Wellness Checkin

December brought feelings of depression and disgust. Normally Christmas is my favorite time of the year. The lights, décor, baking, and quality time with family are usually what drives and fills me with so much joy! This year was completely different from the norm for me, I had no interest in any of it. I was procrastinating everything because I had no determination to do any of it so I just avoided it as much as I possibly could.

These feelings were not just affecting my Christmas spirit. It was creeping its way into my appearance and mood. I lived in leggings and oversized sweaters, refused to wear any makeup, leaned on my husband for cooking meals or ordering in, and my home was getting overrun by clutter as I fell into my hole of despair.

We all have seasons of ups and downs. When we are down it can become comfortable to stay at that low. The issue with that is all that negative energy makes that hole bigger and bigger. Then before you know it you feel stuck and getting out can be a tremendous task.

The toll depression can take

When we stay in that hole our mind and body take the brunt of what we are doing to it without us even realizing it. The lack of care for we can result in a weakened immune system. With that weakened immune system, we are, more susceptible to illnesses. This is exactly what happened, and it was my body screaming at me to STOP and take care of myself.

As someone with high-functioning depression and anxiety, I tend to push myself to the back burner and pound out more than I can handle till I break. My body giving up and forcing me to rest and relax is exactly what I needed. At first, I was like what the heck this is the worst time of the year to be getting sick! I have so much stuff to do and time is running out.

As I lay in bed with my mind racing with all the things I needed to accomplish and feeling riddled with frustration and anxiety I took a moment to pause. In that pause, I realized that my body was screaming at me to rest. Turn off the brain, rest, and forget about all those things you think you need to get done. It was as if a weight was lifted off me and I could feel my body sink deeper into the mattress as my body relaxed. I fell asleep shortly after that and slept and slept and slept.

Creating an action plan

Once I was on the mend I took time to reprioritize my responsibilities and ask for help. Insert my family here as they are my support system. If you do not have family that can be that for you lean on friends. Sit down together and work out a plan of action. Disperse those responsibilities between you and your support system. You do not have to do it all by yourself.

For me, a cluttered space causes me anxiety and overwhelm. With the help of my support system, we decluttered and cleaned out so much clutter from our home, mind, and bodies. The removal of all the extra clutter that was just collecting dust gave me the boost I needed to jump out of that hole and begin taking better care of myself.

Make a list of things you need to accomplish and go over that list with your support system to divide those responsibilities. For me, I needed help with the house and cooking to have time to work out, do schoolwork, and have time to relax. I started by scheduling time for myself to do the self-care things I need to do to stay at my best. Pull out that calendar app or planner and write down times for you to do things you enjoy.

Short and sweet to stick with it

I set myself 10-15 minutes in the mornings for me to take a quick walk on the treadmill and used 10-15 minutes of my lunch hour to get in a yoga sesh. I also gave myself leeway with this instead of expecting myself to do this every single day and build too much pressure on myself. This gives me time to get in my workouts several times during the week.

Since I do work in an office I also set a timer to get up and stand at my desk several times during the day. When we sit for too long it can cause pressure points in our lower back causing pain and discomfort. That small change at the office helped with the pain I was having in my lower back. I also took the stairs more to get in extra steps throughout the day.

With a plan of action in place for getting in those workouts in a way that fits into my schedule, I felt I could stick with it. When making your plan make sure to set yourself up for success. Do not schedule things during times in which you will be susceptible to canceling. For example, I you have friends that tend to invite you out on a Tuesday evening do not schedule a workout during that time. Socializing is self-care too, so it is perfectly ok to have that time scheduled or allotted spots for those socializing hours that we all need.

The recap

Declutter your space

Divide the responsibilities

Schedule time for yourself

Move more

When we overload our plates things start to fall off, whether intentionally or not. Having a support system in your corner can keep you balanced and healthy. Take the time needed to practice self-care so you can release any negative energy. Even when it seems to be a chore try your best to keep up with your self-care practice. Small changes can reap huge results that will positively impact your life and health.

Know that you are not alone in this and there is help. You can do this I have faith in you!

~ Tina