5 Self-Care Things for People Who Don't Like Leaving the House

It's That Time Again

It's quickly approaching that time of the semester where you do not have the luxury of just taking an "off" day for mental health and self-care.  Who am I kidding, we're already at that point of the semester-- and I am just in denial.

Spending day-in, day-out with other law students is grating on the nerves and energy, especially when finals are dauntingly close.  I assume from talking to my friends in other graduate and professional programs that it's a common sentiment.  It's a feeling akin to stir-crazy, but it's not because you haven't left the house. It's because every second of your time seems to have a task assigned to it, and if you don't keep up your work you really will suffer from it.

I had a good ol' heart to heart vent session with a friend via text today, and she told me something I didn't think I had time to hear: paint your nails.

I know this may seem kind of silly, but this is my best friend who has suffered through living with me in college and she knows the types of things that help me find my zen when stressed. One of those things is hiding away in the bathroom and painting my nails.  There's something therapeutic about filing, shaping, painting, and creating a tidy and pleasant thing in the midst of stress. For me there's an added obstacle of hating leaving my house (introverts represent!), so I like things I can do from home.  It gives me the control that I so desperately need.

I've spent my spare minutes throughout today thinking up a list of  small "self-care" things.  They're things that I always go to when I need a break from my responsibilities to re-gather my thoughts and tackle whatever has to be done.

Grocery Adventures

Cheap, Healthy, and Much Needed

Does anyone else wait until literally the last humanly day to go grocery shopping before the fridge and cabinets start crying and asking why you hate them when you used to love them?

Okay, tiny bit of exaggeration, because my kitchen doesn't talk to me.

We are in a really bad habit of waiting until we really have to go shopping to do it, though.  In part it's because we're homebodies and hate to battle the grocery store.  This typically leads to us "picking up just a few things" here and there, eating fast food, or just neglecting a lot of the stuff we already had. You waste money, time, and so many calories just because you didn't take a minute and plan a grocery trip.

Getting Back Up-- & Why It's Okay to Get Sidetracked

Fitting life in is hard

I started running consistently for around 2 weeks before I came down with a sinus infection that had the intentions of taking me out.

That was almost a month ago, and I'm still struggling to get back at it-- deviated septum be damned.

When running was happening before Sinus-zilla came to town

I'd worked back up to running 5 miles at a time, albeit it at a really slow pace (I'm talking 11 minute miles, yall). It felt SO good to be logging distance again and the calories that come off with it.  That paired with limiting our alcohol intake in the house was making maintaining weight and general well-being so easy. We really like our cocktails, nothing takes an edge off of a long day of Estate Planning reading quite like a bourbon and coke, but you have no idea how much bloat and general ickiness consistent drinking causes.

All of that being said, we were also loaded down with multiple major assignments for the semester and extra social things. From a writing seminar draft, estate planning problems, and on-call days in multiple classes, to   our small group meetings, coming up with an idea for a non-profit community group, and family shenanigans. I know, I know-- no excuses, you have to be the master of your own time, blah blah blah. Guess what, though? Real life happens, and as much as I like positive mantras sometimes the grind really gets the best of you. 

So, we've been doing better overall. We've been making small strides towards better choices. I'm talking about driving past McDonald's and moving our carcasses whenever possible.

Hubs and I are trying to correct and AT LEAST get in Saturday hikes/walks.  

I guess my point is this:

Sometimes, you need the break.  Sometimes worrying over the things you aren't managing to do only makes you worse for wear.

What matters is that EVERY time you get refocused, re-energized, and make yourself return to course. That's my goal this week: getting back on course.