You’re drowning. At least it feels like you are. The world is closing in and your agitated mind worries about falling short. About not doing enough.

But don’t believe your own lies. Because somewhere in the deep recesses of your mind you know you’ve done enough. Perhaps even more than you should.

You’ve progressed, made it further than you were yesterday, or last week, or last month, or even last year. You deserve a breath, an intake of fresh air that fills your lungs with revitalisation. That deep inhale that brings a dizzy spell. It’s not quite like getting a slap in the face, but it feels just as good. That’s what you need.

A single day off.

Instead of rushing into the shower tomorrow morning, scrubbing yourself down for another drastic day, you can arise slow and steady. A blink or two before rolling over to the bedside table as you collect your charging phone and blissfully scroll through your socials. Scroll and scroll. Laugh a little, share something, say hi to your little world. Until you realise it’s 10am and you really should get out of bed. Bodies are not designed to lie still.

So you get up, brush your fingers through your wayward hair and take a long, deep breath. There’s no rush this morning. You can take all the time in the world. But not until you’ve had your breakfast…

Go on, treat yourself to something special like pancakes, or make it simple because you really can’t give a fudge. Ah, toast with jam and butter. That’ll do. And a steaming hot brew of coffee or a sweet pinch of flavoured tea. Perhaps even a gallon of water to sweep out all the bad dining decisions you’ve been making lately.

Self-care is what they call it,
and no matter how cheesy it sounds,
you know it’s necessary.

During your breakfast, you skip the TV and stare out the window instead. The sun is streaming through, beckoning your presence. And you feel like basking in it. But not yet. You’ve gotta wash up the dishes and then have a shower.

So you take it slow, letting the water cascade over you. For a full minute, you position your face in the flowing downpour. And it feels like utopia. Within that moment, you forget about all your worries as your mind is consumed by the beating, splashing warmth. It saturates your entire soul, diluting all your worries into pure nothingness. You could do with a whole day of this. But a minute is just enough.

Now you’re dressed in your cool, casual clothes. The world awaits you, but you know you don’t really have to go just yet. And so, for the rest of the morning until the early afternoon, you Netflix and chill. By yourself. In complete and utter ignorance of all the crap going on in the world.

And ain’t that the most beautiful thing you’ve ever heard?

Never forget that you can take a day off. You’re not beholden to the world.

It will go on, even without your presence.

Feature image: Toa Heftiba on Unsplash