Sometimes I struggle to care for my physical body. Depending on the day, brushing my teeth, washing my face, and identifying clean clothes can all seem insurmountable. And it’s not that I forget! In fact, it’s the opposite. I’m very aware that I haven’t done the tasks. I want to do them, even! But, more often than not, I get hit by a wave of pesky ADHD-fueled overwhelm.
So, I’m trying a new thing: Practicing caring for myself as I imagine I would if I ever suddenly inhabit a close friend’s body in some kind of Freaky Friday situation. After recovering from the initial shock, I’d do my best to do a good job! But it’s definitely a tall order.
One of the major barriers to figuring out everyday self-maintenance (in a way that actually works for me) has been the shame of being unable to do so in the “normal” way. And if you’ve read Baking by Feel, you might remember that shame is one of my strongest/most pervasive feelings. So that tracks! But luckily, there are actually infinite ways to do something, and I’ve decided to make things as easy as possible for myself.
Here are some things I’ve been vibing with:
Letting the words “It’s not my job to be hard on myself” roll around in my brain.
My Quip electric toothbrush that is both beautiful and functional (it has a built-in timer!)
A Lexapro/Wellbutrin combo
Cereal as an anytime meal option
Storing clothes in open baskets rather than drawers
Watching this many times:
Tiktok failed to load.
Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browserThese cute citrus themed pill organizers
Making lists and checking things off in the Notes app. Important: without judgment of the allegedly “easy” tasks that my brain likes to tell me I should be able to just do without intervention.
This video in particular (you don’t get up from the floor)
Taking a play from my 3-year-old-self’s handbook by always having a snack on hand. Specifically, these granola bars.
And yes, laying out my clothes the night before! It feels almost decadent, like I’m my own personal stylist.
In summation: it’s OK to care for yourself as well as you care for others, however works for you. We can all be babies <3
some notable (and less notable) things
I saw a TikTok where they referred to Friday as Saturday Eve and it’s my new standard.
If you upgrade to a paid subscription this week I will mail you a thank you and a surprise!
Relatedly: if you’d like to offer a subscription to the members of your group/family/org at a discount: introducing group subscriptions
Don’t forget about the brownies
Rhys made this Creamy Corn Pasta with out of season corn this week and it was yummy.
Tiktok failed to load.
Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browserI’m loving the energy of this guy who shares a photo of his (nearly identical) breakfast every day:
weekly abortion affirmation
The All-Options Talkline (1-888-493-0092) is a wonderful resource for free peer counseling and open-hearted support regarding abortion, adoption, infertility, parenting, and pregnancy loss.
ps: All-Options (formerly Backline) uses direct service and social change strategies to promote unconditional, judgment-free support for people in all of their decisions, feelings, and experiences with pregnancy, parenting, abortion, and adoption. They know that everyone deserves to have all options!
my current fave pic of Otie
xoxo,
your favorite becca
things that permanently live at the bottom of my posts:
Submit your secrets/sparkly moments here.
If you need help accessing abortion care, click here or here.
Grab a copy of my choose-your-own-adventure cookbook, Baking by Feel, here!
Yet another impactful thread. Bringing this to my therapist this week - and also inspired me to upgrade to paid :)
i definitely needed to read this thread today. having a bad day at work because of a mistake that i made that i cannot stop beating myself up about. so thank you <3