Not that a "mental health blogger" (which I made up) has the most exciting life ever! However, I do get asked what blogging is like but I also want to talk about what I do on a daily basis to keep my mental illness in check and all the preventative work I do. I also love these kinds of articles because I enjoy seeing how other people spend their time. I get asked advice from a lot of my readers on how to help their own mental health. I can't express how the first and main goals you will hear from me are therapy and medication. If you are looking for ways to help your mental health beyond that, I hope that some of my habits help you out and give you some ideas! I thought it would also be cool to compare what my days are like now compared to 1 or even 3 years ago. I have changed SO MUCH and I did that by changing what I'm doing with my time.
Let's see...I'm thinking of every little thing I do during my daily routine really hard because so many things I do have become second nature. However, some of these "little" things I do have made an impact on my life and it could help someone else!
I believe fully that early risers get the most awesome shit done. I spent several years of my life being an insomniac and also some time as a "natural early riser, meaning I get up for myself, not for a job. For a year or so I was a 7:30am girl, but the past year or so, I'm a 9:30am girl. I don't want to go to bed TOO early but I do like to get 10 hours of sleep. I know that's ridiculous and may seem indulgent but we all have our magic number and after a decade of getting little to no sleep, 10 hours is what I thrive on. Since I have ability to do that now, I take full advantage.
I take out my bite splint (I'm highlighting that I wear a bite splint because many of us with anxiety and stress grind our teeth. Please, if you are a stressed human being, and who isn't, than make sure you get to your dentist on a regular basis so that they can tell you if you grind your teeth, among other helpful information obviously.) and I have breakfast right away. There were phases I've had where I've meditated and worked out BEFORE breakfast and that was absolutely fine for me as well. Perhaps I could get back in to that since usually after some time after waking, I realize I wasn't as ravenous as I originally thought. I also have the capacity to eat A LOT first thing in the morning so to refrain from that I do do things like milk and cereal. I like to start with something small. It's usually one serving fat free Greek yogurt, with a spoonful of almond butter and chia seeds and flax seeds sprinkled on top. I also have tons of water all day long but my breakfast I start with 2 bottles. I drink from a rotation of glass bottles all day and night when I am home and they get washed weekly but I'm always rotating our glasses of water from inside the fridge. (you can find the ones I bought here) I used to fill smaller cups with a britta filter but I have decided I no longer need to filter my tap water from home since I've moved to Northern Michigan from San Francisco.
The most important part of my meal is my medications! Please do whatever you need to do to remember your meds folks! I organize all of mine one month at a time with one these bad boys. So I have 4 of these weekly pill organizers and put in my lexapro, metformin for PCOS, fish oil, pre-natals, vitamin B's, vitamin D12, collagen pills & biotin for hair/skin/nails (because PCOS) and the pills for my IBS. That's a lot and takes time to organize but it's the best way I've found to take my meds on a regular basis and also see ahead of time what I am running low on.
I feed my cat Peanut her special kidney disease food and give her morning medication (a topical that goes on her ear and powder that mixes in with her wet food). Peanut and I both eat breakfast sitting in front of a therapeutic light. This is crucial for me during the winter months here with less time spent in the sun. In San Francisco I used one every morning but here it's just fall and winter months. Here's the one I got on amazon. Peanut likes the warmth of the light and it's a special time we have together. I have just one cup of coffee and have quit my espresso habit because ANXIETY!
Grooming and bathing are obviously a huge part of mental health. You guys, I've had depression cycles that have been so bad and so long (with a side of fibromyalgia) that I wouldn't shower for over a week. I am ashamed to admit that and it's not my proudest time but I think it's a bigger problem with people than what we talk about in public. It sucked so bad and I do not take my ability to take a shower with out pain for granted. It's blissful. It's just part of being an active functioning adult but I don't feel I need to get into my grooming routine because there's not a whole lot special that I do that I can recommend. Except dry brushing! (here's the one I bought that I can't recommend enough) I can't recommend dry-brushing enough because it feels so good!
