Don’t Ignore Yourself.

For the past couple of weeks, I had been extremely stressed out with work and personal projects. I didn’t realize how bad it was until today. I hadn’t been able to get myself to eat properly in the last couple of weeks because I was so preoccupied with other things. Of course, it wasn’t the healthiest thing to do. I ignored my own basic needs because I was unable to focus on anything except figuring out a solution to my work-related issues.

Now that I am in a better place, mentally, my body has been screaming in hunger all day since I woke up this morning. No amount of food I eat is helping. Mom says it’s just me finally allowing myself to eat now that I am happy, and she is partly right.

I figure it’s just my body trying to compensate for all the days that I ignored my basic need for nutrition, but it’s also a wake-up call for me because this isn’t something I should have done in the first place. Ignoring myself isn’t going to solve any problems I am having in my life. In fact, the only way I can come up with a solution is if I gave myself a chance to think straight.

And, unfortunately, I hadn’t given myself that chance in a long time.

Shutting yourself down and spiralling is a scary thing to happen. It’s worse when you realize that this is a reality for many people. So many of us shut down and ignore our own needs because there are seemingly important things that our mind would rather focus on, but we don’t get to face the full brunt of it until much later when we are in a place that is safe enough to process things. We shouldn’t be ignoring ourselves over something that doesn’t even adversely affect our well-being.

I know that it is a lot easier to just switch off and let yourself blur past these things than to actually deal with them, but in the bigger picture, is that actually helping or hurting you?

Listen to what your body has to say to you and don’t ignore your own basic needs because as much as you hate to hear, the outside world wouldn’t know you were going through something unless you told them. And I understand that is not possible.

So just be a little kinder to yourselves, especially on the days you do not want to. There’s no harm in looking after yourself, is there? Xx

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Featured Image by Tanya Trofymchuk on Unsplash