My March Mental Wellness Routine
February was by far one of my hardest months yet. I kept my mental wellness routine simple as a result of knowing that going back to the basics was going to be what served me best. My biggest struggle (or trigger) over the last few months has been how rainy and grey it has been. I’d never been one to wrestle with much seasonal depression, but this year it hit me tenfold.
What helped over the last few weeks was to stay to myself and to simultaneously give myself things to look forward to. March’s wellness routine has consisted of more of the same.
I’m still barely staying afloat, but most definitely seeing more of a silver lining than last month. I’m turning to a baby steps mentality to get everything from my work tasks to my life chores done.
I know that I’m not the only person who has hit the COVID-wall or been struggling as a result of the season. I hope you know you’re not alone and that building out your mental wellness routine can remain a single task that reminds you that you can still control some things.
A (Safe) Retreat
I needed to get out of Portland and I needed to do it in a way that still spoke to my needs to feel safe from contracting COVID. Last week, we drove down to California with only one in between stop and the minute we crossed over into the sun it made me feel a million times better. I know that this isn’t a possibility for everyone, but if you are able to take even a long drive somewhere to change up your scenery it can help interrupt any of those ruminating thoughts about how never-ending this season in our life feels like.
Daily Rewards
I learned this in a writing class I took a month ago. The teacher shared that after every hard task she gave herself a sticker or a reward to commemorate the moment. Oftentimes, we’re so stuck in the hustle that we don’t take the time to pat ourselves on the back for making it through another day or doing that hard thing we had been scared to do. I’ve worked more sticker-moments into my daily routine as a way to remind myself actively that I’m doing better than my bad self-talk tells me I am.
A Morning Routine
I didn’t realize how essential this is to setting me up to have a good day until we escaped to California. When I travel I tend to get super behind on work and feel very out of sorts because so much of my daily routine is not what it normally is. While some of that is still true, this week has shown me how the effort I put into honing in on a morning routine that worked for me has really helped gift me a grounding routine. Every morning, I’ll try to get up for either yoga or a walk, I take a shower, get ready for my day, have breakfast, and then do my morning pages. These are all things that I can do no matter where I am in the world. Underscoring that agency has been a difference-maker and great reminder that even on the days when I feel the most horrible, loving myself can mean something as small as putting on a different outfit.
Reading More
Last month I could barely hang out with myself or stay still/motivated long enough to do my work, so reading took a hit. I noticed how missing it was from my routine. My hope this month is to slowly work my way back into my reading flow. Especially in the evenings. Taking that time to read helps create a bridge moment for me between work and rest, I don’t want to give it up anymore.
Follow Doctor’s Orders
Last month I went to the doctor and had a yearly physical. Since I hadn’t gone for a bit, I also had a ton of bloodwork done. In those results, I found out I’m extremely Vitamin D deficient (like barely charting with any) and am on a 3-month, doctor prescribed high dose that I have to take once a week to get my levels back up. I’m committed to tending to my physical health just as much as my mental health this month. Especially because after reading about Vitamin D deficiency and its symptoms, it helped explain so many of the things I’ve been feeling both physically and mentally. While it’s definitely not my only trigger right now, it’s a part of it.
I’d love to hear what you’re turning to this month in order to tend to your mental health.