No one else will do it
You wake up so early it’s disorienting, find a way to get yourself together and into your vehicle in the dark to spend an excruciating hour fighting your way to start your day at a job that gives you the financial support to live life. At the end of nine hours of chaos and activities that make perfect sense at the time but when reflecting back seem like nonsense, you get back into your vehicle to fight your way home. Mentally exhausted but excited to be home, you have an entirely different set of activities you are responsible for and in many ways are the result of the financial support your job provides - the house, the family, the pets, etc. Friday finally arrives and again, you are mentally exhausted but excited the week is behind you. You live for the weekends. Your days flip and now you are physically exhausted because you are spending your time taking care of things at home and only checking in on your work in the evenings. How is it possibly summer, where did spring go? The days fly by while you live life. When will you take care of you? No one else will do it.
When was the last time you did something just for you? What was it?
It is so easy for the days to blur together to become weeks then months, at some point we come up for air and realize just how much time has passed. This blog post is just for you - a human being.
Coaching Exercise:
How well are you really doing? Are you coming up for air and making sure you have balance in your life? I encourage you to take a few minutes to do a quick check.
Below are a set categories that need to be present for you to be operating optimally.
Idealistic - alignment with your values, purpose, goals, and beliefs
Mental - you feel challenged but not over-stretched
Emotional - needs are being met and you are able to express how you feel
Physical - body functions optimally, in the way you are accustomed
Social - people you are surrounded by are good for you
Environmental - the conditions you encounter everyday allow you to function at your best
Score yourself on a scale from 1 - 5 (1 completely unsatisfied, 5 extremely satisfied) for each of the categories.
In which of these areas are you most unsatisfied?
What do you want to do about it?
What is one small thing you can do this week?
How will it feel to do it?
What might get in your way?
If that happens, what do you want to do about it?
How will you hold yourself accountable?
You have to make time to take care of yourself. Love yourself as much as you love others. No one else will do it.
This blog contains my interpretation of the copyrighted work of Bruce D Schneider and the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC).
Other Resources:
What it Really Means to Take Care of Yourself