Currently I’m working on asking myself how I can make any situation I’m in more cozy and enjoyable. That means making a hot drink and cleaning my glasses before I sit down to read. Putting on my favorite music while I scroll tumblr or draw. Checking the weather and putting on proper clothing before going on a walk. Preparing something nice to snack on before sitting down to watch TV. Listening to an audio book while doing the dishes. Because often it only takes a couple minutes to do something extra that makes a positive difference!
It’s a lot healthier to go for a daily walk than to sign up for a gym membership you won’t be using because you hate that kind of exercise. It’s a lot healthier to eat a frozen meal than to skip a meal because you were too tired to cook something healthy. It’s a lot healthier to take a quick shower than to procrastinate an elaborate routine for days. Don’t aim so high that you won’t be hitting anything!
I’m realizing that the question I need to be asking myself often isn’t “do I feel like doing x?” but “will doing x make me feel better?” Because even if taking that shower or going for that walk or sitting down to draw or showering or eating or cleaning isn’t what I’d prefer to do in the moment, it’s very likely that I’ll feel better afterwards. And maybe that matters more than whether I initially feel like getting started.
Exchange “damn, I didn’t do that thing I wanted to do for two whole weeks, I’m such a failure I might as well give up” with “now that I’m finally feeling better, I’ll return to working on that habit again” and you’ll get a whole lot further in life!
“How do I stop being scared of-” You do it scared. The courage arrives WITH the action, not before it. Don’t wait to feel confident before you act because the key to confidence is usually doing the thing while still scared as fuck
Going to stupid bed at a stupid reasonable hour for my stupid mental health.
[photo id: image of Bert from Sesame Street lying in bed with the duvet tugged all the way up to cover his nose. He has a sour expression on his face. End id]
