Okay, it’s September and we’re all still in the same boat. It’s odd, back in April, I didn’t fully expect this to go beyond summer, and yet here we are! I’m not trying to play the blame game here, but man oh man, I’ve been FEELING allll the feelings lately. I’m talking major obsession over every low. It’s no surprise I’ve been super overextended at work, but it didn’t fully hit me until the day the plumber came to fix the water flow in our shower… and I just sat there on the floor and CRIED while sipping on my coffee watching Freaky Friday.

WHAT?

Random events can be triggering…

I know. The plumber did not do anything wrong, somehow that just triggered a release in me. I started venting to Brian that I was tired of living, working, working out, sleeping, and eating within the same perimeters.

Now, I acknowledge my privilege in being able to WFH during this crisis, I truly do… but I’m just NOW realizing that we’re in a pandemic and it freaking SUCKS.

I’m all for being positive, but I’m also a huge advocate for feeling all the feelings. Toxic positivity has no place here.

I also realized that I thrive off of other people’s energies. And while I do get a chance to see people at the grocery stores or on work Zoom calls, it just isn’t the same.

Missing the outside world

I’m not sure if it’s bc I feel “imprisoned” within the chambers of my own home, but I just miss having the option to go out — FREELY. And yes, I know middle America is in their own bubble pretending we’re all fine and that irks me to my core, but I also know I can’t dwell on them. Not right now. I just have so much on my mind.

So here goes, YOU NEED TO TAKE A MENTAL HEALTH DAY.

If you’re like me, you’re probably saving up your vacay or sick days for when you actually NEED them. I haven’t used my vacay days since January when I was recovering from surgery. At first, I had little to no hours bc I used them all for recovery (great vacay, huh? #newbielife). While waiting to accumulate hours, COVID happened and here we are. I’ve always saved my vacay days for when I visit home, but now, I’m not sure if I should continue saving or use a few here and there.

…which brings me here. You don’t need to wait for an amazing vacay or getaway to use your hours. The longer I prolong vacay, the more my mind is on the verge of exploding. The truth is, I’ve been feeling like a conveyer belt — constantly on the go carrying a ton of emotional baggage and now I’m just slowing down almost feeling stuck.

Yes, I’m stuck.

Stuck in a routine

Do you feel the same? Or maybe you also feel like a hamster on a wheel — the routine is ongoing, never changing, continuous. I love routines, but I do love a mix ofoptions being sprinkled in. Even Brian says I need a mental health day; that’s when you know it’s huge.  I work in public health, so perhaps mental health days are just understood in general, but I do wish this upon every industry.

You don’t need to feel like you deserve a day off bc I’m here to tell you, a day off doesn’t need to be worked for.

Plus we’re not working from a cute coffee shop, you know? Things ARE dark, dull, and different. Yes, we can be enlightened by certain things along the way, but sometimes, your mind just gets exhausted.

Right now as I’m typing this, I’m planning which day to take off. A day to simply be and do nothing. Or maybe do whatever I want without feeling like I need to be “on call” next to my laptop. It can be something as simple as waking up later, reading a book outside, spending all day perfecting a dish, etc.

Define your own definition of self-care

Self-care is more important now than ever. I admit, I used to correlate self-care to all the workout classes I used to sign up for. I still enjoy working out in my living room (bc where else would I go? HA), but I realize now self-care encompasses more than the $$ I drop on workout studios or green juices.

Self-care to me looks like taking care of myself the best way I can.

Let’s read that again – “the best way I can” and that pertains to you too. Gone are the days we shape our idea of self-care via an IG lens, okay?

Self-care could be journaling in the morning, listening to a motivational podcast, juicing, taking a walk, or sometimes just sitting in silence. Lately, I’ve been reading a few pages in silence sipping a cup of hot coffee, and it has changed my morning SO MUCH.

If you’re starting to feel just as burnt out as I am, please know you do not have to correlate a plane ticket to your day off. Mental vacays are just as essential right now, if not, MORE. I see that now, and I hope you do too. Please do not mislabel rest as being lazy either! Rest is SO important!

Wherever you are in life, please please please take some time for YOU and only you. And not in the way where you’d end up feeling lonelier. I mean, actually take a time out from work, Zoom calls with friends, etc. Ask yourself what your ideal day off would look like, and then just go for it!

Let’s commit to unplugging together, shall we?