#Self-Care

[akindplace]

Sometimes starting an activity and taking a break so you can come back to it later or letting go of it altogether instead of pushing yourself is the best you can do when comes to your health. It doesn’t mean you’re letting go of yourself, it means you’re not going past your breaking point. Going little by little might help out more than trying to accomplish something all at once.

And it’s okay if you’re still learning how to navigate that when you have a chronic illness. What matters is that the decision should come from you, because only you know what your body feels like and how persisting vs taking a break might do to it. It’s not for someone else to decide for you, since they won’t have to deal with terrible pain/fatigue that will come from pushing yourself too much.

[always-coffee]

Stop doom scrolling and go get a snack and a glass of water, you complicated house plant.

[brytning]

[jacyevans]

A gentle reminder, especially for those of us in the USA - be gentle with yourself this election day. Most of us are exhausted, completely burned out, or flat-out terrified. There will be a very real temptation to spend all of your time sitting in front of the TV or doom-scrolling for results.

Here are some things you can do to break out of that cycle:

Go for a walk.

Read a book.

Re-read your favorite fanfiction.

Listen to music. If you’re looking for something upbeat, here’s a playlist of songs that make me happy. If you want something more chill, try some autumn vibes.

Phone a friend.

Watch your favorite movie or comfort TV show.

Grab a coloring book or print off some coloring pages.

Dance around the house.

Lie on the floor in the dark or outside in the sun, and just breathe.

Let yourself feel your feelings, whatever that looks like. Laugh. Cry. Scream into a pillow.

Take your meds. Stay hydrated. Don’t forget to eat. And get some rest.

[glowettee]

✧ 5 journaling prompts for clarity✧

hey lovelies! 🎀✨

journaling has this magical way of helping us untangle our thoughts and bring clarity to what’s swirling in our minds. if you’re feeling a little stuck, overwhelmed, or just in need of some dreamy self-reflection, here are 5 journaling prompts for clarity that will have you glowing from the inside out. i personally use these prompts for myself, and they really help. ✧

1. what’s been on my mind lately?

this is your chance to let it all out. what’s taking up space in your brain? maybe it’s a project you’re procrastinating, a dream you can’t stop thinking about, or even a random convo that’s stuck with you. (pro tip: don’t filter yourself, this is just for you.) writing it all down can help you figure out what’s truly important and what you’re ready to let go of.

2. what are my biggest goals right now?

your goals are like your north star, they guide you towards your dream life. write them out, even if they feel or sound a little big or scary! even if it’s acing that exam, starting a new hobby, or creating a routine that feels amazing, this is the moment to get super clear about what you want. and remember, your goals don’t have to be perfect, they just need to feel right for you.

3. what’s holding me back?

okay, time for a little tough love (but in the gentlest, coziest way). what’s standing between you and your goals? is it fear? a lack of time? self-doubt? be honest with yourself, and remember: identifying the blocks is the first step to moving past them. oh, and don’t forget to sprinkle in some compassion. everyone has things they’re working through.

4. what makes me happiest?

this one is a total vibe booster. think about the little (and big) things that light you up. could it be your morning coffee ritual? late-night convos with your bestie? the feeling of finishing a good book? write it all down, and let it remind you that joy is all around you, waiting to be noticed. ✨

5. what does my dream life look like?

now for the fun part. close your eyes and picture your ideal life. what does it feel like? what are you doing? who are you with? where are you living? let yourself dream as big as you want here. (pro tip: the more detailed, the better.) this is the blueprint for your glow-up.

bonus tips:

make your journaling session feel special: cozy blankets, soft music, and your favorite pen.

don’t stress about perfect grammar or spelling. this is just for you!

revisit your answers every so often. you’ll be amazed at how much clarity and progress you’ll see.

xoxo, mindy <3

[rowan-post]

RPC self-care

We all get worn down by life and often we turn to RP for rejuvenation. But more than once I've seen people on here that find themselves burnt out on the RP community itself. With nearly 20 years of role playing under my belt, I thought I'd share some of my favourite self-care tricks.

Block people. You don't have to explain yourself and 'weird vibes' is a legitimate reason. You deserve to feel safe and unbothered in your hobby space, and RP is based on consent. Just like with any recreational activity, you can withdraw your consent at any time and no is a complete sentence.

Turn off anon. This prevents anonymous harassment and gives you great insight into who to block or report if you get non-anonymous harassment.

Drop threads. I know RP etiquette suggests you need to tell your RP partner when and why, and sure, if they ask politely you can give it a go - just know that a pre-written variant of 'not feeling it' is good enough. In my humble opinion, I think dropping boring or vexing threads is everyone's prerogative and doesn't require explanation. Again, no is a complete sentence.

Talk it out. If you like the thread but things took a turn you didn't like, it's time to bring the RP into the workshop. Something like 'Hey I really like our RP so far but I'm losing my spark, can we talk about course correcting where the plot is going?'

Make clear rules and revise them frequently. I'd also advise against spending said rules excusing or explaining why you don't like or want a certain thing - I cannot stress enough how your preferences are not up for debate.

Get comfy chasing. A lot of RP is about inviting others to play over and over and over. Rejection is a part of it. See if you can't find some element of self-care in it - taking rejection well is a great skill to practice in such a low stake environment.

Notice and celebrate the good stuff, instead of digging holes about the bad. Tell your co-players how great they are. Marvel at all the hard work you put into your muses and graphics. Admire your own blog.

