What to do when self-care isn’t working.

So here we are, more than two months into the shelter in place, and I’m running out of steam on quarantine. My mask is breaking, I can’t keep track of what I’m allowed to do, and I feel like I’m losing my mind. (Oh no, self-care isn’t working?) I’ve done all the self-care activities: exercise, baking, watching Netflix, drinking, taking a walk, having food delivered, and calling everyone weekly on Zoom. Yet somehow, I still ended up crying on the floor of my closet. 

Self-care had become a welcome distraction for me from all my feelings. Eventually, my emotions caught up with me. At first, I wasn’t sure what to do when self-care isn’t working for me anymore. Usually, a workout can cure any mood I have. Baking bread or pizza, oh girl, it would typically make my heart feel so full. 

Nope, I found myself wanting to cry while lifting weights. I found myself wishing I could lay down during one of my runs. I couldn’t get out of bed one morning. 

Do Nothing

After taking a day off to mostly stare outside, I realized the best self-care is sometimes doing nothing. When self-care wasn’t working. I did nothing. I let myself lay down almost all day and turned off my phone. Let me tell you it was amazing! 

I realize everyone can’t take a day off, nor can I do this all the time either. So here is an option, I have found that putting 5 minutes of nothing somewhere in my day has helped me immensely this past week. Just 5 minutes, and I feel refreshed again. 

Find Gratitude

Honestly, if you can do step one, that’s all you need to do when self-care isn’t working. For those of you that laughed to yourself and said, “ya, right!” when you read, do nothing. I hear ya! Maybe you have children running around or way too much going on. So here’s another one for you. When you feel like you might just lose it, think about 3 things you are grateful for at that very moment. That’s all! 

Just Dance

If all of those make you roll your eyes, put on your favorite Lizzo song and just dance girl! Then go back to doing all the things. I’m serious. I’m doing it right now.

I hope that from my personal update on what to do when self-care isn’t working, you learned not to be too hard on yourself. There is way too much to deal with right now. That’s the last thing you need. Sending love!