Powered down, to recharge.

Have you ever had one of those days where nothing feels right? Like, nothing? That was me yesterday. My brain wouldn’t shut up. It was like a constant loop of overthinking, stressing, and worrying about things that didn’t even make sense. My clothes felt wrong, like every seam and tag were out to get me. I couldn’t settle into anything, and honestly, I just felt off. Anxiety was running the show, and I hated it. It took a lot of extra energy to recognize this and not take it out of my family.

By the time the afternoon rolled around, I knew I couldn’t keep spiraling like that. I needed to do something—anything—to feel better. So, I decided to try something different. Something simple. Something I really know I need to do.

I shut my phone off. At 6 p.m., I powered it down. No notifications, no scrolling, no endless TikToks or Instagram rabbit holes. Just silence.

At first, I didn’t know what to do with myself. I kept reaching for my phone out of habit, but then I stopped and thought, What now? So, I focused on being present with the people in my house. We talked, laughed, and just hung out without distractions. It felt… grounding.

Then, I pulled out a coloring book. I sat down with some crayons and just started coloring. No pressure to make it perfect. No judgment. Just the simple act of filling in the lines and letting my brain focus on something small and manageable. It was honestly calming in a way I didn’t expect.

Finally, I went to bed early. Like, actually early. Not the “I’m in bed but still on my phone” kind of early. I turned off the lights, snuggled up in my blanket, and let myself rest. No endless scrolling. No late-night overthinking. Just sleep.

When I woke up this morning, it was like a reset button had been hit. My mind felt clearer, my body felt rested, and I wasn’t carrying that unsettled feeling anymore. It made me realize how much those little things—disconnecting, being present, and slowing down—actually matter.

I’m not saying this is some magical cure for anxiety, but it helped me. And I think it’s worth trying again. So, if you’re feeling like I did yesterday—anxious, restless, and out of sync—maybe try shutting your phone off for a bit. Be mindful and present. Do something simple, like coloring or journaling or even just breathing. And give yourself permission to rest.

We’re all figuring this out as we go, but yesterday reminded me that sometimes the smallest changes can make the biggest difference. Let’s keep trying to take care of ourselves, one day at a time.