How to Cultivate Curiosity and Hope: A Practice for Personal Growth and Passion
Work & Burnout Recovery, Joy & Playfulness Margot Joy Therapy Work & Burnout Recovery, Joy & Playfulness Margot Joy Therapy

How to Cultivate Curiosity and Hope: A Practice for Personal Growth and Passion

[Photo credit: Daniel Faro]

Curiosity is a powerful form of self-care—especially when you're feeling burned out, stuck, or unsure of who you’re becoming. It invites you to explore without pressure, ask gentle “what ifs,” and follow what sparks interest or admiration. You don’t need a plan—just a willingness to wonder. In that wondering, hope begins.

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Free Self-Care: 25 Bizarre Ways to Take Care of Yourself
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Free Self-Care: 25 Bizarre Ways to Take Care of Yourself

[Photo credit: Franco Dupuy]

Tired of Bubble Baths? Try a Blanket Burrito Instead.

Let’s be honest: self-care advice starts to feel like déjà vu after a while. Bubble baths, journaling, meditation—great, but what if your brain just yawns at the thought? Sometimes, what we really need isn’t more calm—it’s a little chaos. A jolt of joy. A nudge toward the absurd.

This list is for when the usual self-care routines feel stale. These 25 weird, free, and slightly unhinged ideas are designed to reset your mood, not your credit card balance. Because sometimes, the most healing thing you can do is wrap yourself in a blanket like a burrito and roll around the living room. Trust me—it’s therapy, just louder.

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Why Coming Out Matters: LGBTQ+ Self-Discovery Musings
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Why Coming Out Matters: LGBTQ+ Self-Discovery Musings

[Photo credit: Fanette Guilloud]

Why Coming Out Matters

Coming out isn’t a one-time event—it’s an ongoing act of self-discovery, a commitment to living more freely and authentically. For many in the LGBTQ+ community, embracing your identity can feel like finally taking a deep breath after years of holding it in.

What if exploring your bisexuality—or any part of who you are—isn’t just about finding a partner, but about finding yourself? What if life gets even better when you stop editing your truth to fit someone else’s comfort?

This journey isn’t linear. Some days are full of clarity, others bring doubt. But every step is part of becoming. And when you live your truth, you make room for others to do the same. The courage to explore possibility is not just a gift to yourself—it’s a quiet revolution.

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Joy as Resistance: Why We Need Joy in Burnout Recovery
Joy & Playfulness, Mental Health & Healing Margot Joy Therapy Joy & Playfulness, Mental Health & Healing Margot Joy Therapy

Joy as Resistance: Why We Need Joy in Burnout Recovery

[Photo credit: Chris Abatzis]

In the midst of burnout, it can feel like joy is the first thing to go—and the last thing we think we deserve. But joy isn’t a reward for healing; it’s part of the healing itself. In a world that constantly demands more, choosing joy becomes a radical act. It’s a way of saying, I am more than what I produce. I deserve to feel alive, even when the world is on fire.

This piece explores how joy not only sustains us in our burnout recovery, but actively resists the systems that benefit from our exhaustion. Whether it’s dancing in your kitchen, laughing with a friend, or finding softness in silence—joy is proof that hope is still here. And that’s worth holding onto.

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My Mental Health Survival Kit: Tools for Navigating Crisis Moments
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My Mental Health Survival Kit: Tools for Navigating Crisis Moments

[Photo credit: Chris Abatzis]

When anxiety, panic, or deep sadness strikes, it can feel like your whole world collapses. Time distorts, the future feels impossible, and your thoughts spiral fast. In those moments, I return to one grounding truth: Just focus on the next minute.

You don’t need to fix everything right now. You just need to breathe, ground yourself, and take it one step at a time.

This is my personal first aid kit for mental health emergencies—strategies I use when my mind is in a tailspin:

  • Focus on one minute at a time

  • Use breathwork to calm your nervous system

  • Try a guided meditation for anxiety relief

  • Do one soothing thing in the next five minutes

  • Seek comfort—without guilt

  • Connect with a pet or calming video

  • Use grounding techniques to stay present

Not every moment will feel good. That’s okay. You don’t have to feel good to keep going—you just have to take the next breath. And then the next. One minute at a time.

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Your To-Do List Is Killing You—Here’s What to Do Instead
Joy & Playfulness, Work & Burnout Recovery Margot Joy Therapy Joy & Playfulness, Work & Burnout Recovery Margot Joy Therapy

Your To-Do List Is Killing You—Here’s What to Do Instead

[Image credit: Agustín Farias]

You’re exhausted. You’ve got too many expectations on yourself, and it’s really hard to survive. So you go to therapy, and they tell you to breathe, take a walk, drink more water, try a weighted blanket, make a new friend, paint a picture. None of these things help you get your already huge to-do list done. Why are you paying for this? Sound familiar?

Here’s the thing—your brain lies to you. It tells you that grinding harder will solve everything. That rest, play, and creativity are luxuries you can’t afford. But what if they’re actually the key to survival?

Maya Angelou once said, “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” Creativity isn’t just for artists; it’s for anyone who wants to feel human again. What might happen if, instead of pushing through your stress, you danced? Wrote? Doodled?

This isn’t self-care fluff. It’s ancient. It’s necessary. And it might just change how you move through the world.

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