I’ve been lucky for most of my life to have a fairly consistent and reliable sleep schedule. Part of this is due to the fact that I start work at 6:00 AM, so my body naturally gets tired and starts shutting down for sleep around 8:30 PM. There have been moments in my life when I’ve had horrible insomnia, and these have been when I was neglecting my mental health, but aside from those times, my sleep schedule is usually very reliable.

One of the listed side effects for Prosac, according to the pharmacist I spoke to, is insomnia. So far, I’ve been able to avoid this side effect, but last night was rough. I had a hard time falling asleep despite feeling tired, and I had an even harder time staying asleep. I woke up several times and tossed and turned to try and fall back asleep for at least twenty minutes each time. I mediated as I fell asleep, as I usually do every night, but had to meditate a second time after I first woke up.

Needless to say, today I’m tired.

However, today I still feel good. My anxiety is bothering me some, but it’s not terrible, and I’m feeling surprisingly rested despite the lack of sleep. Today’s goal is to go for a run after work and then participate in a virtual writing salon, if I’m feeling up to it. Self-compassion isn’t something I give myself often. I’m an overachiever, I push myself to do and be better because I always want to improve and challenge myself, and that means I burnout easily. So, today I’m going to give myself permission to rest after my run, if that’s something I need. If I feel motivated to get some writing done, then I will.

This weekend is going to be homework heavy, and I’m actually looking forward to it. My essay is starting to take shape and I’m thrilled with how it’s piecing itself together.

I’m really happy it’s September! (Also, holy shit ya’ll, it’s September already?) October is my favorite month of the year (and not just because my birthday is in October), but September is my second favorite month. I love, love, love the end of summer, early autumn days that are warm and also crisp. I love the mornings when fog creeps into the valley. The smell of the coming cold. It’s very romantic and spiritual for me. So I’m in high spirits, even with the stress of adjusting to this medication and trying to manage my mental health.

So be kind to yourself today, whether you’re struggling or not. Give yourself a treat of some kind and take a moment to just sit still and be.