A Self-Care Post for People Who Have Been Told to 'Just Meditate'

I think everyone with a chronic or mental illness has seen self-care posts on social media. Or has been told by someone how they should “just exercise” or “start meditating.” This is not one of those posts. This post is for the people who just hope they can move from their bed in the morning. The ones who can barely show up for life but do their best anyway. The ones like me.

I usually try to prioritize self-care in my life. Doing my hair, my makeup, showering, changing the sheets, reading, etc. But when things start to get out of control with my addiction or eating or both, all of that goes out the window. I can’t shower because I don’t want to see or feel or deal with my body. I can’t bother doing my hair because it’s probably gross anyway. I don’t change my sheets because that takes so much physical and mental energy I will probably need later. I exercise, but not out of love for my body. Out of hatred. If I put makeup on it’s because otherwise I won’t be able to look in the mirror the rest of the day.

This is the self-care post for the people sitting where I am. Where I just showered for the first time in a week. And I only mustered up the energy because I reached a point where I physically couldn’t stand how I felt. And I showered in the dark, as quickly as humanly possible.

Step 1: Do not feel bad about not being able to do things for yourself. It won’t help.

Step 2: If you can, try and shower. If not, baby wipes are amazing and will, at the very least, help you feel like a human again.

Step 3: Send a text. Ask someone how they’re doing. Listen. Allow yourself a break from the in your head.

Step 4: Eat something. Anything. Because often when we don’t feel like we deserve nourishment is when we need it the most.

Step 5: Try and go outside. Just sit outside. Or open a window. See the world out there.

Step 6: Most importantly, even if you can’t do any of those things, try to remember you are still a worthwhile human being with thoughts and feelings and struggles. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. You just have to push through.

Self-care is not all yoga and smoothies. It just isn’t. Self-care is doing whatever it takes to remember you’re a person.

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Thinkstock photo via ARTQU.