Taking Time to Check-in With Yourself. Selfcare.

One of my favorite songs this week has been Hell and High Water by Major Lazer, Alessia Cara, and Diplo.

I love the song because it talks about getting back up after going through something rough. It talks about things knocking you down but being able to get back up and keep going. Despite the hardship, you’re able to keep moving.

Over the years, one thing I’ve learned about myself is that every now and then, I’ve got to take some mental health time. I didn’t really start doing this until I got older. I got older which meant that I was learning about a lot that was hard to comprehend. A lot that made me sad and upset, and I didn’t realize how much it was taking a toll on me. I’m a very emotional person, so my emotions are something that I struggle to keep in check sometimes. Sometimes the slightest thing can put me in a bad mood, so I constantly have to pay attention to things that I know bother me and how I can control my response.

Quarantine was when I really started to notice how fragile mental health is, you know? Being stuck in your house because of a deadly virus, and not being able to hang out with friends and family, as usual, was definitely not something I was used to. My freshman year of college was cut short and suddenly the whole world was on lock-down. It was a new normal that took a while to cope with.

During these trying times, it’s so, so important to take a moment and listen. Listen to your body and listen to whatever weighs heavy on your mind. It’s likely, that you need to take some space to recoup and start again.

It’s normal to get overwhelmed but it’s how we deal with those feelings that are important.

A few weeks ago, I was in class and it was the day after the first presidential debate. I had watched it and I was honestly appalled by the state that our country was in. I didn’t realize how much that debate had affected some people until I got to class the next day. (We had an assignment on the debate so had to sit through the whole thing).

In talking about it, there were people in my class that were brought to tears, not only because of what they had witnessed the night before but because everything in the world basically seemed to be going down the drain.

In a nutshell, 2020 has felt like a bad dream. Something that I can’t seem to wake up from. It’s been bad news, after bad news, and then more bad news. I’ve gotten so many things thrown my way, and I can only imagine what others have been going through.

So, all of this to say that it’s okay to cry sometimes. To take a second and feel whatever it is you need to feel. It’s okay to be angry, or annoyed. Heck, it’s okay to be happy, even if it’s only for a second. We’re living in unprecedented times so we’re all going to have so many different emotional reactions to what’s going on. Don’t let anyone tell you those feelings aren’t valid. Sort through whatever you need to. But most importantly take the time to do so.

We all have those days when we wake up and might not be in the greatest of moods. It happens to me all the time.

Talk about how you feel with someone close to you, write it down on your phone or in a notebook, listen to your favorite song to cheer you up, take a shower, go for a walk…. do whatever you need to clear your mind.

It’s your time to check in with yourself and ask, am I okay? How am I doing?

I’ve learned about myself the past few months but most importantly, I’ve learned that I’ve gotten stronger. Both mentally and physically. I feel like I was a girl who let herself get taken advantage of way too often. Who gave too many chances but I’m trying not to be that person anymore. I’m only 20 so I’m still learning but I’ve learned that at some point you’ve got to grow. Whoever or whatever gets in the way of that growth is being moved out the way for a reason. I’ve learned that the things I put up with before, I have no tolerance for now. Life is too short to make space or time for things or people that don’t make you better.

Something that really helped me deal with a lot of my emotions was working out. I couldn’t really go to the gym but I got a pretty good routine going at home. You’d be surprised how plugging in headphones, hitting the treadmill, lifting weights, etc can help. Sometimes you just need to work it out. So, you become stronger and healthier while helping your mental state. They all go hand in hand. Depending on your style of working out, there are tons of free workout videos on youtube. I love doing those but I also love free weights and the treadmill for cardio.

It’s not always easy to talk about what’s going through your head. Sometimes it doesn’t make any sense, but finding out how to deal with it is so important.

Life is hard these days. It’s not easy, I’m not going to lie but I’m alive and that counts for something, so here’s to hell and high water (cue my singing voice haha).

Yours truly,

~BISBoss

P.S. If you need to talk, I’m always here. I’ve got a listening ear. Feel free to drop a comment or DM me. I’m pretty much always around. Besos!