The Self-Care Balancing Act: Finding Your "Just Right"
Self-care is a balancing act. "Too much" or "too little" can both be damaging. Think about Goldilocks as she looked at the bowls of porridge left on the table. You need to find your "just right" - a perfect balance of taking care of yourself without falling into self-obsession.
So how do you do that? Let's talk about it in today's blog, my fellow aspiring self-care acrobats!
The Dangers of "Too Little" Self-Care
You probably already know what too little self-care looks like. Imagine a car running on an empty tank of gas. No matter how badly you need to get to your destination, that car just isn't going to run without fuel. The engine starts sputtering and eventually the car breaks down. That's what happens to you when you don't take time to refuel. It's a one-way ticket to Grumpsburg.
Scientists have determined that the amount of rest people need on average is 42%. You may read that and think, "That's crazy! I don't have that kind of time!" But the thing is whether you make time to rest or not, you're going to hit a point where you have to rest and you just break down. All those obligations and stressors you're worried about? You won't be able to do anything about them without a chance to refuel, so you might as well take a break.
The Perils of "Too Much" Self-Obsession
On the other hand, if you focus too much on your needs and your feelings, you can fall into self-obsession - which isn't great for your mental health, either! This is something folks with anxiety know well. The overthinking: looking back over your every moment and analyzing what you said or did wrong. The dreaded thought spiral.
Self-obsession never leads anywhere good. In fact, research shows that overthinking about yourself typically ends in depression. Rarely is self-obsession overwhelmingly positive. Instead you're staring at yourself in a warped hall of mirrors, looking at every little thing that you perceive as wrong.
There's a famous C.S. Lewis quote that goes: "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less." However you may feel about humility, the first part is powerful. There's nothing good or noble about tearing yourself down with self-obsessed thoughts.
Finding Your "Just Right"
So like Goldilocks, we want to find that "just right" range for self-care. And that means you might have to try a few things out to determine what works for you. Sometimes you might feel yourself slipping into that "too much" or "too little." Keep a finger on the pulse so you know when you need to adjust.
Self-Care Tips to Find Your Balance:
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Mindful Me-Time: Everyone needs "me-time" but it can help to define what that is before you settle into it. Be intentional and mindful with your me-time. Maybe you have a half hour to yourself as you sip your morning coffee, or maybe you read a couple chapters a day in a book you enjoy.
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Prioritize, Don't Overanalyze: Setting goals for self-improvement is great. Beating yourself up every time you fall short of the goal is less so. Forgive yourself if you slip up. Set priorities for the most important things, but don't overanalyze too much.
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Seek Support: Self-care doesn't mean you have to go through it alone! Reach out to friends, family, or even a therapist for support and accountability. Sharing your thoughts or cluing others in on your self-care plans can be a big help.
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Exercise Your Gratitude Muscle: Try writing down three things you're thankful for each day. As you exercise that gratitude muscle, you'll find things get a lot easier.
Motivation Depot: Your "Just Right" Companion
The self-care tightrope is precarious, and finding your "just right" balance may take some time. Consider Motivation Depot to be the poles keeping your rope steady as you walk! We're here to support you with tips and encouragement throughout your self-care journey.
Life might be a circus, but that only means it's an exciting show! So walk that self-care tightrope with pride and on the days when your balance falters, go easy on yourself. Motivation Depot is here to help! 🤹♀️🤡
