The advice experts have given me has been great.
There are a ton of reasons for this (just ask my therapist!
), but at the end of the day it can just be…hard.
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Hard to do things even when I know theyre good for me.
Hard to ask for help.
Hard to feel deserving of the tenderness of self-care.
Im just setting the bar really low.
Giving myself permission to be super tuned in.
Believe me, I interviewed them and heard it firsthand.
Going for a walk first thing in the morning.
For me, thats getting some fresh air.
The typical self-care tips.
Just pick one thing.
And maybe have a backup idea just in case.
And short of that, enjoying a whole mug of coffee before opening social media.
Half-assing some virtual social connection.
And, like, Iget it.
But Im also gearing up to spend Election Day and whatever follows alone.
For one, physically speaking, Ilive alone.
Just like Im pretty sure I wont take the advice to connect with friends over Zoom or whatever.
Thats why scrolling through Twitter is always so tempting.
Here are all these people!
Im reading their words!
Im not so alone!
So Ill be hanging out and watching conversations unfold in there.
you might learn more about finding Slacks and Discords you might want to joinhere.
Plus, some ofthese virtual support group resourcesmight scratch a similar itch.
Designating a push notification friend.
Then turn off everything else.
Planning for some low-lift escapism and distraction.
Instead, Im going for easy things that will keep my hands and eyes busy, but nottoobusy.
Think things like playingmindless mobile games, scrolling through TikTok, and reading throughr/relationshipsandr/AmItheAsshole.
Now is not really the time for lofty self-care goals that you havent stuck to in the past.
Doing some practical prep around my apartment.
For me, that means cleaning.
Ive said it before and Ill say it again: A messy environment exacerbates my messy emotions.
Or maybe it means prepping for a hangover (Imdoing that too).
Thanks to the 24-hour news cycle, its hard to pull yourself away and let the day beover.
So Im deciding ahead of time when Im going to cut myself off.
And setting a few reminder alarms.
