Have you ever wondered what to do when your mental or physical health is bad? You aren’t alone, trust me. Low energy can make everything feel challenging. I feel like some days I just want to bed rot. I still want to end the day feeling accomplished that I’ve done what I can with what I’ve got. I’m sharing what a low-energy, self care or bad mental health day looks like for me and what helps. This includes self-care habits, hobbies, nutrition and gentle activities that help me through the day. Whether you struggle with anxiety or feeling overwhelmed. You might have bad mental health or low energy days, or even illness. Hopefully, this post helps.
Having M.E means some mornings I wake up feeling like the day has already started on a half-charged battery. It can feel frustrating from the start. When those days happen, I know my morning routine is crucial. I need it to feel okay and not completely crash. One helpful approach is to plan the day based on your feelings when you wake up. This helps to remove any pressure to do more than you have capacity for.
When it’s not a good day, take away the strain or expectations. This will help you relax. Relaxation, in turn, has a positive impact on your whole day. As they always say, start as you mean to go on!
- Take medication (Very important)
- Take it slow and don’t rush
- Get some clean and comfy clothes on that don’t feel tight, restrictive, or uncomfortable
- Brush those toothy pegs and go to the toilet
- Get some breakfast and a cuppa
- Sit on the sofa, pop the TV on, and wait for the breakfast to kick in
At this point, the day can go two ways. Either I feel stable and go about my day as usual, or I need to be gentle on myself today. I slow everything down to preserve energy and give myself some tlc.
Up until lunch time there is no pressure
From morning to early afternoon on a low energy day is a pretty simple one. It is not because I am feeling ‘lazy’. Instead, preserving energy is important and a vital part of pacing. Depending on how I feel, I rest in a cool, low-lit room with no sensory disturbances. Alternatively, I am on the sofa with a book. When it is a bad mental health day, I focus on updating my social media or blog. I also spend time studying or just reading, pottering around and in comfy chill clothes.
It doesn’t matter whether you want a slower self-care day or to focus the day on yourself. Finding things that you enjoy is always good for the soul. One thing that makes me happy and content is to enjoy hobbies. Lately I have started coloring for calming my busy mind without the use of my phone. To focus on something that is calming can work wonders when things are just too much. Staying away from my phone also helps me to feel more aware and grounded.
Trying something new
Sometimes my classic comfort food is replaced with something I have never tried before. Not just on a self care or low energy day. I get the urge to try cooking something new. This brings me a sense of accomplishment and excitement. Sometimes the recipe is something I have never done before. I search online for a ramen broth recipe for healthy midweek dinners. These meals are full of nutrition to give me the energy my body needs and helps with brain performance. Sometimes routine comfort food really is all i need, motivation dependent, trying something new or adventurous excites me.
Plan your afternoon suitably to how you feel
The most important part of a slower day is to remove the pressure from yourself. Lower your expectations of productivity. This helps you recover from burnout or exhaustion. I am a strong believer on such days that an hour by hour routine can really help. If you feel up to washing a few dishes, great. If you don’t, that is also okay. Base your time around what you feel you can and want to do. Imagine it like a cheat day where you indulge on all the things you crave without shame. The day is yours to focus on yourself. If resting and napping is what your body needs, then do that.
Calming activities I do on a low energy day:
- Coloring books designed for adults
- Pamper session or a warm bubble bath
- Film day with yummy snacks (Something light and easy watching)
- Reading / listen to a good book (Even if only a couple pages). My current is The body keeps the score
- Cooking something new (Or a staple comfort food)
- A short guided meditation or podcast
- Create a fave music playlist to listen to that matches the mood.
- For a sense of achievement, tidy one small area. I.e a bedside cabinet or desk
Spending a low energy or self care day is personal to you
These ideas are what I find helpful for myself. Yet, that doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily find them as beneficial or even enjoyable. Sometimes, you have to find the activities or routines that you most enjoy through trial and error. Remember to be kind to yourself. Treat your mind and body with the love and care it needs. It also deserves this attention.
Sincerely. Abbey x