Welcome to Week Two of Coming Back to Myself. 💛
I won’t lie. There’s a small part of me that’s surprised I’m even writing that. Not because I didn’t want to follow through, but because life has a way of getting loud, and old habits have a way of pulling you right back into survival mode if you’re not careful.
But I’m still here. Still showing up. Still trying.
And I think that counts for more than we give ourselves credit for.
This past week wasn’t perfect. There were days I felt good—clear-headed, a little more like myself—and then there were days where the fatigue hit harder than I expected, where my body reminded me it’s still healing, still catching up from everything it’s been through.
Lupus and fibromyalgia don’t exactly care about fresh starts or good intentions. They just… are.
But I’m starting to understand something I didn’t fully grasp before: This isn’t about waiting until I feel better to take care of myself. It’s about taking care of myself while I don’t feel my best.
And that’s a very different kind of commitment.
There were moments this week where everything felt a little less chaotic. Not because life slowed down (it didn’t) but because I gave myself small pockets of control. Small routines. Small choices that reminded me I’m still in here, even when things feel overwhelming.
Nothing dramatic. Nothing life-changing overnight.
Just… progress.
And right now, that feels like enough.
This week, I added in three things.
One of them is a supplement, and I’m going to hold off talking about that until I’ve had a little more time with it. I want to be able to tell you if it actually does something, not just that I’m taking it.
The other two, though?
Simple. Almost annoyingly simple.
And honestly… probably the most important.
The first one?
I drank my water.
I know. Groundbreaking. Revolutionary. Truly life-altering information. 🙄
But here’s the thing: when everything feels off, it’s usually the basics that go first. And for me, water was one of them. I’d get busy, distracted, overwhelmed… and before I knew it, the day was almost over and I’d barely had any.
This week, I made a point to change that.
And it helped.
Not in some dramatic, overnight transformation kind of way. But in that quieter, steadier way where you just feel a little better. A little more clear. A little less run down.
Enough to notice.
So I made it easier on myself.
I bought a new tumbler. Nothing fancy, just something that made it easier to actually keep up with it.
It’s a 40 oz insulated tumbler with a handle (which I didn’t realize I needed until I had it), and it keeps my water cold for hours. It fits in the car, it’s easy to carry around, and I don’t have to refill it constantly…which, apparently, was half my problem.
It also came with a straw and a lid that doesn’t spill, which means I can keep it nearby without worrying about knocking it over in the middle of everything else I’ve got going on.
Again, nothing complicated.
It just makes doing the right thing a little easier.
And right now, that’s the goal.
If you want to check out the one I’m using, you can find it here:
https://amzn.to/41USX0R
The second thing I added this week is just as simple…but for me, it’s been just as important.
I switched my body wash.
My skin is dry on a good day, but lately it’s been worse. Between the flare, stress, and everything else going on, it’s felt tighter, rougher, and just… not great. And when your skin doesn’t feel good, it’s one of those things that quietly affects everything.
So I did a little digging and decided to try something different.
I went with a drugstore option—nothing crazy, nothing overpriced—but one that had the kind of ingredients you usually see in higher-end skincare. And honestly? That’s what sold me.
This one is designed specifically for extra dry skin, and it’s packed with things like niacinamide, collagen peptides, vitamin E, and shea butter. You know, all the things that are supposed to actually do something, not just smell nice and call it a day.
And I can tell a difference.
My skin feels softer. Less tight. More comfortable, especially after a shower…which is usually when it’s at its worst. It’s not a miracle overnight fix, but it’s noticeably better, and right now, that’s exactly what I’m looking for.
Simple. Effective. Worth it.
If you want to check out the one I’m using, you can find it here:
https://amzn.to/4siCIWd
That’s where I am this week.
Nothing dramatic. Nothing life-changing overnight. Just small shifts that are starting to make things feel a little more manageable… a little more like me again.
And I can feel it.
A little more energy.
A little more clarity.
A little more of the version of me I remember starting to come back.
It’s not perfect, and I’m not expecting it to be. But it’s progress. Real progress.
I’m learning that this doesn’t have to be complicated to matter. It just has to be consistent.
If you’re walking through something similar—whether it’s your health, your energy, or just that quiet feeling of being a little off—I hope this reminds you that small steps still count. More than we give them credit for.
I’ll be back next week with another update, and we’ll keep going from there.
Until then… take care of yourself in whatever small way you can.
—Beth 💛