If it's a day that I am working outside of the house I am always sure to give myself plenty of time to get ready because I like to have fun with make-up. Again, since I went months sometimes without wearing makeup during severe depression relapses, I feel lucky enough to have the ability to care about what I look like. I have more makeup than what's appropriate! Same thing with accessories! I love fun jewelry and enjoy taking my time picking out those items as well. I try to keep everything organized so I can find everything easily. I listen to super loud music while getting ready. Always. Loud music keeps my life going. Lately it's been a lot of Deftones and Gorillaz.
I usually take another few minutes to give Peanut some attention before I leave the house and also do a 10-15 minute meditation. I know I'm a record on repeat when I say use the calm app because it's the best! It's so important that I get my mind right before getting out into the world. I can pick what theme I want and duration of time and or just do the daily calm meditation offered. The app literally has everything you need to de-stress anywhere and anytime.
If I'm spending some hours at work, I am always sure to hydrate, listen to good music and try and get in the creative mood for posting social media pictures, selling items that Michigan artists have made and interacting with the community. I also always bring my go-to healthy snacks. These day-time snacks also double as my "lunch". I don't have a meal time for myself. I just snack through out the day. I always have 5-6 baby carrots, celery sticks and jif to-go peanut butter cups to dip my celery into. There's also usually an orange and 1 or 2 mini babybel cheese wheels. If it's a REALLY long day I'll also throw in some raw un-salted almonds mixed with another snack mix such as goldfish crackers because right now they have the mickey head shapes!
If I'm home for the day, I usually always have at least one appointment to get to. Sometimes it's therapy, or sometimes a wax or hair appointment. I have a lot of doctor appts. It's pretty sad actually. Well, not sad because I'm proactive about my health but I think you get my gist. In between those appointments, I try to fit in a work-out of some type. I use the fit bit coach app to do any workouts from home. I've also been taking some gyrokinesis classes and oh. my. gosh. do I love it! I could do a whole blog post about gyrokinesis alone! (TC area peeps, please consult with Mia! She will change your life!) It's a great stimulating "work out" and when you're done you are literally standing a few inches taller! That's how much it helps your posture! Give it a try people! Anyway, I also love doing Yoga with Adriene (see previous blog post about yoga with Adriene here) classes from home but I should start doing some yoga classes with other people. I try to do at least one thing a week that takes me out of my comfort zone. Going to a yoga class in public is definitely something I'm not comfortable with but I'm looking forward to giving it a try! (I need to do a yoga class with Siena next!)
In the afternoons I try to get to my computer and do some writing. I like lots of natural light so I usually do my best writing in our dining room as apposed to my craft room. Yeah, I've taken over both spots with my work but hey! I'm sure other creatives can share the same problem. I carry around with me a daily planner from one of my favorite web sites to shop from Ban.do. I am a huge believer in notebooks and have them everywhere to write down ideas I get. So not only do I have a daily planner, I have a kitchen counter notebook for grocery lists and other things, a just for work notebook, an actual diary or daily journal, a blogging notebook, a sketchbook and a notebook just for poems. I am also ALWAYS working on some type of craft. Making cards for birthdays coming up, gathering ephemera and grouping it by theme or other organizing other projects for my etsy shop. I'm inspired by colorful things, vintage paper supplies, dollhouses and nature. You will find a little bit of each in my craft room. Although some projects are getting done, my craft room is still in "un-packing and organization" stage since moving to Michigan. I'm always going through everything I have and trying to scheme up new ideas and think of things I could make for people or for myself.
Remember when my blog was called "The Black Dog"? Well that euphemism for black dog has been used to describe depression by many through out the years. There's also a phenomenon regarding a black cloud that comes in the afternoon. While others may experience morning depression. For me, the time when the feel bads set in is late afternoon. It can be a sad and lonely time for me, especially since at that point I am alone at our house. I think another trigger from that time of day is the fading sunlight and even hunger make this a vulnerable time for me. Do you have a vulnerable time of day? It's not a bad idea to recognize this and do things for yourself that you know will make you feel better and avoid a downhill progression. So in the afternoons, I make sure I have some green tea and find something relaxing to do while I wait for Eddie to get home from work! It's an exciting part of my day!
