Here is what I’ve realized lately:
Wellness and self care are such important topics to me, not only because of my mental illnesses, but because I never had a good example of them while growing up.
Growing up, I was never shown how to truly take time for self, how to truly work on your body, mind or spirit and feel good. I was never shown that it’s okay to take that time. I was never shown that it’s important and worthy and necessary to take that time.
I used to sit and watch my mom cook and clean and think she had this special “mom” energy because she just kept going and going all day. My son is 19 months old and I’ve wondered when that “mom” energy would kick in for me because I’ve never seen a hide nor hair of it so far!
But the other day, I realized, it’s not a special kind of energy exactly. It’s the energy of a person who isn’t listening to their own body, mind or needs. It’s a person who just is on go go go all the time and not paying attention to the necessity for wellness and self care.
Maybe the dishes need done or the floor needs vacuumed or there’s more holiday decorating to do…but ya know what? If your depression or anxiety or whatever you are dealing with is weighing you down…if it’s hard to breath or you just want to cry. It’s okay, it’s necessary, it’s important to take time.
Fuck the dishes.
Fuck the housework.
Fuck the decorating.
Go curl up in bed with a book.
Go take a shower and relax.
Go out for coffee and forget the house exists.
I’ve personally never been one to do housework as often as I should (? Although, I’m not sure what ‘should’ means). And while I love to be productive, if my anxiety is out of control or my depression is making me lethargic, I’ll sit on the couch and relax because I know it’s what I need.
Those dishes, that cat hair on the floor, the decorations…they will still be there in an hour or even tomorrow. Pushing yourself past your limits, pushing your mind and body to the breaking point just makes it break faster. There’s no one but your own expectations telling you those things need to be done right now. It’s more important to listen to your body and take time for your wellness. Your body doesn’t care about the dishes, it cares if you are taken care of and if you feel well.
Listen to that voice inside that’s yelling at you to take a damn break sometimes.
Share: Do you take the time to honor your self? Do you listen to that voice inside of you? If you don’t, how can you start?
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