Just a Reminder to Take Care of Yourself

During COVID, I did not leave the house for six months out of pressure from my significant other.  I ended up getting a severe Vitamin D deficiency, and my entire body started aching, I was tired all the time, and I didn’t feel like doing anything—not even getting out of bed.  I would spend hours in pain wondering what was wrong with me, and it turned out to be as simple as not getting the nutrients I needed from not being exposed to direct sunlight.  I started taking vitamins and going outside, and I made a recovery after many, many months.

When times are stressful, you might try to push through like I did and think that if you just try harder or suck it up, things will be fine.  But in doing that, you’re ignoring the signs of things you need to live a healthy life.  Maybe you need quiet alone time to decompress.  Maybe you need to get out of the house with friends to reinvigorate yourself.  Maybe you need certain nutrients.  Maybe you need to think about a new career choice.  Whatever it is, make sure that you listen to it before you reach a breaking point!

To test for issues, ask yourself the following questions:

• How am I?
• If I’m stressed, what are the causes?
• Once I know the cause, is it something I can directly address or solve?
• If so, how?
• If not, is there support that I can get to help me through the issue? (e.g., a friend, a doctor, a family member, a relaxing activity)
• Have I been neglecting anything during this period of stress? (e.g., exercise, sleep)
• If so, is it causing or adding to my problem?  If so, what can I do about it?

It doesn’t have to be fancy or formal: just ask yourself how you’re doing and make sure that you do what you need to do to feel better—as good as you can given the situation.  Make sure to prioritize the solutions that contribute to your well-being like healthy food, exercise, sleep, meditation, etc. first and only rely on “medication” like alcohol, unhealthy food, and other substances or addictive activities for emergency, temporary relief at most.  Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and don’t be afraid to squeeze in something for yourself if you are spending an inordinate amount of time and self-sacrifice in service to others.  Also, make sure to cut out unnecessary things that might be adding to negative emotions like news, politics, and ornery acquaintances.

Life can get crazy, and it seems to get crazier every day despite the world (i.e., the average person’s quality of life) getting better every day.  Make sure to take care of yourself!

That is all for today…because your well-being is what matters most when you are not feeling well.