfort.” 

•🧠 Nervous system fatigue: ongoing stress can create a background hum of unease (ex. this can be especially prevalent when inundated with bad news in the world).
→ Support idea: A low stimulation night (ex. put phone away and have some quiet time)

•💤 Unmet basic needs: Lack of rest, nourishment, movement, or connection can show up emotionally.
→ Support idea: Name one need you can focus on today or this week, like hydration.

•🌊 Old emotions resurfacing: Feelings don’t always come from “now.” Sometimes the body remembers.
→ Support idea: Offer an outlet through journaling or increase mindful awareness to help you acknowledge the here and now.

You don’t need clarity before you deserve kindness. Even if you don’t know the source of the unease, you deserve to be cared for through it.

✅ Action step: When you feel off, try asking: “What might my body or nervous system need right now?” not “What’s wrong with me?” Take one gentle step to refill your cup.

^{Love, Lola Graham}

A major updated Cochrane review found that regular physical activity can reduce symptoms of depression, with effects comparable to psychological therapy in many cases.

The review analyzed 73 randomized controlled trials involving nearly 5,000 adults and found that exercise led to moderate improvements compared to no treatment and similar benefits compared to therapy.

This is great because exercise can be a low-cost, accessible option for many people that supports both mental and physical health. I have always found exercise to be imperative for my mental and emotional health.

This review suggests light to moderate intensity activity may be especially helpful, with benefits increasing when people completed 13–36 sessions. This means consistency is critical. They also found that combining aerobic and resistance training was more effective than cardio alone.

While exercise itself isn’t a cure-all, it can be a supportive tool for mental health.

✅ Action step: Aim for at least 2–3 moderate movement sessions this week (walking, cycling, or light strength training) and track how your mood responds over the next month.

Source: PMID: 41500513

^{By: Joshua Graham}

^{A gentle prompt to help you create small feel good moments of beauty, appreciation, and delight.}

Look for one moment that makes you smile, even subtly. Let yourself enjoy it without downplaying it. Every day magic matters.

Before you go, let us know what you thought of today’s edition and if there are any subjects you would like us to cover in the future reply to this email and let us know!

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With love and care,

Lola & Joshua | The Living Well Team

^{Living Well Daily is for educational purposes only and is in no way a substitute for professional medical and mental health advice and diagnosis. Please consult a qualified professional for care unique to your needs.}

^{Remember: It’s okay to ask for help. Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 (Canada & US).}