At the end of last year, I got four iron infusions because my ferritin levels were in the depths of hell (and, mentally, so was I).

Since then, I’ve been prescribed a daily dose of 2 iron supplements — along with 2 D-mannose (for chronic UTIs), 1 Vitamin D (for too many ailments to name), and 150mg of Zoloft (so I don’t k*ll myself or anyone else, not exaggerating).

I’ve tried to ‘streamline’ my daily pill intake but these six capsules are unfortunately necessary for my body to function as well as it can in the year 2026. But that doesn’t make them any easier to swallow each morning.

In fact, I find it so difficult to — checks notes — take 60 seconds out of my morning to swallow pills, that I usually have to break them up into two groups.

Group 1: Zoloft and Vitamin D

I take in the morning, as soon as I can remember. These are the smallest pills and therefore feel more…manageable? Also, I learned the hard way what not taking Zoloft leads to, so that girl is priority #1 always.

Group 2: D-mannose and Iron

I take anywhere between lunchtime and 4pm. These are the largest pills and therefore, in my brain, are to be avoided for as long as possible.

If anyone has any insight, neurologically speaking, as to why taking supplements every day feels like a fate worse than death, I’d love to hear it.

I was saying to my mom recently how exhausting and treacherously boring it is to have to subject myself to this supplemental torture every day. To which she replied, “Just wait until menopause.”

And then there’s drinking enough water, eating enough food, getting enough exercise, making enough money, having enough fun, etc, etc, etc.

Why does taking care of myself feel so damn hard?