Life can be really challenging sometimes… a lot of times. I’ve started to think of myself as the person I’m assigned to take care of. Parenting myself seemed like a sad idea at first. Shouldn’t I have parents for that? Is it pathetic to need to self-soothe? That’s when I need the good self-talk to kick in, reminding myself that taking care of me is not a negative. Turns out that’s how adults really adult.
I thought it would just come naturally. I believed that once I reached adulthood, I’d magically be equipped with all the skills I needed. That was not the case. Adulthood requires constant work, with or without praise or acknowledgment. The only way for me to stay sane through the daily demands is to learn how to manage my body and mind as if I were their leader. Which, of course, I am.
So, how do I lead my mind and body? Sometimes rigidly. Sometimes I sneak in some potato chips. Sometimes I let myself sleep. Sometimes I overwork myself. How do I get better at taking care of myself? By practicing these things:
Morning Routine: I’ve become more of a morning person now that I give myself something to look forward to when I wake up. It’s as simple as having found the best coffee maker for my taste and a milk frother that makes my coffee feel sublime. I know where my notebook is for my morning writing, and I get to take a few minutes to read in the quiet.
Take Myself to Work: Even though I work from home, I mentally take myself to work. I don’t act it out, but I do a mental exercise to differentiate between work and home. Like a parent dropping a kid off at school, I remind myself that whatever tasks await today are manageable, worthwhile, temporary, and might even be fun sometimes.
Make Play Dates: Friendships take work, and fun activities need to be planned. As an adult, no one is creating a calendar for me full of amusement and relaxation. It’s part of the work of being an adult. When I keep in touch with people and notice events that interest me, I can actively add things to my calendar that keep my mind and body well-rounded and give me something to look forward to.
Yes, adulthood is work, but when we remember that there’s always a small child in us looking to be taken care of, we can keep ourselves open to what we need to create as much balance in our lives as possible. This is always an experiment where we try new experiences, tastes, and thoughts, keeping an open mind so that we can make small adjustments to create a life that suits us.
ACTION: Set aside 5 minutes today to list three small, manageable actions within your control that you can take to improve your life this week. It might be as simple as drinking more water, taking a short walk each day, or reaching out to a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while. By focusing on these actionable steps, you’ll start to feel more empowered and see positive changes in your life.
