Remember to be nice to yourself.

I think with all the time people think they have now they are trying to become the best versions of themselves. When I log onto Twitter, half of what I see is people trying to become cooks or gurus, giving advice on schedules and almost trying to take over the world.

 And then there’s the other half of people. Those who are going to bed at 2 am and waking up at noon. Only wearing pajamas and losing track of the days.

I don’t think there is a right way to quarantine, there are just different types of people. Earlier this month, I went to my first session of remote therapy. When she asked me how I plan to be mentally healthy at this time, I said I was building a rigorous schedule so I didn’t fall back into my destructive habits. To that, she replied with the simplest yet most useful thing I think we all need to hear right now:

“That’s good! But remember your highest priority should be to be nice to yourself.”

Meaning, failing your schedule or goals doesn’t mean you’ve failed as a person. Although it may feel like it when you’re surrounded by an entire school of highly competitive people, productivity is not a battle to win. Not to mention dealing with what Rupaul calls the“inner saboteur” can add another level of struggle. 

Whenever you have those days where you need a break from all the information coming at you and you want to stay in bed a little longer, you are completely entitled to do so! Want to spend a day watching YouTube instead of focusing on a deadline? That’s okay too! You need to tell the voice in your head calling you lazy to shut up! In this day and age we have to digest so much information, it is normal to ask for a mental break.

Curating a craft and new skill is pretty neat for personal growth. However, if what you need right now is a distraction and a couple deep breaths you are still helping yourself grow.