[17/366] self-care

[cosmolinguist]

17 What self-care things do you find helpful to ground yourself or “talk yourself down from the ledge” when you’re overwhelmed by your feelings or by stress?

Removing myself from either the stressful situation or the one where I can just sit around and think about how stressed I am helps: so I like good human company best, but things like walking the dog will also work.

Also because I tend to procrastinate and perseverate, there's almost always something useful I could be doing elsewhere: washing the dishes can be quite grounding, or any necessary chore that doesn't take too much brain power. Folding laundry is another good one. It's also nice that these things make the space I'm in a bit nicer to be in.

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Today is good self-care: I'd planned to be in London this weekend for a thing that now isn't happening, but since I'd planned to stay with a friend whole I was there, I've decided to stick with that part of the plan. It's nice to have a whole weekend to catch up and let someone else make food and drinks for me, instead of having to be sensible and go to bed early today so I can be out all day tomorrow.

The timing has ended up being good, considering the week I've had a bit of extravagant self-care seems like just the thing after extravagant breakdown in basic functioning. I have my laptop with me so I can do essay work if I feel up to it, but I'm not going to push myself to get a lot done and stress myself out about it.

Comments

[alithea]

I'm glad you're taking a proper break, hope you have a lovely recharging weekend

[annofowlshire]

Enjoy your time in the Smoke!

[cosmolinguist]

It's funny, my friend and I were determining it's been a whole year since I've visited, which is rather a long time for us (a planned visit last September had to be canceled at the last minute).

And on the way I said to myself that it seems like in that year I've totally forgotten how to cope with how expensive the train tickets are, and the tube, and everything else I'm used to putting up with while I'm here. :)

[annofowlshire]

We currently have a friend visiting us in the Smoke who we haven’t seen in just over a year, too. (He’s also from the Manchester area!)

[cosmolinguist]

Aw, hello to my kindred spirit. :)

[annofowlshire]

Probably worth noting that my husband grew up in that area, too. (Lymm?) They’ve known one another longer than I’ve been alive! XD

[cosmolinguist]

Oh nice. :) I have only been to Lymm once, to do Morris dancing in a pub.

[otter]

My comment about taking my anti-anxiety med turned into a post of its own.

Going to stay with my partner at his apartment is another way of getting a break.

I'm glad you kept your plan to travel for the weekend.

[norfolkian]

That sounds like excellent self-care. Have a great weekend!

[silveradept]

That sounds like a good way to spend a weekend.