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Last week was an unexpectedly challenging week for me on many fronts. But I got through it, and reflecting back, I can see how many more positive and useful tools I now have in my self-care toolbox than I used to have.
Some of the tools in my toolbox that I used to get through last week:
Celebrating the wins – rather than focusing on the negatives, I took time to celebrate what had gone well each day.
Good friends and mentors I reached out to for support and advice – and knowing it’s not weak to ask for help.
Taking the pressure off the things that don’t matter – perfectionism really isn’t helpful in a crisis (or in many situations in life).
Space – allowing myself a nap or a lie-in to give my body and mind much-needed rest from dealing with stressful events.
Focusing on my priorities, not what others tell me should be my priorities.
Exercise – making sure I took time out to run, go to the gym and play tennis.
A hot water bottle and a soft blanket.
Over the years, I’ve also removed several unhelpful tools from my box that don’t serve me well, including:
Alcohol – I only have a drink or two when I’m feeling happy, never when stressed. Alcohol is a depressant, it only makes things worse.
Comfort eating – overeating when stressed and unhappy is what got me 20kg overweight. I’m not going back there.
Self-criticism – being hypercritical of myself only leads to further misery.
As with everything in life, this is still very much a journey I’m on, always learning, always figuring out better ways to approach and make the most of life. It’s challenging, but wow, what a worthwhile journey!
It's worth having a think about all the resources you have available to you in times of crisis so you're ready to swing into action should you ever need them.
What is in your toolbox that you use to support yourself during challenging times? Are there things in there that perhaps no longer serve a useful purpose and should be removed?
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