Morning Song- beginning my day
Let's see...I'm thinking of every little thing I do during my daily routine really hard because so many things I do have become second nature. However, some of these "little" things I do have made an impact on my life and it could help someone else!
I believe fully that early risers get the most awesome shit done. I spent several years of my life being an insomniac and also some time as a "natural early riser, meaning I get up for myself, not for a job. For a year or so I was a 7:30am girl, but the past year or so, I'm a 9:30am girl. I don't want to go to bed TOO early but I do like to get 10 hours of sleep. I know that's ridiculous and may seem indulgent but we all have our magic number and after a decade of getting little to no sleep, 10 hours is what I thrive on. Since I have ability to do that now, I take full advantage.
I take out my bite splint (I'm highlighting that I wear a bite splint because many of us with anxiety and stress grind our teeth. Please, if you are a stressed human being, and who isn't, than make sure you get to your dentist on a regular basis so that they can tell you if you grind your teeth, among other helpful information obviously.) and I have breakfast right away. There were phases I've had where I've meditated and worked out BEFORE breakfast and that was absolutely fine for me as well. Perhaps I could get back in to that since usually after some time after waking, I realize I wasn't as ravenous as I originally thought. I also have the capacity to eat A LOT first thing in the morning so to refrain from that I do do things like milk and cereal. I like to start with something small. It's usually one serving fat free Greek yogurt, with a spoonful of almond butter and chia seeds and flax seeds sprinkled on top. I also have tons of water all day long but my breakfast I start with 2 bottles. I drink from a rotation of glass bottles all day and night when I am home and they get washed weekly but I'm always rotating our glasses of water from inside the fridge. (you can find the ones I bought here) I used to fill smaller cups with a britta filter but I have decided I no longer need to filter my tap water from home since I've moved to Northern Michigan from San Francisco.
The most important part of my meal is my medications! Please do whatever you need to do to remember your meds folks! I organize all of mine one month at a time with one these bad boys. So I have 4 of these weekly pill organizers and put in my lexapro, metformin for PCOS, fish oil, pre-natals, vitamin B's, vitamin D12, collagen pills & biotin for hair/skin/nails (because PCOS) and the pills for my IBS. That's a lot and takes time to organize but it's the best way I've found to take my meds on a regular basis and also see ahead of time what I am running low on.
I feed my cat Peanut her special kidney disease food and give her morning medication (a topical that goes on her ear and powder that mixes in with her wet food). Peanut and I both eat breakfast sitting in front of a therapeutic light. This is crucial for me during the winter months here with less time spent in the sun. In San Francisco I used one every morning but here it's just fall and winter months. Here's the one I got on amazon. Peanut likes the warmth of the light and it's a special time we have together. I have just one cup of coffee and have quit my espresso habit because ANXIETY!
Grooming and bathing are obviously a huge part of mental health. You guys, I've had depression cycles that have been so bad and so long (with a side of fibromyalgia) that I wouldn't shower for over a week. I am ashamed to admit that and it's not my proudest time but I think it's a bigger problem with people than what we talk about in public. It sucked so bad and I do not take my ability to take a shower with out pain for granted. It's blissful. It's just part of being an active functioning adult but I don't feel I need to get into my grooming routine because there's not a whole lot special that I do that I can recommend. Except dry brushing! (here's the one I bought that I can't recommend enough) I can't recommend dry-brushing enough because it feels so good!
If it's a day that I am working outside of the house I am always sure to give myself plenty of time to get ready because I like to have fun with make-up. Again, since I went months sometimes without wearing makeup during severe depression relapses, I feel lucky enough to have the ability to care about what I look like. I have more makeup than what's appropriate! Same thing with accessories! I love fun jewelry and enjoy taking my time picking out those items as well. I try to keep everything organized so I can find everything easily. I listen to super loud music while getting ready. Always. Loud music keeps my life going. Lately it's been a lot of Deftones and Gorillaz.
