I’m in a slump and trying to break out of it without overextending myself. What’s your favorite way to show compassion to yourself and gently get yourself going again?
I’m in a slump and trying to break out of it without overextending myself. What’s your favorite way to show compassion to yourself and gently get yourself going again?
Comments
Turn off my phone/social media and plan a special self care evening for myself which Includes: go for a long walk, get a special treat dinner, pick a comfort movie with snacks and some nice skin/hair care.
It depends what you mean by low self esteem…do you mean looks? Abilities?
Generally speaking things that make me feel better are simple things like making sure to lotion my body after the shower, get sandwich fixings I really love and make a kick ass lunch, buy a new book and dedicate time to be cozy and read it.
I love browsing online for cute, silly, or fun things I have no intention of buying. Usually it’s bags, crafts, electronics, or plushies. I enjoy Etsy for this purpose since there are really creative things on there.
When I find things I really like, I keep them in a tab and look at them over the next few days. It’s just fun to look at things, and if I do genuinely like something, I’ll start saving up for it… I try not to impulse buy, but I genuinely like looking at fun crafts or knickknacks I don’t necessarily want to own (because they’d take up space) and I just like thinking about them in a “Wow, someone made something cute and it captivates me!” kind of way.
I do this with fanart too- I find pretty pictures and save them to peek at during the week 🙂 Just to think about how nice it is that somewhere in the world is someone with similar interests who spent time making a thing that keeps me smiling when I need 10 seconds to clear my mind.
Bath with the works (magnesium crystals, mustard bath powder, hot as I can stand it), be outside, lay in bed, make myself something really delicious to eat. Take care of myself so when I feel better tomorrow, I’ll still feel like I was loved even if I felt bad about myself.
A hike. A dharma talk podcast, or something that brings me more to me like Brene Brown. Kristin Neff, Tara Brach, Pema Chodron. A meditation, need not be long, like ten minutes. Staying as present as possible – stay out of fantasy of the woulda, coulda, shoulda, the past, future sort. Of course the mind will go there. I just label it “fantasy” and return to present as soon as I notice. Stay present while walking,doing things around the house. Immediately shut down negative self talk, counter it with self thank yous and atta you’s (not unusual to have a bit of housework to catch up with when I feel down.) I like to work slowly and sort of dreamy rather than push push push. Notice how nice it is to have your hands in the water while washing dishes.
Engage with something creative like poetry, art or music. Look up a poem you like or a painting. Try a little exercise like a tiny drawing on an envelope, or a couple versions of a line of poetry. The garden is always a winner for me. Or even the pleasure of writing with a pen – maybe just leisurely copying a line of poetry I like.
When I’m feeling low, I try to do some exercise as this always lifts my spirits. I love cooking, so I’ll make something healthy and easy for dinner while I have some fun music playing. I’ll sometimes start dancing around and being silly. After dinner I’ll allow myself a see treat and then I’ll watch whatever I like on TV, and take pleasure in doing my face routine and see it as a pamper session.
If I’m too low for that I will reheat some frozen food I have in the freezer and veg in front of the TV, I’ll take something to help me sleep as I always feel better after a good sleep
A little treat. After a rough work week or mental health day, and when my period is especially beating me up, I allow myself to buy something small to enjoy, either short term or long term. I’ve bought myself anything from a little drink after work to a cute new top or skirt I’ve been eyeing for a while
A nice hot bath with a bath bomb and some candles lit around the edges and lavender Epsom salts in the bath
Give a generous amount of money to someone you can tell needs it. “Selfish generosity”. I don’t routinely money to people that ask, get in the intersection, so I kind of save up my generosity until I have a $20 and a bad day. GrubHubbing Starbucks is another good way to spend $20, but the joy is much more fleeting. Obviously, if you have $40, do both.