One Nice Thing
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One Nice Thing

05 Aug One Nice Thing

Posted at 23:00h in Uncategorized by

Self-care is hard during a pandemic.

By the end of the day, I find myself flopping into bed feeling extra exhausted. It’s not the tiredness after a long, busy day like in months past. It’s a deeper, emotional exhaustion that is harder to place.  

Home has always felt like a place of rest and centeredness and comfort. I used to meet it with an exhale and a smile. Yet after months of seeing the same rooms and furnishings of our home, I sometimes search real estate listings just to imagine the newness of working and living in a new spot. 

I’m fatigued by the sameness – and the differentness – of my days. The lack of novelty in my daily routine. The things I miss from my old routine. 

If someone came to me and told me about this daily struggle and their feelings of fatigue, I would encourage them to practice self-care and show some self-kindness as a way to recharge. I would remind them that to care for others and to stay productive, we have to first take care of ourselves. 

Every day, I’m trying to do one nice thing for my future self. As I move through the day, I find some small way to be gentle and kind to myself. Here are some things I did this week:

  • I set out a new tube of toothpaste so it was ready for my morning brushing rather than leaving the squished, empty tube in the drawer.
  • I washed my favorite pillowcase so the fresh, clean softness would envelop me when my head sank into the pillow at the end of the day.
  • Before I went to bed, I put my favorite coffee mug under the coffee maker and made sure there were enough beans and water so a simple push of a button was all that was needed in the morning.
  • I said “no” to an invitation for a Zoom meeting that I didn’t really need to be a part of and used the time to work on another project.
  • I blocked 30 minutes in my schedule so I could fit in a workout.
  • I bought myself a novel I have been wanting to read and put it next to my bed so I could read it instead of scrolling the news.

And when I encounter my own little kindnesses, I smile and think to myself, “That was very nice of you, self.” And I feel happy.

What small kindness can you do for your future self today?