I usually take another few minutes to give Peanut some attention before I leave the house and also do a 10-15 minute meditation. I know I'm a record on repeat when I say use the calm app because it's the best! It's so important that I get my mind right before getting out into the world. I can pick what theme I want and duration of time and or just do the daily calm meditation offered. The app literally has everything you need to de-stress anywhere and anytime.
If I'm spending some hours at work, I am always sure to hydrate, listen to good music and try and get in the creative mood for posting social media pictures, selling items that Michigan artists have made and interacting with the community. I also always bring my go-to healthy snacks. These day-time snacks also double as my "lunch". I don't have a meal time for myself. I just snack through out the day. I always have 5-6 baby carrots, celery sticks and jif to-go peanut butter cups to dip my celery into. There's also usually an orange and 1 or 2 mini babybel cheese wheels. If it's a REALLY long day I'll also throw in some raw un-salted almonds mixed with another snack mix such as goldfish crackers because right now they have the mickey head shapes!
After-noon delights
If I'm home for the day, I usually always have at least one appointment to get to. Sometimes it's therapy, or sometimes a wax or hair appointment. I have a lot of doctor appts. It's pretty sad actually. Well, not sad because I'm proactive about my health but I think you get my gist. In between those appointments, I try to fit in a work-out of some type. I use the fit bit coach app to do any workouts from home. I've also been taking some gyrokinesis classes and oh. my. gosh. do I love it! I could do a whole blog post about gyrokinesis alone! (TC area peeps, please consult with Mia! She will change your life!) It's a great stimulating "work out" and when you're done you are literally standing a few inches taller! That's how much it helps your posture! Give it a try people! Anyway, I also love doing Yoga with Adriene (see previous blog post about yoga with Adriene here) classes from home but I should start doing some yoga classes with other people. I try to do at least one thing a week that takes me out of my comfort zone. Going to a yoga class in public is definitely something I'm not comfortable with but I'm looking forward to giving it a try! (I need to do a yoga class with Siena next!)
In the afternoons I try to get to my computer and do some writing. I like lots of natural light so I usually do my best writing in our dining room as apposed to my craft room. Yeah, I've taken over both spots with my work but hey! I'm sure other creatives can share the same problem. I carry around with me a daily planner from one of my favorite web sites to shop from Ban.do. I am a huge believer in notebooks and have them everywhere to write down ideas I get. So not only do I have a daily planner, I have a kitchen counter notebook for grocery lists and other things, a just for work notebook, an actual diary or daily journal, a blogging notebook, a sketchbook and a notebook just for poems. I am also ALWAYS working on some type of craft. Making cards for birthdays coming up, gathering ephemera and grouping it by theme or other organizing other projects for my etsy shop. I'm inspired by colorful things, vintage paper supplies, dollhouses and nature. You will find a little bit of each in my craft room. Although some projects are getting done, my craft room is still in "un-packing and organization" stage since moving to Michigan. I'm always going through everything I have and trying to scheme up new ideas and think of things I could make for people or for myself.
Remember when my blog was called "The Black Dog"? Well that euphemism for black dog has been used to describe depression by many through out the years. There's also a phenomenon regarding a black cloud that comes in the afternoon. While others may experience morning depression. For me, the time when the feel bads set in is late afternoon. It can be a sad and lonely time for me, especially since at that point I am alone at our house. I think another trigger from that time of day is the fading sunlight and even hunger make this a vulnerable time for me. Do you have a vulnerable time of day? It's not a bad idea to recognize this and do things for yourself that you know will make you feel better and avoid a downhill progression. So in the afternoons, I make sure I have some green tea and find something relaxing to do while I wait for Eddie to get home from work! It's an exciting part of my day!
