Today, I will be (try to) brief and get straight to the point. I won’t lie, I might sound all jumbled. I myself am having trouble concentrating today, but I wanted to bring you guys something. It’s been a rough week for me, and although I’m working on my personal and educational projects today, I need to acknowledge the importance of taking a break when necessary and giving yourself some extra TLC.
Today is #SelfCareSunday. Today, I want you to look at what’s happening with you, right now. I want you to ask yourself the question “Am I okay?”. If you find yourself a little (or a lot) stressed out lately, then make sure to give yourself some time for extra self care. Do you feel bad that you forgot to respond to that email or left someone on read? Are you having trouble getting through the day without struggling with anxiety or guilt? I want you to try to relax, and forgive yourself. You’re doing your best, even if that means something different for you.
Story time: One thing I will talk about in more detail in a future post is that I am a college dropout. This is something that has haunted me for the last several years. Like many people, I try to not go through life with regrets, but this is one I tend to beat myself up for. I suffer from anxiety and depression. This caused me to lose motivation to do my assignments, and I fell behind, hard. As a self-titled “overachiever”, this only worsened my issues. When I officially ended my enrollment, I felt horrible about it. I had thoughts such as “I could’ve done better. I didn’t do my best”. My problem was that I confused what I could physically accomplish with what I could mentally accomplish. Yes, I technically could walk to my laptop, sit down, and type words and read articles. But mentally, I couldn’t pull myself to move. I couldn’t find the energy to fight. My muscles and soul felt as heavy as bricks. I was drowning, even though physically I should have been able to. This caused years of thinking I had screwed up my life.
Of course, at age 20-ish, everything felt like a big deal. As a Generation Y emerging adult (not millennial, officially), I felt like my life was on a deadline, and if I fell behind, I would be forever doomed. Talking to my peers, they felt it too. So dropping out of college felt like I fell off a cliff. What was below, was despair and self-hate.
Eventually, I came across something someone said online. The wording wasn’t as memorable, but it essentially said that even though you aren’t doing as much as other people, that doesn’t mean you aren’t doing your best. Everyone’s best is different, and you shouldn’t hold yourself to a higher standard than what you can handle. When I heard this, it was like a switch went off in my head. Suddenly, years of guilt that I could’ve tried harder turned into understanding and took me to the path of self forgiveness. People tend to forget this part when it comes to self care. It’s not just a physical action (like showering) or a mental one (like relaxing via recreational hobbies or meditation), ― it’s also about finding peace with yourself.
“I walked out of my Crossfit box the other day sobbing.” At Barbell Asana, Crossfitter and yoga teacher Erica Varlese writes about taking a break from Crossfit so her body can retrain and heal.
Knowing When to Rest — Discover
On another note, I came across this article today and I think it could be very inspirational. To anyone who has ever needed a break to step back, reevaluate, and recover, this is for you. Sometimes, we all just need to remember to look at the wider picture and sit back for a while, whether that be a day or a decade. (Of course, let’s hope it’s not a decade long process). People love come-back stories because it’s all about renewal and redemption. It’s about coming back fresh; both being the same person you were, and also simultaneously a new person with peace, perspective, and wisdom. It can take a physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual form. You never know where the path will take you, but when done right, it can make a world of difference (for the better).
Take time to yourself today, and whenever you need it. It’s important to your health and well-being. Breathe. Meditate. Sleep in. Hit pause on the chores. Eat that slice of soul-food cake if it helps. Just remember to do it all in moderation. Taking one day off to watch TV is okay. But allowing yourself to develop unhealthy coping mechanisms can make things worse. Today for this #SelfCareSunday make sure to keep a balance of the good and the indulgent. However, more than anything, don’t feel bad for taking a much needed day off. It’s important. Don’t let anyone, or yourself, shame you for being the person you need to be. With that, happy #SelfCareSunday.
Join the conversation with me on Twitter @IndieBrainer, or use the #SelfCareSunday and #ForgiveYourself hashtags. Share your story. I look forward to seeing you there!
-Courtney.
Note: Feel free to share this article on social media or with friends. I will be updating my blog format soon to add new features, such as a new tabs and links. Right now, my blogs are weekly updated with a more frequent schedule on the horizon.
Have a good day! 😊🤗💓🙌🧠📣🙂⚕️
The Indie Brainer 