Reserve is something you don’t realize you need until the time comes to use it and you’re fresh out. When you’re working or living at max capacity, it’s important to leave some headspace open for you to either a) enjoy life or b) have the energy for when catastrophe hits. If you’re anything like me, this is a really intentional practice and it’s not always possible.
With kids, family, and a full-time career, it’s incredibly easy to stop for the first time when it’s time to sleep. For me, that’s the first sign that I don’t have any reserve. Reserve is your ability to adapt and persevere through stress or hard times. When you don’t need it, you simply get to pause and enjoy moments.
Getting adequate reserve often feels counterproductive if you’re a high-energy, high-output performer. If you’re constantly moving and working, the last thing you think you can do is stop to rest or have self-care. Personally, realizing you are worthy of those moments is an entirely different blog. I’d like to give you tactical triggers to help you realize you need to work on your reserve.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Are you sleeping at least 8-10 hours per night?
- Are you hydrated?
- Are you frustrated or annoyed in moments you shouldn’t be?
- Are you burnt out and feel inadequate in the different areas of your life?
- Are you tired at the end of your day?
- Do you practice gratitude?
- Do you exercise or intentionally move daily?
When you’re implementing basic self care practices, you WILL become balanced, refreshed, and capable to handle problems when they arise.
There are so many ways to incorporate self-care into your busy routine. An article by Entrepreneur outlines 8 of the most effective:
- Incorporate pockets of self-care into your daily routine
- Exercise, exercise, exercise (even if it is just trying to walk daily - ideally 10k steps per day)
- Learn how to say “no”
- Look for ways to unwind everyday, not just the weekends
- Ensure you are nourishing your body
- Find some hobbies you are passionate about
- Prioritize getting the sleep that you need (8-10 hours)
- Live in the moment - not in the past or future
If you have none of these habits, starting any of them will feel like a major lifestyle adjustment. I’d recommend starting small and watch to see how your reserve reacts. What is your favorite self-care habit?
PS - I highly recommend Atomic Habits by James Clear if you’re interested in a blueprint for how to add and scale new habits to your routine.