Self Care Questions You Should You Ask Yourself

Do you ask your self self care questions? It’s embarrassing to write this, but if I was in the bathroom trying to poop and someone yelled, ‘It’s time to go,’ I would stop what I was doing, get up and find the time to poop later. I didn’t realize that this is not normal behavior. I didn’t know that I was important enough to take the time to poop!

Allow me to back up. I want to dive into a topic that often takes a back seat in our hectic lives of self care. I’m here to remind you that amidst the chaos of daily grind and ambitions, taking care of yourself is not just a luxury; it’s a necessity, a secret for success.

What is self care?

If you ask ten people, you’ll get ten different answers. Some people think self care is sleeping eight hours or more and showering daily. Others list several activities such as morning skincare routine, journaling, exercise, healthy eating regime, meditation, reading for pleasure, soaking in the bath, listening to music, and pampering sessions like facials and massages.

My newfound definition of self care is what you do to enable yourself to thrive. And by asking some self care questions, you’ll get some answers.

Self care a holistic and intentional practice of taking actions to preserve or improve your well-being, encompassing physical, mental, and emotional health.

What does self care involve?

It involves recognizing and addressing your needs and actively engaging in activities and behaviors promoting personal growth, relaxation, and quality longevity.

Self-care is a proactive approach to maintaining a healthy balance in various aspects of life. It includes activities that nurture the mind, body, and spirit, contributing to a sense of self-love, resilience, and fulfillment.

It’s not a one-size-fits-all concept; it varies from person to person based on individual preferences, values, and circumstances. It also varies according to how someone relates to the act of self-care. Everyone will answer self care questions differently.

What is the goal of Self Care?

The goal is to prioritize oneself to navigate the challenges of daily life and achieve a sustainable state of well-being.

Only recently, like the last year or so, did I make self care a priority. For some reason, I thought I was above it. My job was to look after everyone else. It’s not that I felt my needs didn’t matter. I didn’t think of it that way. From childhood, I was programmed to care about everyone else. You don’t know what you don’t know.

I’d get my haircut from time to time. And four times a year, I’d get a massage. Daily, I always made time to read in the morning before everyone woke up. I always showered, used soap, and smelled good. I flossed. I ate well. For the most part, I was healthy.

I felt like I took care of myself just like everyone else did.

Have You Questioned Your Self Care?

If you had asked me a year ago if I practiced enough self care, I would have said, ‘Yes.’

Looking back, I now realize I didn’t look after myself very well at all. I didn’t ask myself self care questions.

And this is where the pooping thing comes in. I prioritized other people over taking the time to poop!

I share this with you because I thought I looked after myself well. Perhaps there’s something you do that is similar, and when you look at it, you realize, WTF?! Why am I doing that?

And it’s not just pooping. When I got out of the shower and put lotion on, I’d rush and slap it on haphazardly and with no affection. It was the same with brushing my teeth and hair. I’d then slap some makeup on, thinking I’m not happy with the effects of aging on my face. I’d look in the mirror and focus on all my flaws, deciding it was best not to look at all.

All Purpose No Pleasure

Another thing I realized is that I did very little purely for leisure. Everything I did was for a purpose, usually to earn an income.

For example, I’ve craved ways to unleash my artistic expression all my adult life. As a kid, I got an A in all my art classes. I loved art. I was also told that artists never make money and that I needed to become an accountant.

That love for art and creating something from nothing has been with me all along. Sadly, however, when I draw something or do anything creative like jewelry making or photography, my mind immediately starts to figure out how to sell it. When I write a journal entry, I feel that I need to publish it!

Again…it’s how I was programmed. I thought I was ‘normal.’

Treating Others Better than Ourselves

Let’s revisit my hygiene regime and how I rushed through it. If I cared for my daughter or looked after an elderly person doing the same tasks, I would take my time, show how much I cared, and tell them how beautiful they were. Why did I think I was different?

And taking time to do something purely for leisure, would I want my daughter, or anyone, to have the same view I did? Of course not. I didn’t see this program running in me.

Ironically, I’ve been on a sailboat sailing worldwide for ten years. I’m sure that onlookers thought I lived my life purely for pleasure. Looks can be so deceiving, eh?

Transition Causing Self Care Questions

Due to a change in my lifestyle, I found myself with a lot of free time and few distractions.

I changed my home, location, career, roles, and responsibilities, and even the time I spent with my family was drastically reduced. Everything changed, so I was forced to look at myself and figure out what to do with my life—not parts of it, but my whole life, including my career, home, family, leisure, health, etc.

Until this lifestyle change, I was super busy being a mom, wife, friend, homeschool teacher, sailing instructor, sailor, cook, cleaner, blogger, YouTuber, photographer, author, publisher, influencer, marketer, etc.

Things I Love Journal

One of the first things I did was keep a running record of everything I love doing in my journal. It was time to reinvent myself, and I wanted to design Kim Version 3.0 better than the previous iterations.

It took me months to form a comprehensive list. A few things I had listed that I supposedly loved were things I didn’t like. I also realized that I have yet to try many things!

My list included things like reading, journaling, spiritualism, decluttering/organizing, longevity preparation, writing, drawing/doodling, creating social media posts, sailing, road trips, vacations, new restaurant, eating, helping my mom in her business, date nights with my husband, family holidays, and so forth.

Categorizing Things I loved

Connection: meaningful and authentic connection with my husband, daughter, family, friends, and anyone I contact daily.
Adventure: unplanned, spontaneous trips, activities, and events doing anything new energize the crap out of me (perhaps that’s when I should poop?!).
Creative Flow & Service: Creating content that inspires people to live a more fulfilling life in exchange for an income is a dream come true.
Self-care: Making my care my number one priority.

It may seem like a small list, but its power is immensely valuable. That list makes me want to jump out of bed in the morning. I use it as a filter for every decision I make. It helps me define what I say yes or no to. It’s the foundation of who Kim Version 3.0 will be, and I’m excited about it!

How to turn self-care from a buzzword into a daily ritual?

Start small. Create a list of things you love to do, and add to it every time you find yourself smiling, lost in time, engaged in the flow, or buzzing.

Start questioning if you’re taking enough time to ensure you’re in top shape. Dedicate a few minutes daily to an activity that nourishes your mind, body, or soul. It could be a walk in nature, meditation, journaling, or even a good ol’ cup of tea with no distractions.

If you’re ready to make a big push toward better understanding who you are and what makes you thrive, check out my Authenticity Workbook.