This week, we’re chatting with Karina Antram, coach, nutritionist, and author of Fix Your Fatigue, for her One Good Thing. 

Hey, Karina! If you could recommend one good thing we could all do for the sake of our mental health, what would it be?

There are so many aspects to having good mental health, but if I could recommend just one thing it would be this: simplicity. Or the formal definition, ‘freedom from complexity’. 

Interesting. Tell us more…

‘Life is really simple yet we insist on making it complicated,’ said Confucius. A simple life, in my opinion, is a happier life. Why? A simple, unprocessed diet, exercising outside in nature, not choosing a career solely to make you money, cutting back on material possessions that don’t add value to your life and becoming more efficient with your home and finances all leads to a happier, healthier, mentally stronger you.

Simpler is better. Got it. How can we start to simplify?

Let’s take some of the common life stressors that can negatively impact our mental health. Financial worry is a big one for many of us. If we apply the simplicity philosophy, then simply cutting back, deciding only to buy basic must-haves on a needs-only basis can be a way to take the financial pressure off. Pre-loved and vintage clothing are having a real moment – what can you borrow, rent or rewear in a different way?

Similarly, simplicity with food is incredibly important; Eating food as close to its original food structure in its natural state is key as consuming a lot of processed food is disruptive for our gut microbiome. An inflammatory body caused by processed food can impact our mental health, due to the bidirectional link between our guts and brains. 

My top five simplicity rules are:

• Eat simple, wholesome, fresh food as often as your schedule allows
• Buy less and create your own day uniform – for me, activewear is my daily go to
• Value what you are, don’t value what others’ expectations are of you
• De-complicate your life as much as possible – strip it back to the basics
• Learn to love a simple life and don’t compare your life to anyone else’s

How will appreciating a simpler life help our mental health?

We sadly live in a society where we are conditioned to want more, consume more and be better. This could be for many reasons. Pressure to live up to expectations, either placed by yourself or family, looking at others or friends who seemingly are further ahead and the emphasis from social media to ‘have it all’ and paint a picture of personal success. 

Ignoring this, choosing simplicity, and living your life the way you want is immensely freeing.

How do you, personally, do your One Good Thing?

I stay in my own lane, always. I root for my friends and take inspiration from those who are ahead of me on their journey. I never compare; instead, think: what can I learn from that person? I live life in line with my own values. 

And how has this changed your life for the better?

By adopting a simpler approach to my life, the biggest change has been in my energy. I have managed to fix my fatigue, which plagued me for years, disrupting all aspects of my life. 

Since adopting my simplification philosophy, it has revolutionised how I lead my life, how I use my time and what I spend my money on. By becoming more cautious and considered, I feel calmer, less stressed and better able to navigate life’s challenges. 

Fix Your Fatigue: 5 Steps To Regaining Your Energy by Karina Antram is out now.

Frame Of Mind is Stylist’s home for all things mental health and the mind. From expert advice on the small changes you can make to improve your wellbeing to first-person essays and features on topics ranging from autism to antidepressants, we’ll be exploring mental health in all its forms. You can check out the series home page to get started.

Main image: Getty; Stylist