At times, it can feel like the world is burning around us (and unfortunately, for some areas, that’s not metaphorical). Between political tension, climate anxiety, financial stress, and everything else happening in the world, the list can feel endless. And that’s not even counting our everyday stressors: work, relationships, responsibilities, and simply trying to keep up.
Lately, it seems like a lot of us are carrying more than usual. So how do we take care of ourselves, our people, and our capacity when everything feels like too much?
Take Care of Yourself
Above all else, it is important to take care of yourself. Otherwise, taking care of your people and responsibilities becomes that much harder. As they say, you can’t pour from an empty cup.
It is important to note that taking care of yourself will look different each day, and may even change moment to moment. When life feels heavy, self-care may feel selfish. But caring for yourself matters most when times are hard.
Your body is not just something that carries you through the hard stuff – it’s also a place where you can experience comfort, connection, and pleasure.
When everything feels heavy, come back to your body. Listen to it and give it what it needs – that may mean resting, eating, sleeping, moving, or simply slowing down.
Your mind, heart, and soul need care, too. Try actually feeling your emotions – without intellectualizing them or pushing them away.
Your nervous system may need a break. Step away from the daily grind and spend some time outdoors, grounding your feet in the grass. Or, at the very least, step away from the screens and step back into your body. Take a few deep breaths. Slow down.
Remember: You don’t have to be productive every second to be a good person. You don’t have to earn rest. Staying overly informed, productive, and useful all the time isn’t sustainable long-term.
Don’t forget to experience pleasure – even in the most mundane moments – without shame or guilt. Pleasure gives us moments of relief, connection, embodiment, and joy – which are all human elements worth protecting.
- Step away from the news
- Rest without feeling guilt
- Indulge in small pleasures that bring you back into your body
- Masturbate/self-pleasure as a form of reconnecting with yourself
- Do things you enjoy: Taking a bath, reading, cooking, getting a massage, etc.
- Explore intimacy at your pace and on your terms.
Even when life around us gets hard, you are still allowed to have fun and enjoy yourself. Pleasure isn’t a distraction from caring about the world. Sometimes, it’s part of how we keep ourselves capable of caring about it.
There will be times when life is harder than it needs to be, but that doesn’t mean you should ever deprive yourself of joy.
Take Care of Your People
You’re not alone – the people in your life are feeling the weight of everything happening, too. You don’t have to care for the entire world – but you can care for yourself and the people in your world.
We all want to be there for those we love. But when life gets busy and you barely feel like you have enough time for everything, it’s easy to put those relationships on the back burner. But quality relationships can help carry us through the ups and downs of life.
They say “it takes a village,” but that means more than raising children. It means showing up for the people who matter to you, especially when you need each other the most.
Showing you care doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. Sometimes it looks like bringing someone dinner or sending a “thinking of you” text. Low-pressure hangouts, cooking together, or having a good laugh can be the highlight of someone’s week – especially when they need it most.
If it’s been a while since you’ve talked with someone, reach out. Instead of doomscrolling, call or text a friend. Sometimes taking care of ourselves also means letting other people take care of us.
Take Care of your Capacity
You can’t take care of yourself or your people if you’re constantly running on empty. You don’t have to consume every piece of information, respond to every crisis, or fix every problem. There is a difference between ignoring what’s happening and taking a break from what’s happening. You can care deeply about something without jeopardizing your entire nervous system.
When you’re overwhelmed, ask yourself:
- What can I actually handle today?
- What can wait?
- What does my body need?
- Who makes me feel safe and grounded?
- What can I do that feels good?
- Who might need a check-in from me?
The ability to be honest with ourselves is one of the most important lessons everyone should learn. Being honest about what we can and can’t handle is a form of self-awareness, not failure.
While boundaries may seem difficult to implement, they are crucial to establish. Boundaries can be uncomfortable, especially when we’re used to being available for everyone. But they are necessary if we want to keep showing up without burning ourselves out.
Take Care of What Matters (and Not Everything Matters)
When the world feels overwhelming, taking care of yourself – and staying connected to other people – isn’t frivolous. Pleasure, intimacy, rest, touch, and community are important too.
We can’t control everything happening in the world. But we can choose how we care for ourselves and the people around us. Sometimes that means showing up, helping out, or speaking up when we have the capacity. And sometimes it means turning off the news, taking a bath, reaching for your favorite toy, and reminding yourself that you’re still allowed to feel good.
The world doesn’t need us to be endlessly productive, perfectly informed, or constantly available. It needs us to stay human. And sometimes, staying human means resting, connecting, laughing, feeling, and experiencing pleasure along the way.
Read More:
- Permission to Feel Good: The Power of Pleasure – https://engerotics.com/permission-to-feel-good-the-power-of-pleasure/
- Bite-Sized Self-Care – https://engerotics.com/bite-sized-self-care/
- Masturbation In All Its Glory – https://engerotics.com/masturbation-in-all-its-glory/
Mentioned EngErotics Products:
- Oh!Nectar Massage Oil – https://engerotics.com/product/oh-nectar/
- Soaking Sand Bath Shot – https://engerotics.com/product/soaking-sand-bath-shots/
- Intimacy Devices – https://engerotics.com/product-category/intimacy-devices/
