Do nothing, Now what?

You might have times when you look at the ceiling and do not want to get out of bed. As you lay there, the thoughts of the day keep you paralyzed. The daily routine with medication, testing blood sugars, and even meals overwhelm you. So, nothing seems better than not getting up. 

The feeling does not define who you are. Yes, it could be a form of depression, and your work and family life with the combination of health challenges may be putting a drain on your life, still, again this does not define who you are. 

So, in this feeling, it is time to feel good. Try to do the things that make you feel good. It might be going to the movies, readings a book, or even spending time with family and friends. 

This feeling-good action will help you to feel good about your life again. Let us identify other things you can do when you want to do nothing. 

Try these strategies:

Time to recall your why. It’s appealing to wallow in yourself when you don’t feel like doing anything. But, if you can stop and remind yourself of why you’re doing what you’re doing, you will have more reason to keep going on. 

• Your life might have several things going on at one time. You want to buy a new car or need money for a house repair, or your health is not lining up where it should be with diabetes. Whatever it is, your “why” will help keep your mind focused on its most important goal. That goal might be to do more research, lay more money aside or change what you are doing to control your diabetes.

Time for a shower. A shower doesn’t just make you feel clean but refreshes you as you become renewed. So, take a quick shower as a first step to getting motivated to get out of bed and feel better.

Small manageable tasks. Your brain has two options when you do not want to do anything. One is to give up and curl up in bed and surrender, and the other is to force yourself to follow through with something. This something is a task you get to acknowledge and a task you were able to complete.

So, what is your big diabetes goal? What self-care actions are needed to reach the goals?

Not breaking it down could have you feeling intimidated due to the size and complexity of the goal. Breaking it down into smaller chunks will make it easier on your mind.

If you need help, talk to your doctor or health care team. Diabetes educators can help you break down your self-care actions into manageable steps. Teamwork is necessary, and you can make it better with a change in attitude. Thinking about the “Why” and what else can be done will help you feel glad you didn’t let the little things get you down.

What is the big goal you need to break into small steps?

Let today be the day to stop and investigate your “Why.” Schedule that appointment today with me to talk about your diabetes and future goals.