Stop. Take a break. Check in with yourself. Do you actually need to face something in IRL? Do you need to rest? A snickers? A walk? Don't bother with posts á la 'offline for the day' - leave your options open to reduce guilt or shame if you want to poke your head back in.

Happy writing. 🌿

[tastefullyoffensive]

“Self Care Sunday” — 30 Wholesome Memes Promoting Positive Thinking

[polyamorousmisanthrope]

Swimming and being an idiot

A knee injury had me back in the pool and I ain't cryin'. About the swimming, anyway. I like swimming a lot. Jogging hurts. Swimming doesn't. So, I swim.

Paying attention to necessary self-care in the water is very different from what you need for dryland exercise.

If you're walking really fast or running, you get hot. You get thirsty. In a normally-heated room, you might even feel a bit too warm and want some water when you get home.

You don't really have those thirst cues in the water, especially if it's a cool day and you're a bit chilled getting back home.

I got back from swimming today, and then just got HIT with being exhausted. Which, okay, a swim and a nap? AWESOME. (In the summer, when I did the open water stuff, I would look forward to the epic swim, followed by an epic meal and an epic NAP. Bliss)

I woke up from that nap feeling like crap. The fatigue and headache were worse.

"Okay, fine, you've got some decaf Earl Grey, so even if it IS after noon, make yourself a nice pot of tea and relax. You've done your chores for the day," I says to me.

Halfway through the pot, the headache and the exhaustion goes away and I realize I had nothing to drink for three hours after a 40 minute swim.

*drums fingers*

What are some symptoms of dehydration?

Well, fatigue and headache are a couple, so...

Yeah...

Have something to drink after you've been active, kiddiewinks. Don't be an idiot like me.

[inmyperfectworld]

🩷

[akindplace]

i have been noticing that everyone i know is really going through it lately, and so am i. everyone went through years of the pandemic, economic recession and political instability in a lot of places. people are exhausted, burned out, sick. so this is your reminder to be extra kind with other people because you can’t ever really tell what goes on behind closed doors, you never know the things they don’t talk about, but everyone you know is probably carrying a heavy burden and a lot of grief.

please remember you are also deserving of the same kindness and compassion, so give yourself some grace too. you’re not being lazy or weak. you just have a lot going on, and it hard to change things when life is hard. take it easy on yourself.

[liberaljane]

Worminders!

Illustration of 5 different worms with self-care messages. From top to bottom: a worm with a Stanley cup and text that reads, ‘drink water,’ a worm with its eyes closed and text, ‘breathe in & out,’ a worm in pjs with text, rest is important,’ a worm with pills that reads, ‘take your meds,’ and a worm tanning with sunglasses on and text, ‘soak up the sun.’

[hermajestyimher]

Follow on Threads

[bitchesgetriches]

Well here we are, fam. The 2024 presidential election has happened and the outcome was not great.

We took some time to be angry. To be scared. To grieve. We checked in on our community and practiced some highly necessary self-care. Then we spent several cathartic hours scrolling through r/LeopardsAteMyFace. We hope you did too.

Now we’re ready for the next step. For we have chosen to stay and fight. Part of that means embracing our calling as your beloved yet humble Bitches—your opinionated internet aunties—by sharing ideas on how we can prepare to weather the coming storm.

It might not be much of a storm! Could be anywhere from a little light rain to a Category 5 hurricane. But it’s our belief that you should prepare for the worst in such a way that even in the best case scenario, you’ll still end up better off.

This guide includes some instructions specific to a second Trump administration (three words I gag even writing). But some of it is just good practice no matter what happens.

Keep reading.

[thepersonalwords]

Never feel ashamed of your longing for happiness.

Sharon Salzberg, Real Love: The Art of Mindful Connection

[vaspider]

Okay, so I was waiting until I had more information before I said something, but this is what the last 2 months of my life has been like. Content warning for discussion of uterine shenaniganry.

In August, start having bad, random cramping, which is weird, because I'm in perimenopause! I talk to my doctor and we think it's probably just T-related bullshit. We start me on vaginal estrogen, but I'm aware that cramping can mean uterine cancer, so I push to get my pap smear six months early.

My doctor's office (not my actual doctor) fights me on it. I fight back. Originally, they wanted to schedule me for March, then December, and I said, nah, I'm not waiting, because if it is uterine cancer, that shit is aggressive. So we got the test done. Irregular findings, so we go for an ultrasound.

As this happens, the cramps get worse, until I am feeling like I'm in the early stages of labor all the time.

Long story short, I have a golf ball of a fibroid sitting in the top of my uterus, and I've since found out that my grandmother had a hysterectomy for the same thing about my age.

So, here's the advice bit:

Unusual cramping, if you have a uterus, should be treated as if it might be Something Serious. Don't brush it off. Insist your doctor take it - and you - seriously. If your doctor doesn't take you seriously, please fire them and get a better one if possible.

Ask your parents to tell you as much as they know about your grandparents' and aunts' and uncles' health. In the last week, I've found out about A Lot of things I should have known a long, long time ago. Like, the number of things I've learned that I should have known has become an inside joke with a certain circle of my friends.

Get your pap smears, y'all. The sooner you find problems, the sooner you can deal with them.

Anyway, I probably can't evict all this bullshit until January, and I'm in a lot of pain basically all the time. So y'all are gonna have to forgive me if I'm a little distant and tired.