Sometimes Self-Care Is to Check Yo-Self Before You Wreck Yo-Self
This morning I awoke to the sound of dumpsters crashing as the truck *BEEP BEEP BEEP* jostled them to empty out the contents of a weekend’s worth of apartment complex trash. There must be a dozen dumpsters onsite.
This morning, I awoke a second time to someone talking, loudly, it seemed right outside my bedroom window. The office, again. Since they moved the apartment office staff to an apartment below me and two doors down, it’s constant traffic, noise, talking, and sometimes menial tasks—like sawing or drilling—which wake me up in the morning and then interrupt my thoughts throughout my morning’s work.
I finally got out of bed, exhausted, with the puffy eyes to show it. It was a great weekend with family visiting (my son even PROPOSED to his long-time girlfriend while they were here!) but I didn’t sleep well last night due to all the pain from ALL the walking this weekend.
And I mean, I got out of bed angry.
All that banging and beeping and talking wakes me up—nearly every morning since the offices moved to my building. Worse, they take up parking over here we can’t afford to lose. So, after weeks of this, I am angry, annoyed, sleepy—pick one.
This brings me to today’s topic: Self-Care Awareness to keep you from “wrecking yourself.”
Check Yo-Self Before You Wreck Yo-Self
When self-care takes a back seat (I’ve been running myself ragged, overworking, and staying up WAY too late at night…) your body and your mind truly suffer. These last few weeks I’ve had far more work than I can handle (easily) and I’ve been giving my spare time over to phone scrolling—which, doesn’t really improve our lives, as you know. You blink and 3 hours are gone…hours you can’t get back or trade-in for more sleep.
So picture the scene:
I charge out of bed, angry that the completely heartless office staff is down there yackity-yacking, completely unaware they’re waking me up every morning—and I go and give those people a piece of my mind! My hair is wild. My morning breath isn’t helping matters. And now, instead of being just awake and annoyed—I’ve also embarrassed myself in front of the maintenance guys (who would be the ones to fix my AC should it go out) and the office folks (who decide who lives here and who doesn’t.)
That’s scenario #1. And the only end result there is this: more anger and possibly a whole heap of embarrassment later on. Tarnished relationships that I need for a smooth stay here at these apartments.
A Better Idea
Perhaps back in the day when I was a bit younger, I would have done the charging-bull method. But after years of doing this, and learning how it is more embarrassment, really, than what it’s worth…I’ve learned that to preserve my longer-term mental health, I have to handle things that upset me in a new way.
I think: My stress level has risen. How do I handle this? THIS is how I handle it:
Remind myself how important it is that I NOT forget the CBD—these times call for that stability around the clock. Make sure to prioritize the doses and have a supplemental mid-day dose ready.
Step UP the self-care—not down. Put the phone away at 10 pm and read the book before bed—like you meant to do anyways—and get your best sleep, because stressful times call for dedicated sleep regimens.
Play the nature sounds, the waves, the sleepy-dreamy-peaceful background music I love and have been forgetting to use these last few weeks. Light a candle, select background noise, and spritz some Ylang Ylang while I am working—I can’t improve what’s going on outside my door, but here inside my apartment, I can make things more pleasant for myself.
Think of a polite way to ask the office staff to be cognizant of sleeping tenants. This might work if I can find a way to slip it into the conversation. Or I can send a super-polite email asking if there are any quiet hours I need to be aware of. If they ask why I can tell them I have neighbors waking me up every morning.
You see, there are myriad ways I have control in this situation. No, I cannot control the noise levels or make other people tone it down—but I can tweak my self-care so that I feel better. In short, self-care is our secret weapon. We fight back against stress when we love ourselves through it.
Sure, it feels good to charge like the cavalry, wild hair a-flowin’ as we stomp and rant about it all…but in the long run, that has no real benefit. Think of what’s best for your body and mind in the long run. Work toward that end with all the tools you have to use.
Thanks for reading this morning and I hope you can find some ways to manage your stress today. Ways that build you up and keep you on the right path for yourself. Happy Monday everyone!
That’s all for now! I hope you have a blessed and wonderful, energized week!
~ Christina M. Ward
Health & wellness freelancing professional
Poet & author