I just looked back and saw I've gone 18 months without a full shutdown

For years, I thought my shutdowns were just a fact of life, like bad weather. I'd hit a wall of too much noise, too many demands, and just go blank for a day or two. It felt like something that just happened to me. Then, after a really rough patch about two years ago, I started keeping a basic log on my phone, just a note with a date and a word or two about my day. I looked at it yesterday and counted back. The last entry that said 'shutdown' was a year and a half ago. What changed? I finally started listening to the small signs, the tightness in my chest after a loud phone call, the urge to stare at a wall after a busy morning. Instead of pushing through, I'd take ten minutes alone in my car or put on my headphones. It wasn't one big thing, just a lot of small stops before the crash. Has anyone else found that tracking something simple helped you spot a pattern you were missing?

3 comments

3 Comments

cameron_owens493mo ago

Totally get this, that small tracking thing is a game changer. I started a basic mood chart and it showed my bad weeks always came after skipping lunch breaks. Now I guard that hour like it's gold and feel way more steady. Spotting those tiny triggers makes all the difference.

the_dakota3mo ago

Right? It's wild how something so simple can make such a big difference. @cameron_owens49, your lunch break story is exactly it. I did the same with tracking my sleep and saw my mood tank every time I got less than six hours, even if I felt fine in the moment. Now I'm way more strict about turning off screens. Makes you realize we're all just running on little systems that need basic care. What was the hardest habit for you to actually stick with after you spotted it?

leo_carr131mo ago

Congrats on cracking the code before your brain had to do a factory reset! I tried tracking my "small signs" once and realized my biggest warning was when I started rage-Googling "how to live in a lighthouse" at 2pm on a Tuesday. That was my cue. Now I just schedule mandatory wall-staring time like it's a dentist appointment, just less drilling and more zoning out. Glad you found your cheat codes for not hitting that wall, it's honestly kind of freeing once you realize your brain is just a needy little gremlin that needs snacks and quiet.