No.Nonsense.

I say it a lot- my brain is tired.

I had some pithy ideas for columns tonight. I had thought them all out. I had my news stories. I had my supporting arguments and opinions on what’s going on in the world. I was ready!

And then I got home and ate supper and laid down on my bed with YouTube and Facebook. And now I’ve mindlessly scrolled for two hours.

I work a job that, though I love it, can be very stressful. I’m in a high traffic medical clinic and it rocks ALL THE TIME. When I describe to people my exact job, the common refrain I get is, “oh, I could never do that.” But me? I love it.

I love that it keeps me busy and engaged. I love that I’m never bored. I love that I’m helping people. I love knowing that doing my job well makes it easier for others to do theirs.

But even so, there are days when my brain, at the end of the day, goes, “nope, we’re done”.

I’m truly thankful my kid is at that age now where he doesn’t need mom to be engaged all the time or we’d truly be in trouble. I don’t have to cook dinner tonight or help him with homework. I don’t have to wash dishes or do laundry. I can just take the time I need to stop. And you know what, it’s okay.

It took me a long time to learn how to do self care. When I became a mom I felt like I couldn’t take that break. I couldn’t say, “give me a minute”. I couldn’t get a sitter so I could go out with friends or take an hour to have that massage.

And then, slowly over time, I learned that I was a better mom, a better person, when I took that time to refill my tank. I gave myself permission to hire someone to clean my house. I allowed myself to indulge. I became healthier physically and mentally when I gave myself permission to focus on me.

It is truly not selfish to say that your brain is tired and to shutter those thoughts and mindlessly scroll on your phone. In fact, I hope you’re doing it now- once you finish reading this column.