We all have days that feel like your brain is going to ooze out of your ears. Being a human is really hard. It can be mentally exhausting to work, go to school, hang out with friends, run errands, eat healthy or do all of those things in the same day (like most people do). Sometimes it doesn’t matter if you’ve gotten nine hours of sleep and drank straight espresso, we all need “me” time, and we all put off “me” time in order to take care of other priorities. As somebody who is busy all the time, I have complied a list of ways to give your brain a hug. These are ways that you can make the most out of your “me” time, that is, when you decide to take it.
1. Clean your room/living space.
I cannot emphasize this enough. This is such a big one for me. I can’t relax in a messy room. I have friends who say they just aren’t clean people and don’t care if their rooms are clean, but there is more to it. You cannot fully appreciate the space you are in unless you can see all of it. Besides that, it is an impending task that is taunting you as you lie in your bed. Put away your clothes! Pick up that bill on the floor so you don’t lose it! Put that cup in the sink! Don’t tell me that you lie in bed and think, “Wow, this is nice. I know that I might step on a thumbtack, and I know that there’s a mixture of clean and dirty clothes on my floor, but I am fully able to sit back and relax in my room.” Not having enough time is a different story, but you’ll find that if you maintain a cleaner space, you won’t even have time to mess it up in the first place! For example, my Mondays and Wednesdays are cleaning days.
I clean my bathroom, wash my clothes and sheets, and sometimes dust things if I feel up to it. Sometimes it takes me both Monday and Wednesday to clean. The thing is, when I come home on those 10-hour workdays and crash in my bed, it feels like the most comfortable place I’ve ever been. You deserve that, too!
For more information on why mess causes stress, visit this website.
2. Take a shower.
A really bad habit of mine is avoiding a shower. I tend to do this when I’m under a lot of stress (when am I not?). I think I internalize a shower as “the start to my day,” so by avoiding it, I technically haven’t started the day. This is a bad habit that is easily formed. Take a shower! Feeling refreshed and good about your appearance makes for a more productive day,. Plus, when you shower, it’s like crossing another thing off your list. Speaking of lists…
3. Make lists.
This is my favorite thing to do when I am being suffocated by tasks. There are times I break my list up into categories, and sometimes I just write everything down in no particular order. I'll even include “take a shower” on that list, because there are days when small tasks like grooming just seem daunting. Making lists makes the day feel more organized and easy to take on. It helps clear some space in your brain to think about other things — like what you’re having for dinner later. For information on making awesome lists, go here.
4. Stop eating crap.
This is a big one. Seriously, stop eating fast food, STOP WITH ALL THE JUNK. You are what you eat, and if you eat unhealthy stuff, you’re going to feel unhealthy. The best way to handle this is by meal prepping. When I am out of the house, I can be gone for up to 12 hours between school and work. That is prime time to eat junk. Instead, packing lunches and snacks can greatly reduce the extra time you spend thinking about grabbing something near you. Go back to grade school — PBJs, fresh fruit, apple sauce, cheese sticks and pretzels are all great things to have for lunch. If you have access to a refrigerator or microwave, yogurt or leftover pasta is a good option. Just quit being lazy with things that go in your body. Try this for a week and see how different you feel. Here are some ideas.
5. Stop talking to people just because it's convenient.
This is so difficult for so many of us. It’s much easier to text that one person back from your class because you know you’ll see them later and it’ll be awkward if you don’t. It’s easier to let your neighbor jot down the homework from last night to avoid confrontation. How about this — stop doing things you don’t want to do. Stop letting that random person in class steal your answers, stop maintaining friendships you don’t care about. Don’t be a jerk, but don’t dedicate “me” time to entertaining people you don’t care for. Stop worrying about what people think about you. This goes for hanging out with friends or even attending an event you don’t want to go to. Sometimes it’s best to just take the night off and let your friends go without you to that movie you heard got bad reviews anyway. Who cares?
6. Do some form of physical activity at least three times a week.
This gets put off a lot, but I guarantee that it will make an awesome difference. I don’t care if you’re doing a weight lifting class at your gym or playing "Just Dance" on your Wii U. Moving your body and sweating out some of those toxins makes you feel like you deserve to lie in bed all day on your day off!
7. Pick up some sort of hobby.
Play a video game, play an instrument or read a book! Do something that is strictly for YOU, and don’t blow it off. It counts as “me” time, and you’ll be more likely to take it!
8. STRETCH and SMILE
It sounds cheesy, but sitting on the floor and stretching for five minutes makes a huge difference in how you feel. Take deep breaths and savor the moment you’re not scrolling through Facebook on your phone. It also helps to smile as wide as you can. As Thich Nhat Hanh says, “Breathe, you’re alive!”
9. Invest in a book you can read excerpts from when you’re feeling frazzled.
This could be a religious text, or simply a book emphasizing peace. I highly recommend “Peace is Every Step” by Thich Nhat Hanh. Read a couple of pages while drinking your coffee in the morning instead of staring aimlessly at the wall. It will help you set your mind on a path to relaxation for the day.
10. Develop a nightly routine (and try not to skip it).
Actually brush your teeth at night. Wash your face, take off your makeup, take off any jewelry you’re wearing, shave your face if it’s bothering you. Moisturize, fluff those pillows, read your book instead of watching TV some nights. Sometimes doing small things for ourselves like this gives us something to look forward to on those super long days. It helps to get in your own space and be able to close off the world.
11. TURN. YOUR. PHONE. OFF.
Deal with it. There’s a “do not disturb” button on your iPhone for a reason. You can set it to only ring if someone from your favorites list calls. Taking this break away from the screen relieves so much tension from focusing and being constantly connected. You must attempt to disconnect.
12. Go outside!
Or, if weather doesn’t permit, open your window and get fresh air somehow. Go get the mail, say hey to your neighbor, walk the dog, it doesn’t matter. Fresh air can do amazing things for your spirits.
13. Give yourself a hug.
This one is really important. Hug your pillows! Smile in the mirror! Make a cup of tea! You got through another day, and that means you should be proud.
Whether you are carrying a mental illness on your shoulders or just the weight of responsibilities, it’s important not to forget about yourself. Being a human is hard, and sometimes it feels like the earth has no mercy on you. When times make your brain feel like clam chowder, try to get a little more organized and wear a smile on your face. You are important, too.
