One of the main things that I've come to realize after re-reading what I'd written in my journal during this period of self-exploration, is that I'd been neglecting myself.

I eat well and exercise regularly, so to the people who know me, this may seem like a strange statement. What I mean is I've been neglecting myself psychologically.

Always a perfectionist, I'd been so hard on myself that my self-confidence really took a big hit, and I hadn't even realized it.

It was easy for me to keep running in place, without ever noticing how I'd lost track of what was important.

But now I see the light and I think I owe most of it to my awesome friends and family, but also to journaling. Journaling has been scientifically proven to make people happier: putting your thoughts and feelings into words forces you to construct a coherent story. This has therapeutic effects and is a valuable tool when making resolutions.

Also, following the advice of my good friend Jane, I decided to splurge a little bit to increase my comfort: after my injury, I had to spend a looong time at home, and improving my comfort there proved to be essential for my psychological well-being.

So I remembered I'd read about blankets that supposedly helped with anxiety and ADHD. After some Googling, I found an article about these weighted blankets, and I picked the one they recommended.

I gotta say: wow.

You don't realize how something so simple can have such an effect. After getting my blanket, I felt calmer and less anxious straight away.

Now that my finger has healed, I am still sleeping and lounging with it.

Another thing that really made a difference is getting a pair of comfortable leather slippers. Every time I put them on, I feel like Prince Charles. They feel great and honestly, it's a lot more hygienic to come home, take off your "outside shoes" and use a pair of slippers.

Looking back, I'm thankful for those grueling few months. I caught up with a bunch of books I wanted to read, had a great time with friends and family, and discovered a lot more about myself going forward. So, please, always remember to be kind to yourself. You deserve it.