Take Care of Yourself
Stress can make it easy to neglect sleep, exercise, and other needs. Making time for rest and activities you enjoy can help you cope.
THE IDEA
Take Care of Yourself
Stress can make it easy to neglect your needs. You may lose your appetite, stop exercising, or struggle to sleep during a crisis. Make time to care for yourself, including activities you enjoy. This can support your health and help you cope with the problem.
When to use it
When you have a major deadline at work or school, block out time for a brief restorative activity to maintain performance.
If you feel overwhelmed by a personal crisis, intentionally schedule a small pleasurable routine (e.g., a favorite tea, a short walk) each day.
When helping a friend or colleague who seems burned out, gently remind them that taking care of themselves first makes them better able to handle the situation.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Scheduling a hobby during exam period
A student overwhelmed with exams makes time for a 30-minute walk or a favorite podcast each evening, which improves focus and reduces burnout.
Prioritizing sleep during a work crisis
Rather than working all night on a project deadline, a manager ensures 7 hours of sleep, arriving at the problem with a clearer mind and better solutions.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
What activities do you tend to drop first when you feel stressed, and how could you protect them?
How might consistently caring for your basic needs (sleep, nutrition, exercise) change your response to a recent challenge?
Can you recall a time when neglecting self-care made a problem worse? What would you do differently now?
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Thinking in Systems and Mental Models Think Like a Super Thinker (Dawson, Marcus P)