Hannah Daisy Illustrates #BoringSelfCare on Instagram
There are many ways to practice self-care. Often, when self-care is promoted, the focus is on relaxing tasks like taking a bath, cuddling up on the couch, doing some gentle yoga or meditating. However, not all self-care is enjoyable. Sometimes, the best way to really take care of yourself is to cross off the more boring items on your to-do list.
“In my profession, we talk about self-care involving a much wider range of ‘occupations’ or ‘things you have to do every day,’” Hannah Daisy, a mental health occupational therapist, told The Mighty. “I started to feel that conversations online about self-care often alienated people.”
So important, especially if you live in a house share…. #boringselfcare . . . . . . . #edfam #edfamiliy #therapy #mentalhealth #mentalillness #drawing #art #illustration #psychosis #ocd #depression #anxiety #gad #bpd #selfharrm #borderlinepersonalitydisorder #eatingdisorder #anorexia #promarker #art #illustration #chroncillness #spoonie #spoonies #spooniesunite
To help others understand that self-care isn’t just bubble baths and massages, Daisy created #boringselfcare – a series of illustrations highlighting less than luxurious self-care tasks like doing the dishes, getting dressed, household chores and other personal items.
The illustrations are shared on Daisy’s Instagram, makedaisychains, under the hashtag #boringselfcare.
Please take your medication as prescribed. If you take meds for your mental health and want to reduce or come off please make a plan. Talk to people who support you, whether that’s friends, family, healthcare professionals etc. Let them know and have a plan to monitor how you feel and if you feel worse, what you should do. Never ever just stop medication (unless you have an allergic reaction obviously. ) ???????? ???? #boringselfcare . . . . . . . #edfam #edfamiliy #therapy #mentalhealth #mentalillness #drawing #art #illustration #psychosis #ocd #depression #anxiety #gad #bpd #selfharrm #borderlinepersonalitydisorder #eatingdisorder #anorexia #promarker #art #illustration #chroncillness #spoonie #spoonies #spooniesunite
“When you experience chronic illness or mental health problems, every single task can be a chore and uses up energy,” Daisy, who lives with mental illness and endometriosis, said. “Often people find they need to work out how much energy they have for the day and figure out which tasks are achievable for the day. With #boringselfcare I wanted to convey the message that even the really boring activities or chores are a valid form of self-care.”
In addition to creating illustrations based on her knowledge as a therapist, Daisy’s illustrations also take from her personal experience living with mental and chronic illness.
“While everyone’s experiences are different and I don’t claim to understand what it’s like for everyone, I can certainly say I have found some everyday tasks really difficult,” Daisy, who lives in London, said. “I really want people to recognize the importance of doing these tasks, and that they are achievements and that they are something kind you do for yourself.”
The response to her series, Daisy said, has been overwhelmingly positive.
It always surprises me when people reply to my Instagram posts either saying ‘urgh I hate this task’ or ‘I am going to do this today.’ I think sometimes we all go about thinking that each person goes along in everyday life thinking everyone else is fine, but as soon as I made a drawing about hating emptying the rubbish bin, so many people replied saying they hate it too and find it more difficult when they are in pain for example or depressed. I wanted to put across, that yes it’s boring but it is also a valid form of self-care.
For more #boringselfcare, follow Hannah Daisy on Instagram.
Jordan Davidson is The Mighty's Managing Editor. Follow her on twitter @JA_Davids or email her at jordan@themighty.com.
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