Ugh, how to make time for self-care in a busy schedule is like… my eternal nemesis, swear to god. i’m over here on my lumpy couch in seattle, rain doing that annoying tap-dance on the fire escape, and my coffee’s cold again because i got distracted yelling at a slack message. true story: last week i bailed on a dentist thing—self-care, lol—to cram for a presentation, then spent the weekend chugging ibuprofen ‘cause my tooth decided to revolt. i’m a walking disaster, but whatever, let’s talk about it.
Why self-care in my busy schedule is basically a joke half the time
it’s wild. i-5 is a parking lot, my inbox won’t shut up, and somebody scheduled a 7:45 a.m. call like we’re all morning people. i was in line at that sketchy downtown starbucks the other day—smells like wet socks and overpriced syrup—and i legit caught myself clenching my jaw so hard i thought i’d crack a molar. hadn’t stretched, hadn’t breathed, hadn’t done jack for myself in days. i tell my group chat “prioritize self-care!!” then stay up till 3 a.m. watching trash reality tv. the hypocrisy is chef’s kiss. but when i actually remember to sneak in a self-care routine? i don’t wanna punch a wall, so that’s something.
Stuff that works for prioritizing self-care (when i’m not being a goblin)
i started blocking random chunks in my calendar and naming them stupid things like “STOP BEING A ZOMBIE.” sounds dumb, works… ish. like yesterday i had a 12-minute gap, stepped outside, let the drizzle hit my face, didn’t check my phone once. didn’t solve world hunger but i didn’t bite anyone’s head off later, progress.
- microwave waits = neck rolls and dramatic sighs. not cute, but it’s quick self-care ideas i can’t screw up.
- trader joe’s runs + true crime podcast = errands that don’t make me wanna scream. self-care amidst chaos, baby.
- said no to drinks last friday, felt like a loser, then soaked in a too-hot bath with a target candle that smelled like fake pine. 10/10, yelped when i got in tho.
i still overbook myself into oblivion. this harvard burnout thing called my entire personality out, read it if you’re also allergic to sleep.
The accidental ways i stumble into self-care in a busy schedule
sometimes the universe just hands you a win. stuck on the bridge, traffic crawling, exhaust + wet pine in the air, so i blasted my sad-girl playlist and screamed along. guy in the prius next to me looked horrified, but i felt… lighter? another time i ditched my desk for a lunchtime loop around the park, ate it on a root, almost face-planted into a puddle. leaves crunching, cold air slapping me awake—worth the mud on my jeans. bedtime i scribble in a notebook while the upstairs neighbor’s dog loses its mind. it’s chaos, but it’s my chaos. i hate structure yet these random balancing work and self-care moments keep me from yeeting myself into the sound. wellness mama’s routines are cute, i just half-ass them.
self-care fails i’m still recovering from
downloaded every meditation app known to man. notifications made me wanna hurl my phone into traffic. then the great yoga disaster of 2024—rushed a pose, tweaked something, waddled like a penguin for a week. moral of the story: ease in or pay the price. still figuring out time management for wellness, one dumb mistake at a time.
anyway that’s my hot mess take on how to make time for self-care in a busy schedule. not pinterest, not perfect, just me not totally losing it. steal one thing—set a dumb timer, walk to the corner, whatever. drop your survival tricks below, i need ‘em.
