834. THIS Is the Most Underrated Tool for Your Mental Health

Almost 30

Krista Williams & Lindsey Simcik

Alternative Health, Self-improvement, Education, Health & Fitness

4.5 • 4K Ratings

🗓️ 8 January 2026

⏱️ 102 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this episode, Krista sits down with bestselling author Tara Schuster to talk about what healing really looks like behind the scenes. Tara shares how journaling became the foundation of her mental health, why retreats can activate insecurity + comparison, and how inner child work actually shows up in daily life—not just therapy sessions. Ahead, find out why real self-compassion requires more courage than most people expect. Tara also opens up about leaving unhealthy relationships, navigating modern dating without losing yourself, and learning to trust your own inner authority instead of viral advice. This conversation is an honest, practical reminder that growth isn’t aesthetic or linear—but it is available to you. If you’re moving through a breakup, identity shift, or season of reinvention, this episode offers grounded tools + permission to choose yourself, again and again. We also talk about: How IFS therapy helps you understand your inner parts + emotional patterns Tara’s daily mental health rituals + why ritual works differently than habit Specific journaling practices proven to build resilience + reduce anxiety Healing the “inner popular girl” + letting go of comparison + self-judgment What it really takes to leave toxic relationships + reclaim self-worth Compassion for men, modern dating dynamics, and rewriting unhealthy narratives Why celebrating small wins is essential for long-term self-trust The downside of viral dating advice—and how to reconnect with your intuition Creating meaningful rituals without spending money or following trends Why “effortless healing” is a myth—and what real transformation actually demands Resources: Instagram: @taraschuster Substack: @taraschuster Website: taraschuster.com This Journal F*cking Works Purchase Link Order our book, Almost 30: A Definitive Guide To A Life You Love For The Next Decade and Beyond, here: https://bit.ly/Almost30Book. Sponsors: BetterHelp | This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/almost30 and get on your way to being your best self with 10% off your first month. Chime | It just takes a few minutes to sign up. Head to Chime.com/ALMOST30. Paleovalley | Head to paleovalley.com/almost30 for 15% off your order! Our Place | Visit fromourplace.com/ALMOST30 and use code ALMOST30 for 10% off sitewide. Fatty15 | Get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/ALMOST30 and use code ALMOST30 at checkout. Ka’Chava | Go to kachava.com and use code ALMOST30 for 15% off your next order. Hero Bread | Hero Bread is offering 10% off your order. Go to hero.co and use code ALMOST30 at checkout. Revolve | Shop at REVOLVE.com/ALMOST30 and use code ALMOST30 for 15% off your first order. #REVOLVEpartner To advertise on this podcast please email: partnerships@almost30.com. Learn More: https://almost30.com/about https://almost30.com/morningmicrodose https://almost30.com/book Join our community: https://facebook.com/Almost30podcast/groups https://instagram.com/almost30podcast https://tiktok.com/@almost30podcast https://youtube.com/Almost30Podcast Podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting: almost30.com/disclaimer. Almost 30 is edited by Garett Symes and Isabella Vaccaro. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Right, that's it. Come on, lights out. You've got a test tomorrow. Just two minutes. I'm about to reach the next level. It's going off now. Yeah, whatever. Let's see. Where's the app? Oh, here it is. What? How? Oh, no, you're out. Better look next time. Mom! It's game over for late nights on school nights. EE Wi-Fi controls help you get them off the Wi-Fi and into bed.
0:22.8	More parents are choosing EE broadband, the UK's fastest growing broadband provider.
0:27.8	To verify, see EE.com.ukuk slash claims. Hello and welcome to almost 30 podcast. My name is Chris Williams and I'm so glad you guys are here, truly, madly deeply. We just had such a good interview with my friend Tara Schuster, and I just wanted to
0:55.6	record the intro right after because I'm feeling so good. I'm feeling so excited. I'm feeling
1:00.5	motivated to start journaling again. And I figured we'd get this episode out earlier in the year
1:05.9	because the approach that she takes to self-help and healing and growth through journaling and all the
1:12.2	science-backed ways journaling can change your life, I think will be really helpful this year.
1:17.5	So Tara has taught thousands how to reparent themselves through practical, joyful rituals
1:22.6	for mental health, from sold-out workshops to her super popular substack to her first two books by the fucking
1:30.0	lilies and glow in the fucking dark. She now has a new book, this journal fucking works. So my
1:36.1	girl loves a curse. And if that bothered you, I'm so, so sorry. But in this conversation,
1:42.1	it was so much fun because we talked a lot about
1:44.2	journaling and why it's so impactful and some of the experiences we've had with journaling,
1:49.1	just really honest and authentic about, you know, some of our struggles hitting rock bottom,
1:53.7	what really changed and shifted her life about journaling. We talk about the science of journaling.
1:58.5	What about our brain or our experience makes journaling so
2:02.2	powerful for us? We also talked about parts work. We talked about internal family systems,
2:06.5	which is a tool you guys know I use in love. We talked about her abusive relationship,
2:11.5	what that was like and what was the moment where she knew she had to leave. We also talked
2:16.8	about dating and relationships. Our
2:18.4	experiences in dating and relationships, which wasn't a topic that I was planning to talk about,
2:22.7	but I think we both feel passionately that in the world of dating, there is such negativity
	...

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