I’m currently on a mental health break from work. Typing this feels like a personal win, since I’ve been accustomed to work environments that look down upon these things, or purposefully delay them.
Speaking of breaks, I always feel a sense of dread and shame whenever I participate in a company-mandated break or take a leave from work. In my head, going on break meant that I’m lazy, and I will lose my capabilities if I don’t practice them. I’ve also been guilt-tripped by authority figures and peers for taking a day off or two. As a consequence of these experiences, I’ve become that caricature of an employee who brings work everywhere she goes— even during vacations or Reiki healing sessions.
However, as I continue to advocate and accommodate my neurodivergence, I’ve come to realize that rest and downtime are essential to my well-being. When I’m rested, I feel more inspired to do things. Rest helps me deal with my health issues better. Rest allows me to embrace life and its silly little dances, just like how Chef Luca from The Bear was able to let go of his quest for perfection and replace it with a newfound sense of openness to everything that comes his way.
Anyway, speaking of rest, I think that this will be my last post for the month. Even though I enjoy training my writing muscles on this platform, I think that there are other ways that I can practice my creativity.
Until the next brain dump,
Lea