Small Habits Change Everything
May has always been one of my favorite times of the year in Iceland. After the long darkness of winter, the country slowly begins to wake again. The days become brighter, birds return, people spend more time outside and you can feel a shift in energy almost everywhere you go. Mood changes. Hope returns. Even conversations feel lighter somehow.
I notice that change in myself every year.
And honestly, the older I get, the more I realize how connected my mental wellbeing is to simple things like sleep, daylight, movement, fresh air, and time in nature.
For a long time, like many people, I thought constantly being busy was just part of life. Too little sleep, too much stress, always answering messages, always thinking about the next thing. But eventually I started noticing how much my body and mind paid a price when I was not taking care of the basics.
When my sleep gets disrupted, I feel it quickly. Training becomes harder. Recovery slows down. My patience gets shorter, and mentally everything feels heavier than it should. Small things suddenly feel much bigger.
That is why sleep has become something I genuinely protect—not always perfectly, because life is never perfect, but more consciously than before.
I try to go to bed more consistently. I try to reduce screen time late at night and now, instead of doomscrolling in bed, I listen to, and many times fall asleep listening to, a good book. I notice that I sleep much better when I spend time outside during the day and get natural daylight early in the morning. Even a walk helps calm my mind in ways I probably underestimated years ago.
Being in nature has become a huge part of that balance for me. I think one thing we understand well in Nordic culture is that nature is not separate from health, but is part of good health.
Some of the moments that I feel the most mentally balanced are actually very simple moments—walking near the ocean, feeling cold air on my face, exercising outdoors, even watching the weather change. If the weather isn’t too bad I love sitting in a quiet area for a few moments of meditation or just peace without constant stimulation.
Those moments slow my thoughts down.
Modern life constantly pushes us towards noise, screens, comparison, and overstimulation. Nature does the opposite. It creates space. And I believe many of us need more of that space than we realize.
I also notice that when I spend more time outdoors, my mood improves naturally. I sleep deeper. Stress levels drop. I feel more grounded and emotionally steady.
I understand that nature or good sleep cannot magically solve every mental health challenge. Mental health is complex and deeply personal, and people sometimes need professional support, conversations, treatment or help from others. I believe strongly in being open about that. But I also believe small daily habits can help quietly shape how we feel over time.
At Just Björn, we talk a lot about wellness, healthy aging and feeling strong from the inside out. For me, true wellness is never just about appearance. It is about energy, resilience, recovery, emotional balance and feeling strong enough mentally to enjoy life fully.
Allow yourself small moments for the simple things:
- Good sleep
- Fresh air
- Movement
- Nature
- Quiet moments
- Real food
- Time to recover
The longer I live, the more I appreciate these things. Happy spring, and please send me your thoughts on what “charges your batteries” at bjorn@justbjorn.com.
B Your Best,
Björn
