The Self-Care Audit: What Actually Restores You vs. What Just Fills Time

As many who work in finances know its audit time. It is also time to do a self-care audit. What are you doing that truly fills you or is it something that you are doing that fills time. In the name of self-care there is an activity or gadget available. I love a good gadget as it helps me focus on what is necessary. However, as we end the year, can we audit our time for good?

How do you know that you are exhausted in the name of self-care?

If after you practice self-care and you find yourself exhausted let’s audit what the full cup looks like. For instance, when I traveled to Disney for the Epcot Wine and Food Festival it filled my cup. I felt happy about my choice to travel and once back even with the quick in and out I felt amazing. I didn’t have that travel crash. I knew I needed time with my friend, be a Disney adult, and take my time on my travel back. It helped me check off my boxes. You may want to travel and the idea of an in and out may feel good, but it also drains you-it may not be for you to do an in and out trip.

The suggestion for you could be a longer weekend when you travel to, for instance Disney, but have a day where you do nothing. The trip would be the same with an extra day to chill. In your audit you may have to make different accommodation.

Waste of Time Self Care

I used to have Fridays be my scroll days. This is when I would be on the clock app (TikTok) and allow myself to just be on my phone with no time limitations. Just like with anything else I soon discovered it wasn’t filling my bucket. What I did in my audit was to keep my scroll time with boundaries so that I wouldn’t be exhausted and tired the next day. On Saturdays I often have hair appointments, events, or family time. My Friday scrolling wasn’t allowing for rest. Can you be on an app for hours? The answer is yes. So now the joy of scrolling on Friday to prevent wasted time during the week was just accumulating for Fridays.

Audit Check-in-Overbooking

When I first started getting invited to events, I was overbooking. There were days I would go to three events in one day. So, I was in my joy, but overbooking led to burnout that my family and I had to deal with. I soon learned that sometimes you can overbook for many reasons. You are overbooking to avoid emotions. Or you could be overbooking to feel fulfilled. Fulfillment is done by quantity but quality. Choose quality. Don’t be like me and learn that the hard way.

Types of Restoration

• Physical 
• Emotional
• Social
• Creative
• Spiritual

You may need to have one or more areas to feel joy fulfilled. For instance, since the start of the year, I have been attempting to be consistent in starting my day reading my Word/Bible. Making God the focus of my day has helped. Once day I may listen to an Audible book or podcast. These help me with my emotional and spiritual restoration. Then there are times when a quick run and writing a blog has been a fantastic way to feel the restoration of self.

Personal Restoration List

This is the time of year when you will need it most. We are in the highest commercialized time. My therapist has always taught me the time to have a plan before the plan is needed. For instance, I will talk about therapy before Thanksgiving. It was necessary to do that to be okay for the holiday. I also know that I will not have expectations for that holiday. I don’t want to feel obligated to call anyone outside of my parents and grandmother.

I don’t want to be in group texts or anything and often I ignore them the most on that day. The leave me alone effect is strong. I am clear on what I need to restore and that is food, a signature cocktail, and then rest while watching movies.

What does your audit reveal about your needs? Take note of it and make it happen. Be focused on what areas of restoration you need. Do not worry if your needs change. This will happen and its okay. Take your audit today and begin carving the plan you need.