Read on Twitter
Don’t ignore your mental health. We all carry around a backpack full of stones; these days it’s more rocks than pebbles.
The weight’s so familiar that you don’t realize how heavy it’s getting, until one day you’re on your knees.
Think about ways to lighten the load.
The weight’s so familiar that you don’t realize how heavy it’s getting, until one day you’re on your knees.
Think about ways to lighten the load.
I’ve been trying a lot of things to help reduce the weight of my mental rucksack, and I think it’s not about one strategy but many. All hands on deck. Full court press. I thought I’d share a few things Ive been doing that have seemed to help.
First: REACH OUT
First: REACH OUT
For me, reaching out to others has been particularly focused on old friends I’ve lost touch with. I’ve been reconnecting with my network, and it’s been reliably great at boosting my mood. It helps one to remember, to quote @loserboy : You Are Not Alone.
The thing about old friends with whom you’ve lost touch is that they are *still your friends.* For me, hearing their news, sharing mine, reminiscing... it’s been great.
Next: DO STUFF.
Do I always feel like doing stuff these days? No way. But I try to think of myself like Trinity in the opening scene of The Matrix, and I just GET UP.
Do I always feel like doing stuff these days? No way. But I try to think of myself like Trinity in the opening scene of The Matrix, and I just GET UP.
I play one of my instruments, or read a novel, or go to @atlasobscura and learn something new, or I go for a walk or a run. I think about how I could help out in one way or another, by donating or volunteering or whatever else.
Your stuff won’t be my stuff - but you have stuff.
Your stuff won’t be my stuff - but you have stuff.
It’s not always possible, but I try not to read the news, sit on the couch, or stew. Those things are inevitable, sometimes, but they don’t help. They add rocks to the backpack, and enough rocks makes an avalanche.
Head that avalanche off at the pass!
Head that avalanche off at the pass!
Next: PLAN
This one’s tough, because the future is so uncertain, but I have found it helps to think of activities in the context of “It’ll be so great to do XYZ again” as opposed to “I hate that I can’t do XYZ” or “I miss XYZ so much.”
Just a flip from negative to positive.
This one’s tough, because the future is so uncertain, but I have found it helps to think of activities in the context of “It’ll be so great to do XYZ again” as opposed to “I hate that I can’t do XYZ” or “I miss XYZ so much.”
Just a flip from negative to positive.
It lets me think about great things down the road and be excited for them, as opposed to being mired in loss or frustration.
(Again, I realize this one’s tough, because it can seem a little hollow - but when it works, it’s great.)
(Again, I realize this one’s tough, because it can seem a little hollow - but when it works, it’s great.)
Next: TALK
This is directly about therapy, which isn’t something people like to talk about, admit they’re doing, or even acknowledge they need.
Listen, it’s good. I don’t think there’s a person alive who couldn’t benefit from working on themselves with someone trained to help.
This is directly about therapy, which isn’t something people like to talk about, admit they’re doing, or even acknowledge they need.
Listen, it’s good. I don’t think there’s a person alive who couldn’t benefit from working on themselves with someone trained to help.
Our inner lives are OUR LIVES, and drive so much of what we do. We ignore them to focus on the external, because that’s where we think we live - we don’t, or not entirely.
The world inside our heads is just as real, and it helps to check in with it in a direct way.
The world inside our heads is just as real, and it helps to check in with it in a direct way.
Even just saying “I hate this time, I can’t handle it” can be freeing; which isn’t always a thing to say to friends or family, because it can kind of add to their burden.
Therapy lets you empty out rocks from your backpack very effectively. There’s no shame to it. It’s awesome.
Therapy lets you empty out rocks from your backpack very effectively. There’s no shame to it. It’s awesome.
Next: HELP
I alluded to this above: trying to help other people, or the situation at large, can be hugely useful in lightening the load.
The world feels out of control. We can’t change the big stuff. But we can, directly, improve things. All of us have that power.
I alluded to this above: trying to help other people, or the situation at large, can be hugely useful in lightening the load.
The world feels out of control. We can’t change the big stuff. But we can, directly, improve things. All of us have that power.
A kind word, refraining from an unkind word, standing up for what you believe in and the world you want to see (whether that’s through dialogue or protests or donations or volunteering - it all counts), holding a door, wearing a mask, sending a letter, a kind surprise.
Every time you help someone else, you help yourself.
Look, these are not definitive. Find your own path. But find a path. Don’t let the weight drive you to your knees.
REACH OUT, DO STUFF, PLAN, TALK, HELP.
The main thing is don’t do nothing. Fight back the grey grimness.
Lighten your load, lighten everyone’s load.
You can.
The main thing is don’t do nothing. Fight back the grey grimness.
Lighten your load, lighten everyone’s load.
You can.
