Are You Taking Care of Yourself?
With our busy lives, taking care of ourselves is more important than ever—yet it’s often the last thing on our minds. We have to meet that deadline, use any break time to run errands, accomplish all the items on our list. We all know the negative impact on our health that stress can have—even positive stress such as that caused by a promotion. Take this Self-Quiz to see how well you are taking care of yourself.
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1. I ask for help and support. When I feel I need help, I ask for it from a friend, counselor, coach, or colleague.
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2. I let go of the way things used to be. I accept the way things are.
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3. Every day I do something physical even if it’s just a walk around the block or a 15-minute workout.
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4. I eat healthfully and take the time to enjoy my meals. I set aside work, driving and other activities while I eat.
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5. I think positively. I view problems as opportunities and obstacles as challenges.
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6. I can say no when I need to.
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7. If I’m experiencing physical symptoms, I go to the appropriate health care professional. I don’t panic about the symptoms, and I don’t deny them either.
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8. I remember to breathe.
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9. I can settle for “good enough.” I don’t demand perfection in everything that I do.
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10. I listen to my feelings, gain any helpful information from them, but when I am locked in a loop of anger, irritability, or cynicism, I choose a thought that makes me feel better.
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11. I recognize the value of working in different gears. Some tasks only require my working in 2nd gear. That saves energy for those times when I need to push myself extra hard.
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12. I take comp time—even if I’m self-employed. When a looming deadline forces me to work through a weekend, I take off comparable time as soon as I can.
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13. I do my best to get enough sleep every night.
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14. I value my personal relationships and give them the time and energy they need and deserve.
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15. I choose healthy ways to relieve anxiety and stress. I don’t rely on crutches such as smoking, drinking, and overeating.
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16. I recognize the importance of downtime and breaks.
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If you answered false to several of these, you may want to take an honest look at the impact your choices may be having on your health and well-being.