Ethereally Written

This topic rests so very close to my heart. Something I’d like to call preventive care. Preventive care in its basic form, means “preventing medical problems before they can become major”, but I’d like to expand this to discuss preventing major stress. 

Many of you are likely working very hard in more areas than just your occupation, whether it be studying, caring for your family, or other demands. I’m sure you encounter instances where you choose to sacrifice some of your wellbeing for the sake of these demands. That is simply a demand of life. But an important part of preventive care is minimizing these instances before your stress becomes crippling. Do not wait until the damage is already done. 

There is a quote I love that goes, “if you don’t make time for your wellness, you will be forced to make time for your illness”.

This is an outcome I have faced first hand that tragically set me back. I pushed myself in everything I felt obligated to achieve, but disregarded my health and stress levels entirely. I set very little time aside to relish in my passions or get support. No matter how much pain I felt, I thought “just get out of bed and get it done”. Feeling overwhelmed, but thinking, at least I am progressing in my goals, right? I am not failing, right? Pushing through and ignoring the pain, to avoid failure is what it means to be strong, right? 

WRONG. 

That is what it means to be reckless. When you ignore the needs of your body and mind, you are only giving strength to your stress. To be stronger, you must first accept that you are weakened. Instead, I treated my mind and body like a cockroach that could survive even with its head cut off. I treated it as a last priority, and pushed until I developed a chronic stress-induced illness. Even then, I continued to ignore my symptoms. Treating an illness is expensive and time consuming, and my other expenses always came first. 

So what happens when you neglect your wellbeing long enough? 

Eventually I had to STOP working, STOP studying, and stop doing the few things that did make me happy, because the symptoms were finally so strong, I couldn’t get out of bed anymore. Then I had to dedicate MORE time and MORE expenses to becoming healthy again, than I would have if I had simply set my wellness to a higher standard from the beginning. 

To avoid severe stress or burnout, here are a few reminders. 

A lifestyle is not a race, so slow down and take breaks. Make things like boundaries, me-time, and sleep non-negotiable. And build a nourishing routine both indoors and outdoors, in which you take time away from toxic digital stimulators. 

So, the lesson I will leave you with is this: continue striving to reach your goals, but remember the journey to your success is meant to be enjoyed, not suffered through. Notice when you are weak, and treat your weakness not as a failure, but as a wound to be nurtured. Everyday, practice something that makes you feel well, if even for 20 minutes; whether it be a passion like arts or fitness, or call a good friend. If you haven’t found what you love, at least practice something that gives you peace. 

And as obvious as it may sound, don’t treat yourself like a cockroach.