Move Your Body More by Unplugging
Social Media & Not Doing Enough
I went on IG today cause I was excited to see friends, strength videos, and people showing up for the protests on January 30th.
After being off IG for three weeks, I noticed how slowly and insidiously my mind started to tell me all the ways I am falling short.
All the ways I need to do better. Then the insecurities and self-doubt kicked in. Seeing everyone highlighting their lives, their practices, their strength, suddenly, I am not doing enough.
Comparison leads to self-doubt
This is the negative side of social media—nobody gets to decide what happens when images hijack our brain and comparison stories set in deciding who is good, bad, horrible, and so on.
Who can be trusted or not?
Who is strong and who isn’t?
Then comes the next image and the next one, and the mind does what it needs to sort it all, however it sorts.
Mine sorts by adding endless new moves I need to learn to an already too-long list.
On a positive note, I found some inspiring movement videos. I feel inspired to keep moving my body in a strong way.
I deleted IG again.
My hope is that next time I am already feeling tired, I won’t download the app to prove to myself yet again why I have deleted it.
Either way, I’m grateful for the reflection and for the self-awareness to feel the stirring of unwanted emotions and my nervous system spiraling.
It is wild how easy it is to mindlessly scroll and let the brain run into too many dark places.
The last thing I need is to feel pressure to do more, and that I am somehow behind when I am currently winning in my life.
I put in daily effort to move my body.
I show up with the best of myself even when sleep has been shit for days. Side note, I’ve had a child home with a fever and cough all week, and my period came with a vengeance. Working out hasn’t been an option, but resting, stretching, foam rolling, and restorative poses have been.
When my body isn’t yelling for rest, I work out even when it isn’t perfect, which is often.
Lately, a friend and I have been working out with two 3-year-olds running in and out with needs, with arguments over who is sharing, saying someone hit someone, and then going back to pretending to be dinosaurs and cats. It’s chaos, and yet we persist.
I choose peace
I choose quiet
I choose yard work over scrolling or binge-watching Bridgerton. At least until the next episodes come out.
All of this to say, protect your mental health; it matters
It’s easier to move and care for your body when your mind isn’t flooded with too much.
Unplug, and suddenly you have more time to move your body.
To be with your mind.
To be with your breath.
I wish I could drop my phone in a lock box for a week. I know my life would be 1,0000x better without the distractions.
My mom rage might lose it over the dishes and dinner routines, though.
If every American did 3 of these 5 things, ICE would be stopped in its tracks.
For inspiration to take care of you and others, listen to this
Love Always,
Danielle Mallett
