Identifying When to Focus on Self Care

Often in December we add so many additional things to our calendar that we don’t realize that we have thrown all self care out the window in the name of the holidays.

With all the fun of festive parties and preparation for Christmas morning we can end up in a really bad mood and not know why. So here are some thoughts on when to focus on self care.

First of all, how would you describe yourself when you are the BEST version of yourself?

• Joyful?
• Rested?
• Creative?
• Kind?
• Productive?
• Active?
• Do you spend time with friends?
• Do you engage in spiritual practice?

Second, what are you like when you are the WORST version of yourself?

• Grumpy?
• Short tempered?
• Do you procrastinate?
• Do you feel stuck?
• Anxious?
• Over eating?
• Reaching for alcohol?
• Having trouble sleeping?

What is your internal life like?

• What do you notice about your thoughts?
• Does the future seem bright or dark?
• Are you spending your time doing life giving things?
• Are the people you are hanging out with life giving?

Answering these questions for yourself will give you some markers to notice when you are shifting out of your BEST SELF into characteristics of your WORST self. And when your worst self shows up, it is definitely time to focus on self care. But noticing an increase in “the worst version of yourself list” is a pretty good indicator that you need some self care too, because we become the worst versions of ourselves when we aren’t caring for ourselves.

Another indicator is to pay attention to what kind of feedback you are getting from people who care about you.

Is anyone asking if you are ok?

Are you hearing comments like... "You just don’t seem to be yourself"?

Everyone has ups and downs, even daily, but when there are more downs than ups, what can you change to improve your mood?

So, you recognize a need to improve your self-care, what next?

Make a list of things that weigh on you.

• Getting bills paid
• Cleaning house
• A full calendar that is too full
• A challenging relationship
• Issues at work

Sometimes when we think of self-care we think bubble baths and coffee dates with friends.

But often the best self care is paying attention to the things that stress us and then making a plan to get them done, even if that means cancelling something else to do it.

Our next blog will focus on lists of self care practices.

I hope this helps.

Be kind to yourself out there.