The Rules That Helped Me Heal
After a painful trip to the emergency room for gastritis and reading Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey, I have been looking to reshape my life. I gave myself a few new rules, each designed to manage stress:
- No news or therapy right before bed
- No more time on YouTube
- No social media
- No fatty or sugary foods right before bed
- Drink more water
The Impact of These Practical & Emotional Rules
The worst part is these rules have been working. I had a few lingering symptoms but those have eased the more I stick to my new lifestyle. And the more I stick to it, the more eager I am to continue doing so since I can see the positive results.
Some of these rules are very practical- like changing eating habits. Fatty foods require more stomach acid to break down. For someone who is already struggling with gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining), such foods can exacerbate symptoms.
But many of the other rules are more emotionally-oriented. I noticed that when I watched the news or YouTube, for example, that I would feel anxious. I had a knot in my stomach, which also felt bad for a person dealing with stomach pain.
I don’t avoid these topics completely, though. I eat mostly healthy but have a sweet tooth. So I will occasionally enjoy something sugary or savory. I just do this earlier in the day because gastritis can be worse when you are lying down and when your digestion slows at night. And if a friend wants to show me a YouTube video, I don’t look away. I allow myself to enjoy it with them.
I told my sister about my new rules and how I tracked throughout the day when I was feeling physically or emotionally bad. She thought it was a great idea and said she is planning on doing the same for herself. She already knew that spending hours scrolling on Instagram would be on her list.
Time: The Unexpected Side Effect
Ironically, since I stopped spending several hours a day on YouTube, watching TV, or on social media, I now have a lot more free time. This was a bit humbling for me. Because of the last few books I have read for my Reading Challenge, I have become increasingly aware of how much I can contribute to my own problems. Read 52 books and blog about them non-stop on a year of burnout? Hell yeah!– Past me. No one told me I had to do that.
However, like many people, I had created a life that felt rushed and overwhelming. I saw that as normal. Once I cut out YouTube, TV, and social media, I suddenly had hours back- and no idea how to use them. I was even afraid I might just trade one bad habit for another- like now numbing out with wine instead of doomscrolling. I didn’t, but the temptation to fill the silence was real.
Instead, I started with painting and watching movies. Movies don’t seem to trigger the same anxiety that short-form entertainment does. At least for me, anyway. So it has been a chance to catch up on new and old films.
And I still like to stay informed- I am clearly a voracious reader. But I find that reading books soothes my anxiety whereas watching “Breaking News” on a TV screen inflames it. There are healthy ways of consuming everything on the above list, I just had to do some trial and error to find out what they were.
So what are the things in your life that would be good to lose?
Messy Bun Book Lover
(Originally posted on July 26, 2025)
Read Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey → https://amzn.to/47i5yh6
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