I'm having a terrible time trying to write this week, for two main reasons. One: there are a lot of shitty and terrifying things going on in the world going on right now, and they're making me feel overwhelmed. Two: I'm in the middle of some significant medication adjustments, and everything feels pretty hazy right now. I'm in that interim period where I'm waiting for my mood to level out again...emotional limbo.

But, I'm writing anyway because I wanted to say one thing. It's something that I need to remind myself of, and maybe you need to hear it too: it's okay to take care of yourself. Maybe this is a no-brainer for most of you but, for me, it's something that I easily forget in times like these. I feel pressure to focus on those terrible things that are going on in the world, which makes me feel guilty that I'm not doing anything about them, which makes me feel worse about myself. It's a spiral of guilt that's hard to get out of. I feel like if the world isn't okay, then I don't deserve to be okay either. Obviously, my thinking here is backwards. If I think that everyone deserves to feel okay—to live a full and safe life, even—then it follows that I deserve to feel okay. My own survival is just as important and, to survive, I need to take care of myself. So, I've compiled a list of reminders to myself to help me do just that. If you have any to add to the list, feel free to leave them in the comments.

It's okay to not watch the news right now.

It's okay not to burden yourself with trying to fix the world.

It's okay to stay away from situations and people that drain you.

It's okay to surround yourself with good things and good people.

It's okay to curl up into a ball on the couch and have some alone time.

It's okay to recharge.

It's okay to seek happiness.

It's okay to give yourself grace.

It's okay to admit when life feels like to too much to handle by yourself.

It's okay to ask for help when you need it.

It's okay to take care of yourself.

It's okay to take care of yourself.