Tag: self care

Self-Improvement and Self-Care Ideas

adulttalk:

1. Take yourself out to the museum, movies, dinner, whatever you want.

2. Spend time learning about yourself. What your interests are, what you want for the future, what your strengths and weaknesses are personality wise. List these things out and keep them in a notebook or somewhere you can keep them safe.

3. Spend time improving yourself. It can be a mental, physical, spiritual, or financial improvement.

  • If you’re going for a mental improvement, learn what makes you happy, sad, excited, angry. If you find that people are bringing you down, cut them from your life. If you find that an activity or person is making you happy, spend more time with that person or doing that activity. Assess your level on self love and self confidence and work to improve it.
  • If you’re going for a physical improvement, assess your health. I’m not saying stand in a mirror and pick out all of your flaws. That’s counterintuitive. I’m talking about trying to eat healthier, limited junk foods, eating more proteins, working out if you want, build muscles and flexibility.
  • If you want a spiritual improvement, assess your relationship with your faith. Are you following the core principles of your faith, attending religious services, reading your religious texts?
  • If you want financial improvement, track your expenses for a month or two and see where you’re overspending. Where you find overspending, cut those things out or limit them. That extra money can be put into a savings account for travelling, spoils for yourself, or an emergency fund. Whatever you want. You could also look for a job to work if you would like, or work more hours to get that $$$ if you want and have the time.
  • Work on your speech and vocabulary. Practice speaking properly with a clear voice and enunciation. Learn new words to improve your vocabulary by making Quizlet flashcards of words you’ve heard/read and don’t know the meaning of.
  • If you don’t like the way you dress, experiment with different fashions or articles of clothing. Pinterest has some great ideas for outfits. When you find something you like 

4. Do things you enjoy doing. Devote time to your hobbies like you would to a friend or s/o. Your hobbies are also your loves.

5. Spend time with pets or family members if you can. My sister is one of my best friends and my dog will always cheer me up.

Grocery Shopping Tips for Pre-Depression

a-marathon-not-a-sprint:

themostpersonalblogofall:

a-marathon-not-a-sprint:

I got the feeling I was about to hit a brick wall in the near future, so, with a little encouragement from my Discord friends, I went grocery shopping for easy-prep meals for the next week or so. Here’s some tips on doing the thing!

Note: not all of these tips are the most 100% budget friendly. I am in a situation where I can afford to weight easy-to-prepare over buying in bulk and making things myself so they cost less. The balance may lie in a different place for you and your budget, and all I encourage you to do is your best.

  • No one cares what you’re wearing in a grocery store.
    • This one’s from personal experience, having worked grocery. If you show up in a pair of pajama pants and a T-shirt, that’s not going to throw anyone off. If you’re literally wearing a hoody and shorts, no one’s going to raise a fuss. Just put some clothes on and go.
  • Stop at the deli for ready-to-eat.
    • In my case, this was potato salad and cabbage rolls (and ambrosia salad), but there were plenty of options for ‘nuke it and call it a meal’ dinners, as well as soups. Your friendly deli person can take ‘I’m looking for something pre-made for dinner this week’ and guide you toward what’s fresh and what’s good.
  • Do buy larger sizes if you don’t know when the next time you’ll have energy to grocery is.
    • The particular item that this applied most to for me was honey: I opted for a larger size than I usually do, because I know that depression and cool weather both lead me toward tea-drinking, and I don’t know when shopping will happen.
    • Buying in bulk can also cost less, if that’s something you’re taking into consideration.
  • Do buy the ‘fun’ varieties.
    • For example, one of me depression meals tends to be oatmeal, because it’s quick and doesn’t require actual cooking. Today I bought the dino egg oatmeal for kids, because I thought it’d make me smile. I also got a slightly fancier brand of ramen than usual, because I thought it’d be more likely to get me to eat when all I can manage is a ramen.
  • Do buy a post-grocery treat for yourself.
    • You deserve it for making it through the trip. A box or two of Botan rice candy, or a candy bar at the check out is not a bad thing.
  • The simpler the prep, the better.
    • Minute rice cups that you can nuke and be done with? Great! Uncle Ben’s rice packets? Superb! Tuna fish pre-flavored packets? Amazing! Uncrustables? Dandy!
  • Do try and manage a smile for your cashier.
    • Again, from my personal experience in this position. We can tell you want to be done and out of here as fast as possible. We can tell if you’re frustrated with how slow you’re going. Cashiers are underpaid and stressed and have been on their feet for hours. Give them civility, if not outright pleasantness.
  • If you have SPD/autism/sensory difficulties, go for food you KNOW you’ll eat. I don’t care how unhealthy it is, and even if you’re on a budget, it might be worth it to fork over the extra cash for on-brand comfort food. I know from experience that I straight-up won’t eat otherwise.

^^^^^

Like, sometimes that box of granola bars is going to be more appealing than any veggie in the world (and I totally got one while shopping last night). However, if you’re doing this for multiple days, consider adding a multivitamin.

untrusteveryone:

SHOUT OUT TO EVERYONE WHO STILL TRIES TO GET BACK INTO THE SWING OF THINGS AFTER DEPRESSION HIT THEM HARD. THERE ISN’T ENOUGH RECOGNITION FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO KNOW THAT THEY’RE GOING TO LOSE INTEREST AND MOTIVATION AGAIN BUT PUSH THEMSELVES TO DO STUFF ANYWAYS. YOU ARE FIGHTING A DAILY BATTLE WITH YOUR OWN THOUGHTS AND YOU’RE STILL COMING OUT ON TOP, YOU’RE ALL BRAVE AS FUCK 

Overcoming Invalidation

borderlinebravery:

Invalidation communicates that your thoughts, beliefs, values, or appearance are wrong or incorrect. When thinking of invalidation, it’s important to remember the possibility of it being dialectical: it can be both helpful and painful. 

When is invalidation helpful? 

  • When it corrects unfactual information and/or mistakes
  • When it opens your mind to other perspectives and boosts personal growth

When is it painful? 

  • When you’re being rejected or neglected
  • When something factual in your life is being denied or overlooked
  • When personal experience is trivialized or disregarded
  • When someone treats you as less than equal 
  • When someone repeatedly misunderstands you 
  • When someone misreads your intentions or misinterprets your actions
  • When you’re telling the truth and others don’t believe you

So, what do you do when you’re invalidated? 

  • Validate yourself the same way you would validate a loved one. 
  • Check the facts. Are your responses to the situation in line with the facts? 
  • Check with someone else whom you can trust to validate the valid.
  • If your response doesn’t fit the facts, acknowledge this. 
  • Also, acknowledge when your reactions make sense and are valid.
  • Work to change any invalid thinking patterns, actions, or statements. 
  • Remember that blaming a person rarely helps and try to let go of blame.
  • Be compassionate towards yourself. Practice self-soothing. 
  • Drop judgmental self-statements and practice opposite action.
  • Remember: all behavior is caused. Also, remember that you are doing the best that you can do at any given point in time.
  • Admit that it’s painful to be invalidated by others (even if it’s right).
  • Remember that being invalidated, while painful, is rarely a catastrophe.
  • Enter a supportive environment.
  • Grieve any traumatic invalidation and whatever harm may have resulted. 
  • Practice radical acceptance of those who have invalidated you.Â