Self care

[NeitherHere]

Lately things have gotten a bit overwhelming. There's just too much to be done and not enough time to do it and I find myself selling my self care short just to try and keep up with the demands of life.

So, I ask the nexus ;

What does your self care routine look like?
How do you go about taking care of your corporeal meat suit? What do you do to ensure you get the rest you need AND take care of yourself despite extenuating responsibilities getting in the way?

I'm thinking my best course of action is to just keep a mini hygiene kit in my backpack for when I'm in the field.

 

[Varallo]

I think this is a really good question. From my own experience, having worked 70 to 80 hours a week for long periods while also managing a family and other aspects of life, I believe the only thing that truly works is good planning. Getting up early every day, going to bed on time, and sticking to a consistent routine. Good healthy food and little things like walking or biking to your destination can help too, also I try to limit screen time before bed.

For me, it’s all about turning the essential daily tasks into habits. Once that foundation is in place, you can actually handle a lot, and working those long hours becomes manageable.
It’s also important that when things start to feel overwhelming, you don’t wait too long to involve others and redistribute responsibilities. If you put that off, you’ll eventually run into trouble.

That said, I’ve decided to stop doing that. I’m now taking a long vacation to reflect on how I can live a life where I no longer work 80 hours a week, not because I can’t work those hours anymore but because I hope to live my life in a more balanced way.

 

[psychonuaghty]

I am sorry to hear that you are feeling overwhelmed and I hope that you can avoid burnout.

Empaths, ie INFJs like you and I, can tend to set ourselves on fire to keep others warm. We also get exhausted from social and loud environments. We require alot of alone time to recharge, more than many others can appreciate or understand. I have been guilty of carrying too much for too long and then losing control from not resting or taking care of my needs.

My new focus includes making decisions which are true to myself. That means living in integrity and not saying yes to things which I know are outside my comfort or energy zones. This includes honoring my values and knowing my limits. I have also been trying to learn self compassion. I will never be done with this work of getting to know to care for myself. However I feel blessed to be on this path.

I hope this helps and I wish you well on your journey.