Struggling with Self-Care: How Do You Motivate Yourself?

It gets really bad being so busy with work and cleaning my apartment and doing other chores, I'll go days without eating any proper meals of any nutritional value, or getting a chance to brush my teeth or just basic hygiene like it's difficult to find time because it's like I have to choose work and sleep and nothing else. I literally had to force myself to make time and I stopped trying to take on so much because it was hurting me and I felt like crap all the time just for a job, and I started being honest with family and friends that I needed time for myself and explained what was going on and that I wasn't taking care of myself and they understood.

I have felt like I don’t want to go to work, don’t want to do anything, didn’t want to face the day, and feel numb. I have felt like I was burnt out with my job. I have felt like I feel dragged. I’m starting back to see counselor this Friday after not going to counseling sessions for 7 months

All the time, sometimes I think doing these things aren’t really that important like how you said brushing your teeth, exercising, meditating. But they all really are I think it’s just motivation that’s the problem. Sometimes I feel like doing something fun like earlier I felt like making bracelets, but then I suddenly remembered I had to do work for school and I felt so annoyed and I started to almost panic because I realized that i’m behind in school (i’ve been in and out of hospitals and lack of motivation) Sometimes I like to make a list of things I need to do and I try to do them as quick as I can without rushing it if that makes any sense. I suggest you should try to set reminders and make lists and maybe try to reward yourself with something like a snack more time to do something that you like. I hope this helps

Omg all the time like i would like to exercise more but i dont have any energy even to get off my bed i feel like im useless when all i want to do is lay on my bed cause i have no energy at all my friend told me to try stacker 2 it should give me energy im gonna try it this week and ill let u know if it helps k

I relate completely. I’m still learning how to do all this. Anxiety says do something or stress. Depression says nah. I try to do one thing and try to keep moving. If I’m sitting or laying down, it feels hard to get up because you have no energy. I try jumping. Get my adrenaline pumping. It doesn’t always work but sometimes it does. It’s something to drag you out of the endless void of depression.

Absolutely. I do use my dog as a motivator. I make sure I get up to walk her or take her to the dog park. She gives me a reason to get up. I try to do like 3-4 "chores" a day. Laundry, dishwasher, pick up the house, do skincare routine, etc. per day and rotate. It's not as much as I would like to do, but it makes it less overwhelming.

i can totally relate to this! i feel like i want to do these things because they will make me feel more productive, i just don’t have any energy to do it. you are not alone! i found its best for me personally to pick a few small tasks for each day and try to get those done before i do something i really enjoy as a “reward”! and then after a week or so, i usually start to feel a bit better! it sounds silly but just something small that has worked for me! feel free to message anytime! id love to listen and offer support as i can definitely relate!