How Well Do You Bounce? 

Part 4: Taking Care of You

Kristine Proctor, MSW, LCSW

Carl Jung said, “The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you really are.”

With developing resilience being our goal in our past few blogs, we’ve been intentionally tuning in to our mental and emotional processes to identify our stressors, adapt a growth mindset and get to know our true selves better.

Now you’ll want to take continuous advantage of the “privilege of a lifetime” Jung referred to. In order to do that, you’ll need to create a plan to follow. This will ensure that you maintain this priority. Your plan can be like a budget in the sense that it is a goal, your ideal. Know that at times it will need to be altered based on your circumstances and current emotional state. And now that you’ve got more information about how you tick and what you need, it will be easier to create a plan that is realistic and one that really fits you.

Using the following as a guide, think of some things you’ll want to include in your self-care plan:

What does my body need?

What does my mind need?

What does my spirit need?

What do I want to accomplish?

What are some potential obstacles?

Who are the supportive people in my life?

The plan should be recorded but use any format that works for you. You might make a word document, write your plan in a journal, use a calendar and pencil in specifics, or draw a diagram that includes your priorities.

Next, find a visible place for your plan so that it will be convenient to review on a regular basis. Your self-care plan is an affirmation of you. Research shows many of us spend lots of time setting priorities and goals and making strategic plans in our work lives but then fail to follow through and just let our personal lives unfold. Why not spend some valuable time investing in yourself? I guarantee the reward will be worth it!

Find yourself, and be that!