It’s been a long week—one of those weeks that feels like it’ll never end. From working both of my jobs to getting ready to move to having a minor dog emergency, it feels like I’ve been in constant motion, both physically and emotionally.
I’ve talked a lot about burnout and how to avoid it in the past, but sometimes it’s just inevitable. Sometimes, you can’t avoid being busy for an extended period of time. Sometimes, you get to a point where you’re just trying to get through the day.
When I’ve had days or weeks like that in the past, I’d feel so guilty for having no motivation to do anything but the bare essentials. At a certain point, though, feeling that guilt takes an additional emotional toll on an already physically demanding day. It’s not worth it to stress yourself out or worry about what didn’t get done, especially when you barely have time to do everything you’re supposed to do.
Had a long day at work and didn’t do the dishes when you got home? That’s fine. They’ll be there tomorrow. Feeling emotionally or physically exhausted and didn’t make your bed this morning? No problem. You can still sleep in it tonight. Planned on getting ahead on a project but couldn’t gather the motivation to work on it? It’s okay. There will be time another day.
No one is perfect, and no one can get to every single task all the time. Sometimes, we just need to take a break and take a moment for ourselves. Motivation can be finite. Sometimes, our bodies and our brains just need to rest and recharge before we can go back to our to-do lists.
This week, I didn’t do the dishes until I was completely out of glassware. I have an Amazon box sitting on my kitchen counter from Monday, and I haven’t even opened it. I skipped a few days of watering my plants. I don’t even want to talk about the pile of clothes in my closet that I haven’t put away yet.
Even though my apartment is a little messier than I’d like it to be, and I haven’t gotten to some of the chores I typically do on specific days, it’s okay. As much as I’d like to believe I can be perfectly put together all the time, it’s just not true. I’m only human, and I’m only one person, and I won’t let myself feel guilty or ashamed for not having the motivation to get things done as quickly as I’d like.
Practicing self-care doesn’t always have to mean doing something for yourself. It can also mean doing nothing at all, and if that’s what your body and brain need, just let it happen.
As always, stay safe and stay healthy.
Xo,
Kayla W.