Context: I struggle with perfection and doing way too much than I can handle. I’m extremely self critical and quite hard on myself. I also tend to compromise myself and my health for work. These coupled with trauma have pushed me towards burn out and depression in the last few years. I’m finally taking the time to slow down and take better care of myself. It’s a learning every day to prioritize myself, but I’ve gotten some things right. Below are few things that are helping me. If you relate, I hope this list inspires you to pay attention to what’s working for you!
Cutting off social media
Cutting off (toxic) people
Cutting off media/movies that trigger me
Moving my body everyday or walking regularly
Eating lesser than a 100% full stomach
Letting go of timelies and strict rules/schedules
Taking a professional break for 3 months
A long me-time every morning: journal, music, tea
Reading books on psychology
Writing journals in a conversational style – between my inner child and adult (trying to model my therapist or other friendly voices)
Not dismissing feelings and sitting with it, no matter how uncomfortable
Therapy
Music
Crying. A lot.
Not responding in all discussions. Listening more, staying more silent and speaking less than necessary.
Wearing a perfume I like
Hot showers
Comfortable clothes
Allowing myself to do what I want and observing myself with curiosity (minimizing judgement)
Not forcing myself: if I say no, it means no. Trying to not push myself to do something I’m rebelling against. Trusting that there’s a reason why I don’t want to do it and trying to understand myself with compassion instead of forcing.
Speaking to few close friends once in a while
Drastically reducing the number of things I do in life – doing only that which matters. Not hustling.
Requesting myself to do something or asking myself if I would like to do something instead of forcing myself to do something and being harsh/critical. (Allowing myself to say no to things)
Focusing on effort and not just outcomes.
Buying cute things that make me feel like a kid – a sipper bottle, cute mugs
Decluttering my work table
Buying fewer things
Sitting out in the sun for 30mins in the morning during my morning ritual
Taking supplements – iron, vit D, B complex
Breathing deeply
Hugging myself
Tracking my mood on “How we feel”
Being creative – sewing, baking, painting
Singing
Sleeping as much as my body needs (allowing myself to sleep more on some days and less on others)
Not tracking too many things
Maintaining a list of energy givers and energy drainers and consciously doing more of the energy givers.
Understanding that the only way out of pain is through it. You have to feel it to let it go.