Wake up. Shower. Brush Teeth. Go To Class. Go To Work. Do Homework. Go To Bed. Repeat.
Sometimes in life, we get stuck in habits, ways, and how we go about daily life. We feel like broken records, scratching and starting over again. Shadows of depression and anxiety can develop, we begin to get frustrated and agitated, but we continue to "persevere" as if we are doing the right thing when really we could be hurting ourselves more by doing this. Why do we do this to ourselves? How do we recognize that we are doing this to ourselves? Before I list off a couple things to help you tackle these issues, let's start by recognizing or even being aware that you're doing something like this to yourself.
When you look at yourself in the mirror, are you happy with what you see? Do you feel like you're thriving or simply surviving? Do you feel bored and grow tired of doing things over and over again? Look at your daily habits. Are you doing something you enjoy every day or just trying to get through the day? Are you predominantly happy or predominantly sad? Do you feel like you're drowning?
Think about how you answered these questions and ask yourself if it is time for a change. A trick question since we are all in need of change at some point or another. So let's make a change!
1. Mix up your beauty/skincare routine every now and then.
Sometimes you need to take something out or add a new regime to your current one. I have combination skin so I know that when winter rolls around, I have to change my skin care to fit for dry versus oily skin. I also am aware of different vitamins I have to take as well as getting access to certain light sources. (Just a reminder, still keep wearing sunscreen even in winter). You also need to adjust for travel, so if you're about to head out for Spring Break, you need to be ready to change up your skincare and beauty regime depending on where you're going. If you plan on being in Florida or Mexico or the Bahamas, don't forget sunscreen and burn yourself to the crisp. If you're going north, still wear sunscreen but remember to grab some lotion to prevent that dryness.
2. Change your sleeping schedule.
This is something a lot of people tend to be resistant to, including me. Are you going to bed at sporadic times every night? Or are you just not getting enough sleep per night? If you have any health issues that deal with sleep, how are you going about coping with it? Going to bed at 3 am and getting up at 5 am isn't always going to be a good idea. Napping five hours a day is also an awful idea too. If you want to nap, be sure to nap for at most, 1 hour but is highly recommended to nap for 26 minutes (the NASA nap). If you go to bed at 10 pm, always go to bed at 10 pm and aim for at least 7-8 hours. You also want to turn off all electronics the hour before bed because light can disrupt sleep by stopping melatonin production. Read a book, study flash cards, play with your pupper.
3. Start exercising or change your exercising routine.
It is no secret that exercise is known to help with frustrations, channeling ADHD, and many other issues we come across in daily life. With ADHD and those without it, swimming can be calming for people since many people generally enjoy swimming for pleasure, not exercise. If you don't exercise, it would be wise to start doing so. For 21 days, watch how your mood and overall wellbeing changes. If you follow the same path of exercise every day or you push yourself too hard, it might be time to start changing up your routine. It is like studying, you can't study in the same spot every day and expect to learn everything but it helps to change your scenery once in awhile.
4. Do something you enjoy at least once a day.
Now, I don't mean going out to the bars, but I do mean watching a TV show you enjoy a lot, reading a book you love, or hanging out with some of your friends. I find that hanging out with people every day helps to improve the quality of my moods and the amount of work that I do. Even if that something you enjoy is taking some me time, then that is exactly what you should do.
5. Most importantly, know when to take a mental health day.
Sometimes you just need a day to relax and be by yourself or call up someone you care about to talk about how you feel. If you don't take the time to relax, you're never going to feel better. We often push ourselves to the point of driving ourselves insane when we have a lot of work to get done. The quality of your work overcomes the quantity. Don't take a mental health day every single day, but every now and then, if you feel yourself too overwhelmed, it is okay to take that break.
In life, chill for best results. xoxo.
