I wrote this about a week ago on notebook paper. I’m better at giving good advice than I am at taking it. Still it is good advice and so it bears repeating, to myself and anyone else foolishly running themselves into the ground.
Note to Self:
You are stressed and strained to your limits. Your head aches and your gut burns. You are no longer thinking clearly and your work has become worse than inefficient. Continuing stubbornly forward will only add calamity to crisis. Stop. Take care of yourself now, before you fall apart and become somebody else’s problem.
-You are dehydrated. Drink something that isn’t caffeinated or alcoholic, or both. Sit still with a cup of herbal tea and don’t multi-task through it. Just sip and be still. Repeat as necessary.
-Go for a walk. Let all that flight or fight feeling have an outlet it can understand. Moving your mind will not help your body find rest. Stop sweating the small stuff figuratively and go work up a real sweat. You’ll feel better for it.
-Take a shower (or a bath). If you’ve moved your body adequately there’s a good chance you’ll need one. Even if you don’t, the warm water is soothing, the focus on self is nurturing. Lock the children and the animals out, they can fend for themselves for half an hour. Sometimes the quiet of a steam filled room is a great way to clear the mind.
-Eat something good for you. The junk food that is convenient in a hurry does not add to your physical well-being. Stop skipping meals, then bingeing on empty calories later. There are good foods that can be eaten quickly. Take some time to figure out what they are and stock the kitchen accordingly. Maybe you could even work towards eating sitting down again. Remember meals at the table? They’re good for you.
-Go to bed. You are not going to get more done, at least not done well. You will wander about trying to remember what you were about to do and feeling very down on yourself for the incompetence. Don’t. It’s late. You’re tired. Go to bed.
-Start again. Let each day be a clean slate and don’t waste a precious minute of it beating yourself up for previous failures. Do the best you can and accept that some days will be better than others. Let each day be it’s own.
And if all that fails go ahead and cry. You’ve earned a time-out. Take as long as you need. Then roll up your sleeves and tackle it all again.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I think a lot of us need to tuck that note in our own journals….
Such words of wisdom. Now, add: “Make time too connect with friends” and I think you have it covered. Hmm… Must print and post on my fridge…you are awesome and I love you!
This was wonderfully written. This is why I had a me day. I told everyone I was going to have a me day and they where just going to have to tough it and wait.