Low maintenance self care for those always on the go
Are you ever so anxious that you can’t relax or be productive? Feeling just stuck in a weird nebulous of pointless headaches and procrastination?
Well, as it turns out, through an intensive process of trial and error, I’ve come up with some low maintenance ways to calm myself down. That’s right, I’m talking about taking care of myself, something I haven’t been too good at in the recent past.
The first (and most important) thing to do when you’re feeling anxious is to identify what you want or what you need. Usually, in my moments of distress, those two things line up pretty well. Regardless, when you need a mental, emotional or spiritual reset, I recommend a self-care break.
My self-care breaks usually consist of writing, dancing, meditating or doing something to shake up my normal routine.
If you need positivity and mental support, I recommend doing the 10/10/10 worksheet. The worksheet consists of three separate lists: most exciting desires, gratitudes and things you love to do. Disclaimer: this takes practice. Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t think of things to fill the lists. Once filling in the 10/10/10 sheet gets boring, consider journaling. Whether you’re writing in an old notebook or in a guided journal, writing will help rejuvenate your brain and promote deep self-reflection, easing your mind into a more gentle and compassionate state.
Dancing has been a solid cure all to my anxious brain. I love learning TikTok dances (as juvenile as it sounds), working out with The Fitness Marshall or jumping around the kitchen to my favorite jams. I think my new obsession with dancing has something to do with the exercise endorphins, so if dancing isn’t for you, any movement will probably help.
Still, there are times when dancing doesn’t calm my overactive mind down. In these times, I turn to meditation. Yes, this can be useful for the ADHD, ADD and chronic overthinkers in our midst. Fifteen minutes is usually my limit for meditation. For it to be successful, I need to have a guided meditation (I’ve found good ones on Apple Podcasts or Spotify). If I need an extra boost of compassion for myself, I use a facemask during my meditation. Sometimes simply focusing on breathing is enough to get me through the day.
While our brains love a good routine, sometimes a good routine can turn into a nasty rut that threatens to burn you out and leave you bedridden for days on end. The solution? Stepping outside your norm. Maybe instead of going grocery shopping on Monday, you go on Wednesday. Maybe instead of only looking at the flowers at the store, you buy some.
Shaking things up isn’t always that romantic. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I just need to go through the thousands of screenshots on my phone and delete everything I thought I needed 10 months ago.
Whatever you choose to do, make sure to keep compassion at the center of your actions. Write about yourself, not because you’re selfish, but because your voice matters. Dance, not for attention, but for your body to feel utilized and energized. Meditate and use your favorite face mask, not because you’re high maintenance, but because you need some you time. Do something outside of your comfort zone, not because your routine is bad, but because life demands to be lived freely and, albeit, a little chaotically.
*Graphic by James Clayton.
Emily White is a junior studying English and broadcast journalism. She is currently serving as the senior writer for the Lifestyles section of the Statesman.
—emily.white@usu.edu