#sometimes even doing self-assessments like a 'level 10 life' can help you figure out blindspots like your health

[touhoutivations]

dear miss ibarakasen,

what do you do when you get sad? i've been feeling the boredom and tiredness start to sink in and i want to do something before i get covered in sludge again. (metaphorically, of course. i am not actually sinking in sludge.)

yours, eientei's favourite kon-consultant

"Discipline is not perseverance alone, it is perseverance when things get difficult. But I'm glad you're starting to pay attention to your body, listening to yourself is always important." "However, knowing when to hear and act regardless is just as important. I know it's counterintuitive, but oftentimes our bodies can get stuck in this feeling- we feel exhausted because we haven't done anything so we rest, then continue hurting ourselves by contributing to that exhaustion."

"Above all else, I think being active is key. Not just in a physical sense, but an emotional one. It sounds contradictory, but make your rest more active- even if it means closing your eyes and flopping on the floor, assess how it makes you feel- if you're relaxing, if the floor is hard or soft or straining your neck. If you're playing a game, check in with yourself- are you still playing an hour later because you're enjoying yourself, or are you doing it because you feel you must?" "Unfortunately, I can't say that going through the motions or x amount of stretches will fix your mood, and oftentimes it can feel artificial or even that your going against your wants (especially if you're prone to self-doubt), but you have to prioritise your needs, and do what you must to make them palatable."

"Need to take a walk? A walk can be any length. Need to visit somewhere? Examine a nearby place you can get a treat or a garden or library to look through. A walk can be a trudge, or it can be an opportunity- to see a nearby animal, or find a new thought, or get some fresh air."

"Don't worry if you're in the sludge, you can get out- after all, a kuda-gitsune can get themselves out of any tight spots, right?"