Every May, there’s a lot of conversation around mental health. I see the posts, the statistics, and the reminders to check in on the people we care about, and I really do think these conversations matter. But I also think there’s more to mental health than we sometimes talk about.

Think about how we feel on an ordinary day. Maybe we’re tired because we stayed up too late, we’ve been rushing around without eating a proper meal, or we’ve had so much going on that we haven’t had a chance to sit down and catch our breath. Then something small happens, and suddenly we’re irritated, overwhelmed, or ready to lose our patience.

I’ve had days like that, and I think most of us can relate. Sometimes, we just assume we’re having a bad day and carry on. We don’t always stop to think about what’s been going on with us lately.

Mental health is part of our everyday lives. It shows up in how we handle stress, how we react when things don’t go as planned, how well we concentrate, and how much energy we have for the people around us. It can even affect how we see ourselves and how we talk to ourselves when things aren’t going well.

While there’s no single reason why we might feel anxious, low, overwhelmed, or unlike ourselves, our physical health can be part of the picture, too.

The Connection Between Our Body and Mind

I’m glad we’re talking more about the connection between nutrition and mental health. There’s growing interest in areas like nutritional psychiatry, which looks at how food and nutrition may play a role in mental well-being. Things like what we eat, how well we sleep, how we manage stress, and whether we’re getting enough of certain nutrients can all affect how our bodies function, and because our brain is part of our body, it’s connected to all of these things, too.

For example, have you ever gone most of the day without eating properly and found yourself feeling tired, irritable, or unable to concentrate? I’ve done that many times. Or had a few nights of poor sleep and noticed that you have less patience than usual?

Of course, there are many reasons we might have a hard day or struggle with our mental health. But how we feel physically can affect how we feel mentally, too. I’m not saying food can fix everything, because it can’t. Mental health is complicated, and sometimes we need professional support, medication, counselling, or other forms of care. But I do think nutrition and our everyday habits deserve a place in the conversation.

What Does This Look Like in Everyday Life?

When life gets busy, looking after ourselves is often one of the first things to slip. We might skip lunch because there’s too much to do, grab whatever food is easiest, or keep reaching for coffee because we’re tired and still have a long list of things to get through. We stay up late trying to finish everything, then wake up the next morning and do it all over again, and when we’re already feeling stressed, it’s easy to keep going without realizing how much it’s affecting us.

Sometimes, we’re so used to being busy that we don’t even question it anymore. We just assume feeling exhausted is part of being an adult, or that getting frustrated over little things means we need to be more patient. But what if we took a closer look at what’s been going on?

Have we been eating enough? Are we getting any decent sleep? Have we had a chance to step away from our responsibilities, even for a little while? Is there something bothering us that we’ve been pushing aside because we haven’t had time to deal with it?

These questions won’t explain everything, but they can help us notice patterns we might otherwise overlook. Looking after ourselves doesn’t always have to involve making big changes. Sometimes, it means sitting down for a proper meal instead of picking at snacks all day. It could mean stepping outside for some fresh air, putting our phones away for a bit, or going to bed even though the to-do list isn’t finished. It might also mean telling someone we’re having a hard time instead of automatically saying we’re fine.

These things may sound simple, but when we’re caught up in everything life asks of us, they’re often the very things we forget to do.

Simply Salt & Soul

The Salt (The Science): Our brains need energy and nutrients to function properly. What we eat can influence our energy levels, concentration, and overall health, which is one reason nutrition is part of the bigger conversation around mental well-being.

For example, when we go too long without eating, or experience significant blood sugar fluctuations, we may notice changes in our energy, mood, or ability to focus. How we respond varies from person to person, but regular, balanced meals can help support more stable energy throughout the day.

Nutrients matter, too. B vitamins are involved in normal nervous system function and energy metabolism. Magnesium plays a role in nerve signalling, while omega-3 fats are important components of brain cell membranes. Iron helps carry oxygen throughout the body, and protein provides amino acids that the body uses to make neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers involved in communication between nerve cells.

Our gut is part of this picture as well. The gut and brain communicate through what’s known as the gut-brain axis. Researchers are continuing to explore how the gut microbiome may influence inflammation, stress responses, and mental health.

Of course, getting enough nutrients doesn’t guarantee that we’ll feel happy, calm, or focused all the time. Mental health is influenced by many factors, including genetics, life experiences, relationships, sleep, stress, and our environment. Nutrition is only one part of the picture.

The Soul (The Wellness): Life gets busy, especially when you’re juggling family, work, and everything else that needs to get done. It’s easy to put yourself last without even realizing it. You skip a meal, stay up late to finish a few things, or tell yourself you’ll deal with whatever’s bothering you another day. Before you know it, you’re tired and running on empty, but you just keep going because there’s still so much to do.

Maybe take a look at how you’ve been feeling lately. Are there days when you feel pretty good, and others when everything seems to get on your nerves? Have you been sleeping enough? Eating properly? Or have you just been so busy dealing with everything that you haven’t really had a chance to slow down and see how you’re doing?

Sometimes, you might not even know why you’re feeling the way you do. It could be stress, lack of sleep, or something else going on in your life. But paying attention to how you’ve been feeling can help you figure out what you need. Maybe you need a good night’s sleep, a chance to talk things through with someone, or a bit of help because you’ve been trying to handle too much on your own.

If what you’re experiencing is affecting your daily life or isn’t getting better, reaching out to a healthcare professional is a good step, too. Looking after our mental health isn’t something we do once and then move on from. It’s something we continue to pay attention to as life changes and different things come our way. Some days will feel easier than others, and that’s true for all of us.