If someone asked you, what items are part of your daily routine that you do to take care of yourself, would you be able to provide them an answer? For example, do you make it a point to exercise or walk every day? Or is your preference to have time to yourself reading, or perhaps take time to do word or number puzzles that challenge your intellect? For still others, perhaps it is playing a particular sport or activity that they like.  

There are no right or wrong ways to identify “self-time.” It differs for every individual. And, it may differ at various points in our life. For example, I identified my need to step away from my computer and take a nap to revive myself in our opening of this month’s newsletter. That has become a more recent phenomenon in my life. And, when thinking about it, I realize it is driven by a few things. 

Yes, I am getting older. However, how I conduct my work day has changed significantly in the last two and a half years. I am home far more often. Far more of the time I am on the computer, working with clients, preparing, or conducting webinars, using the computer for research, and keeping up with news. Prior to 2020, my days would vary. Many more days I would be meeting with clients in person. That meant my environment was always changing, being refreshed. From an esthetics viewpoint, my days were far more varied and different. Do you find yourself on edge, tired, frustrated or snapping at people? What may have changed in your day-to-day environment or activities?

Are you one to make a schedule for yourself? Often one of the challenges for those that I work with in job search is that they do not do so.  uring the period while they are working, their schedule was often “made for them” by their life circumstances. When going into the office, they knew they needed to get up a certain time each day, leave for work for their commute at a certain time, be at their office during the workday, and then activities for their family could dictate their after-work time or their weekend. The more “undefined” your schedule, often the more frustrating for you it can be. I know that sounds “counter intuitive.” Individuals often think that once I do not have to go to this job anymore, or do the demands of this school semester, that their life will be so much better and easier. Often, that is not the case.

My working my own business has gotten me more focused on building my own calendar by week and month. Some of that time goes to client appointments. Other times may go to meetings with other entrepreneurial business people. However, I am careful to build in times for appointments involving my health with my doctors, or for activities that provide a break in my coaching. I have learned from experience that with that built in time for myself, I function that much better, and enjoy more fully my day and the way I spend it.

Do you find yourself guilty at the thought of planning time for yourself? I know in the opening I spoke of those who are caretakers in one form or another for their family members. Often, in that situation, focus is on those needing the care and not oneself. However, the longer and longer one goes without a time to “refresh” themselves, the less well they function. Are there others you can bring in to help shoulder the load? (If you say, no right away, come back and answer the question again). What may be one or two things that you could do that would at least make you feel that you were focused on items that would recharge you? Then look to build those items back into your life, and find assistance from others to cover your “care-giving responsibilities” so you can help “re-charge” yourself.

November is the month in the United States where we set a day aside to give thanks for those things and people, we are grateful and for those in our life who help and look out for us. However, this November, add one more person to your list, that being yourself. Evaluate how well you take care of yourself, and if you can see ways that relationship can be improved, consider taking steps to do so.

November 2022 - Closing Thoughts