Night time is the right time
My husband is my honest-to-God best friend. We can't get enough of each other. We have a routine down that has really worked for us in the last year or so. We almost always make dinner at home. Usually it's some type of meat or fish on top of a big salad with pine nuts, cherry tomatoes and avocado. Or he'll make up a batch of brussel sprouts and sweet potatoes. We tell each other about our days and spend a lot of time laughing. After dinner we normally settle in the for night or take a walk in our neighborhood. We have the Boardman Lake Trail and Tart Trails a couple blocks from our home. We love to get out in the snow and enjoy wearing chains on our boots to help us get through the icey sidewalks and roads. If we are craving something sweet, I try to maintain a rule where we have to walk to go get it. We have a small neighborhood grocery store we walk to and take advantage of the fresh air before we indulge in a treat.
We give Peanut her fluids (read this blog to find out more about that) and while Eddie watches whatever he is into on the television, I usually try to find some craft to work on. Lately I've been loving cutting out images for decopauge collages. I have tons of paper ephemera from all over the world, some vintage and some antique. I also enjoy cutting out and building paper houses. Sometimes I will even grab my favorite Star Wars coloring book and big box of crayons. Anything to keep me busy while watching TV because nothing holds my attention. It's a very rare occasion that I actually want to give my full attention to a TV show or movie. Double tasking in the evenings gives me a chance to sit with my husband and spend time with him with out getting too bored while he's relaxing. I also like to have an evening cup of caffeine free tea like ginger to help me digest dinner or bedtime tea.
My bedtime goal is usually between 9-10pm. Yes, I completely realize that I am spoiled by how much sleep I can get but again, if it works best for me than why not do it? My very guilty pleasure habit that I have is using my phone in bed. I know it's so bad to stare at your phone at night but I just love to read and using a small night light or book-light or even headlamp has not helped me to read regular books. I always go back to reading my phone like a kindle. So to make it as bedtime friendly as possible, I turn the blue light filter all the way down and I also have my phone set to start dimming when the sun goes down. So it's an ultra dark screen with no blue light. It must be working because I fall asleep within a half-hour. If I am having a hard time getting to sleep then my next step is to always set my phone down and do some breathing exercises. Ever since we got our purple mattress though, I've been getting the best sleep of my life! I highly recommend this mattress!
This was a lot of writing for just a small insight into my life! Let me know if you like these kinds of blog articles. I am so in love with the process of coming up with these different blog posts and ways I can communicate with you! Thank you so much for reading and know that every reader makes a difference!
We give Peanut her fluids (read this blog to find out more about that) and while Eddie watches whatever he is into on the television, I usually try to find some craft to work on. Lately I've been loving cutting out images for decopauge collages. I have tons of paper ephemera from all over the world, some vintage and some antique. I also enjoy cutting out and building paper houses. Sometimes I will even grab my favorite Star Wars coloring book and big box of crayons. Anything to keep me busy while watching TV because nothing holds my attention. It's a very rare occasion that I actually want to give my full attention to a TV show or movie. Double tasking in the evenings gives me a chance to sit with my husband and spend time with him with out getting too bored while he's relaxing. I also like to have an evening cup of caffeine free tea like ginger to help me digest dinner or bedtime tea.
My bedtime goal is usually between 9-10pm. Yes, I completely realize that I am spoiled by how much sleep I can get but again, if it works best for me than why not do it? My very guilty pleasure habit that I have is using my phone in bed. I know it's so bad to stare at your phone at night but I just love to read and using a small night light or book-light or even headlamp has not helped me to read regular books. I always go back to reading my phone like a kindle. So to make it as bedtime friendly as possible, I turn the blue light filter all the way down and I also have my phone set to start dimming when the sun goes down. So it's an ultra dark screen with no blue light. It must be working because I fall asleep within a half-hour. If I am having a hard time getting to sleep then my next step is to always set my phone down and do some breathing exercises. Ever since we got our purple mattress though, I've been getting the best sleep of my life! I highly recommend this mattress!
This was a lot of writing for just a small insight into my life! Let me know if you like these kinds of blog articles. I am so in love with the process of coming up with these different blog posts and ways I can communicate with you! Thank you so much for reading and know that every reader makes a difference!
You’ve made so much progress. We’re immensely proud of and happy for you.
ReplyDeleteThank you so so so much!
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