A Day in the Life (Neutral Edition)

 It’s one thing to talk about mental health.

It’s another to show what it actually looks like.

This is a fairly typical day for me. Not a great day. Not a bad day. Just… neutral.

I wake up and immediately start thinking about what comes next.

The dogs need to go out. How much time do I have before work? Is there anything I absolutely need to do before I log on? Usually, it’s just the dogs. They go out, then come upstairs with me to my office, where they will spend the day supervising in varying levels of helpfulness.

I start my workday by going through emails and checking messages that came in after I logged off the day before. It helps me get a sense of direction. I keep a notebook with notes from previous days, so I review that to see what still needs attention. It’s not glamorous, but it keeps things from falling through the cracks when my brain decides to be less cooperative.

At some point in the morning, before my husband starts work, I make his breakfast and coffee. I also take care of the morning meds for the dogs and the cat. This routine works well because it ties everything together. If I do one thing, I remember the others. Also, I like taking care of him. It’s a small, steady part of my day that feels good.

Then it’s back to work.

Some days are easier than others. If I have plenty to do, I can stay focused and move from task to task without thinking too hard about it. If work is light, it gets trickier. Light days sound nice in theory, but they can leave too much room for my brain to wander.

Sometimes that wandering turns into anxiety. Am I doing enough? Is my job safe? Is this normal or am I missing something?

When that starts to build, I have people I can talk to. That helps more than trying to outthink it on my own.

After work, I bring the dogs downstairs and settle on the couch for a while. This is my official “do nothing or something low effort” time. Sometimes I nap. Sometimes I play games on my iPad. Sometimes I scroll on my phone longer than intended and accept my fate.

Eventually, I get up and make dinner. After that, it’s time to relax with my husband. We usually watch YouTube or find a show to get into for a while.

Bedtime is my favorite part of the day.

It’s also the part where my brain likes to review everything I said, did, and thought. Especially the things I would prefer not to revisit. It can take a bit to quiet that down. Usually, I talk myself through it. Nothing out loud, just a quiet reminder that things are not as bad as they feel in the moment.

Eventually, I fall asleep.

I dream most nights, and my dreams are usually pleasant. It’s one of the nicer parts of my brain. Sometimes I wake up still holding onto a dream, and for a little while, everything feels lighter.

And then the next day starts, and I do it again.

Not perfectly. Not dramatically. Just consistently enough.

That’s what a “normal” day looks like for me.

 

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