You’re wasting your time
Raise your hand if you’ve ever gone down a rabbit hole of….
Researching skin clearing solutions on acne forums and social media
Analyzing every bump on your face, staring at the the mirror for hours
Battling self-hatred and blaming yourself for your acne
Me🙋♀️
I’ll be the first to admit that yes, I’ve definitely done all of these things.
When you're struggling with acne, most days feel like an uphill battle, a struggle that leaves you feeling powerless and out of control. You wake up to a new breakout, try a new product that doesn’t work, and it seems like you’re just at the mercy of your skin for that particular day.
So what ends up happening is you spend a whole lot of time trying to be productive because then you feel a little bit more “in-control” of the situation you’re in.
You end up overdoing a lot of things.
Over-researching on Reddit, IG, TikTok, Youtube, acne blogs & forums for what products or treatments to try
Over-obsessing over your skin by checking the mirror 100 times a day, first thing in the morning, and every 5 minutes throughout the day to see if your skin has gotten better or worse
Over-spending your time & money on the latest skincare trends and miracle products
Over-washing, over-exfoliating, and over-treating your skin
Over-restricting yourself from eating certain foods trying to maintain a very clean diet
Over-washing your pillow case, over-wiping your phone, and over-sanitizing your hands
Over-worrying about the heat, the sweat, the sun, the shampoo, the water, etc because anything and everything can be a trigger
Here’s the problem with all this “over”doing. Your brain is tricking you into thinking it’s helpful and productive, when in fact, they are not.
The prefix “over” implies exceeding, going beyond, or being greater than, in this case, what is actually helpful. When you’re “over”doing something, you’re essentially wasting your precious time and energy.
Over-researching often leads to confusion rather than clarity.
Over-obsessing can be a source of immense frustration.
Over-washing can strip your skin of its natural oils and lead to dry skin.
Over-restricting can lead to stress.
Over-worrying is a sure path to more anxiety.
Instead of wasting your time and energy on over-doing, what if you could redirect that valuable time and effort towards things that do support your journey to clear skin?
For example:
Journaling your thoughts and feelings
Talking to a friend and getting emotional support
Going outside for a walk to clear your mind
Practicing yoga to reduce stress
Reading a book to unwind
Taking a nap recharge your energy
Working with a therapist or coach to cultivate self-love and acceptance
Cooking a healthy meal to nourish your body
Meditating to cultivate inner peace
Now, I’m not suggesting that you stop caring about your skin, what you eat, put on your face, and the potential triggers of acne, and just look the other way. No, you should absolutely still care about these things.
But care just enough.
Care in a way that still creates room for yourself to breathe and relax.
Care in a way that allows you to still experience the joys of life.
Care in a way that doesn’t trigger more unnecessary suffering.
Care in a way that doesn’t take away from the goodness of the actions you are taking to heal your skin.
Care in a way that helps you, rather than hurts you.
Because truth be told, these are the most productive ways you could be investing your time and energy while you’re on your acne-clearing journey.
Remember, more does not equal better.
XO,
Lydia - Your Coach & Safe Space🤍
