Your Daily Occupation: Let it Go!

If I'm working from home, why are my houseplants dying?

For that matter, my kitchen is dirty and my laundry pile is obnoxious. What's happening?

My actual pile of laundry with 12-year-old for scale

I'm home round the clock. Why can't I get anything done?

Because it's hard, that's why. You've upended your entire routine in a matter of a few days. The world outside is constantly changing, and it's stressful trying to keep up. It's so easy to have grand expectations of ourselves doing all the extra things now that we have "more" time at home. 

Trust me, that's not going to work. 

Instead, flip your thinking and consider all things you're NOT going to worry about now that you're at home 24/7. Here is a list of the things you can let go of:

1: Clothing that matches (wear your most comfortable, clean clothes)

2: Clothing that isn't wrinkled 

3: Shoes (you're not going anywhere anyway!)

4: Make-up

5: Jewelry

6: Hair color (You're going to have at least 4 weeks of roots, along with most everybody else.)

7: Pedicures

8: Manicures

9: Hair cuts

10: Dressing up for church, dinner, dates, outings, etc.

11: Expectations

12: Being hard on yourself

Think of all the time and energy you'll save if you let those things go! Now, here's one little thing you can embrace: Being gentle with yourself.

Give it a try and see how it feels. Let all those judgments and expectations drop away, and show yourself the same kindness that you show your neighbors. Hang in there!

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About the Author

Melissa Christopher, OT/L is an Occupational Therapist with more than twenty years of experience and the founder of Stellar Therapy Services. Stellar Therapy Services provides therapy staffing solutions for school districts, home health facilities, hospitals, and many other settings needing Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, and other therapy and healthcare professionals.