Days when you can't move. Even if you rest, you are not lazy.

"I couldn't get out of bed again today."
"I shouldn't blame the weather and be soft on myself."

Listening to the sound of the rain, I keep blaming myself and my unmoving body.
Trying to force yourself to go through your daily routine while feeling unwell feels like trying to force a robot with no oil to move with a creaking sound.

In particular, cold rain fell today from western Japan to the Kanto region.

The temperature difference is drastic, and I fall into the feeling that just breathing is draining my physical strength.

Even on days like that.

We end up trying to force ourselves to get up, don't we?

I have to do that.
I haven't done this either.

Because we feel a strong sense of guilt about resting, we drag our heavy bodies to work or chores...
As a result, we can't concentrate at all and end up hating ourselves even more intensely.
The vicious cycle of self-loathing takes away even the little bit of energy we have left, root and branch.

I myself live with a condition called bipolar disorder.
I have repeatedly experienced days where my mind is sharp and I am too active, and days where my body is so heavy, as if gravity has doubled, that I cannot move at all. On days when I cannot move, I have no choice but to lie down and stare at the ceiling.

But... does what you are trying to do right now really have to be finished today? If it can wait until tomorrow, you can put it off until tomorrow.

The fact that the deadline for summer vacation homework is "the end of summer vacation" is a permission that says, "At worst, it's okay to do it on 8/31."

......Is that saying too much?
I even have memories of doing it on the submission day, let alone summer vacation.

I've gone off track, but anyway, on days when you're feeling unwell, what you need isn't willpower, butthoroughly caring for your body and securing time for recoverythat is what you need.

Today, from the membership magazines I have written in the past, I will introduce someinformation to help you relax and heal yourself.

Approaches to regaining body sensation

・Blissful relaxation with a gentle body scan [Self-Compassion]

A body scan is a technique to focus on the sensations of your body "here and now" by gently touching or stroking your own body.

I introduced the detailed method in the article, but please try playing music that helps you relax in your own way, or even while sitting, try touching your body and having a dialogue with it.

・Calming the mind with the five senses. Techniques to "relax yourself" learned from DBT [DBT Introduction 5]

This is a relaxation method using the five senses based on a behavioral therapy called DBT. The sensations you like. Feeling comfort with your five senses. You can read the explanation itself from the free section, so please try practicing it.

・Sighing has good effects on mental health. 5 surprising relaxation methods

I am introducing 5 slightly unusual relaxation methods. What I am introducing in the free section are methods such as humming, sighing, and ear massage... but these are also easy to do and do not take time. If you feel like "maybe I'll try it," please give them a try.
For you, who wants to try slightly unusual relaxation methods.

Staying in the "now" with mindfulness

When standard relaxation methods fail to stop painful thoughts of self-blame or anxiety about the future, mindfulness meditation can help.

Mindfulness. You've likely heard of it, but it's actually a Buddhist meditation technique that was transmitted to the West, customized, and then re-imported.

It is a very interesting fact that when you explore mental health care techniques, you eventually arrive at Buddhist philosophy.

Next, I would like to introduce some content where I provide the guided audio myself, leading you with my own voice.

Formally, it is difficult to provide this for free, but for those who are already members, please listen to it when you want to relax.

• For sleepless nights. Mindfulness for sleep, surrendering to gentle waves [Audio Guided Introduction]

• An 'attention' exercise to incorporate mindfulness into your daily life [With introductory audio]

Since mindfulness focuses more on the body than meditation does, some people may find it easier to do, as it includes a yoga-like sensation.

You can find many audio guides for mindfulness meditation yourself if you search for them.

Please give it a try.

Just because you rest doesn't mean you're becoming lazy.

When your body is struggling due to changes in atmospheric pressure or temperature, pushing yourself to work won't produce good results.

However, those with kind hearts who have a strong desire to work hard for others are often the ones who end up thinking, 'I have to do this, I have to do that.'

Don't you think that kind of heart is truly wonderful?

'Even when I'm struggling, I want to keep trying'....

What a hard worker you are.
If this weren't about myself, I would be choked up with tears of admiration.

But we always end up being hard on ourselves, don't we? At times like that, try to imagine that the person struggling to keep going right now isn't you, but your dearest best friend.

If your dearest best friend were struggling but trying to keep going...
'Don't push yourself. Even if you take a day off, you are still a wonderful person.'
You would be able to say that to them.

Therefore, when you can rest, rest thoroughly and recharge your energy. Even for things that absolutely must be done today, let's try to handle them with as little effort as possible.

Once you have rested enough, you will surely be able to move again in time.

May you find a place where your heart can find even a little bit of peace.
Thank you for reading until the end.

▶ Click here for the series magazine.

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