Something I find myself asking about during sessions frequently is “how is your battery?”
Most people (even kids) can relate to their cell phone battery and when they start to see themselves as also having an internal battery, it can be very helpful. When we get curious about our behaviors, sometimes it is this insight that can lead us to make changes.
Are you feeling fully charged in the morning? Disruptions in sleep can cause someone to not feel fully charged in the morning upon waking. Do you have tasks today that seem to take more of your energy than others? This could also be information to help you structure your day or week.
You could make a list of your To-Do’s and then rank them as low, medium or high ‘energy takers.’ If you are able, maybe you stretch them out over the week. So instead of grouping all the high energy takers on the same day, you could spread them out to one each day of the week. I also prefer to pair chores with things I like. For instance, I don’t like to fold laundry, but it’s not so bad if I can catch up on my favorite streaming show while getting the task completed. Another strategy I recommend is if you have a task or chore Iyou don’t care for, you can follow it up with something you do like. For instance, if you have an appointment to attend, you could spend some time in nature, if that is something that helps you to recharge.
Self-care seems to be a new buzz word which really means, doing things or putting things into place that help nurture who you are as a person. What one person likes, another person may dislike. So, what is comforting to someone may be different from other people. Some people like quiet surroundings and it brings them peace, while others like the energy associated with being around a crowd of people. It is important to know yourself, your likes and dislikes so that you can better care for yourself.
Everyone, even kids but especially parents, can benefit from thinking about their internal battery. If a parent’s battery only has 10% left at 2:00pm on a school day, chances are that when their child comes home, the parent won’t have enough energy to tend to the child’s needs. When we take care of our own battery, we feel better, and we are able to help others.
Challenge: Think of one thing you enjoy doing. It does not have to be anything extravagant or expensive. Now, make plans to do that thing in the next day or two.
