I woke up this morning with a nasty migraine. I took some meds, but the fog and dull pain lingered all day.
If you’re a developer, you probably know the feeling. Stress, posture, endless screen time. They all conspire against you. Headaches, eye strain, neck pain, back pain. It’s almost part of the job description at this point.
Don’t get me wrong, I try to do all the right things. I have a good chair, wear glasses, take breaks, stretch, walk, hydrate. But sometimes it’s just not enough. The pounding starts overnight, and when it hits, I know I’ll be off for the next 24 hours. No matter how much I rest or what I take.
In the past, this used to make me incredibly anxious. I knew I’d have a long, foggy day ahead and that I wouldn’t be at my best. Sometimes not even functional. But instead of slowing down, I used to push harder. The fear of letting someone down was worse than the pain itself.
I was trapped in that “hustle-at-all-costs” mindset, a success-driven loop where anything short of full throttle felt like failure. My self-worth was tied to productivity, and a day spent below my standards felt unbearable.
With time, that changed. The migraines became less frequent, and my mindset evolved. They went from being routine to reminders — signs that I needed to take care of myself. Now, when they hit, I don’t panic. I drink more, rest more, and cut myself some slack.
I’m still driven. I still show up. But I’ve learned to be realistic. I won’t use a migraine as an excuse for sloppy work or as a free pass to give up. That would be lying to myself. Instead, I try to understand what I can do that day and build around it.
I plan my days with contingencies, prioritising what truly matters so that if I slow down, I can still stay on track. I’ve learned that it’s okay not to be at my best every single day, what matters most is consistency. Showing up, even when it’s not perfect, builds resilience.
Migraine or not, the truth is simple: not every day will be great. We all have highs and lows, moments when we feel unstoppable and others when even getting out of bed feels like a fight. And that’s okay.
What helps me is keeping my framework intact. Being honest with myself, staying curious, and trying to end the day a bit better than it started. If I keep those pillars standing, I can adapt. I can accept that today might be a rough day and still trust that tomorrow might be better.
I’ve been too hard on myself before. And other times, I’ve gone too soft, calling laziness “self-care.” Both extremes lead to the same result: losing control.
Today, I feel like crap. But I’m calm. I’m not anxious about what I’ll manage to get done. I know I won’t spiral. It’s just another day, and that’s perfectly fine.