Filling Up Your Cup

How often have you gone a week, maybe two, or longer without filling up your cup?

I like to think of the act of self-care or respite as a figurative filling of a glass of water. Some weeks we may absorb the required amount, have just enough to work with, or have leftovers from our last refill. Other times we may struggle to meet our daily intake, not receive enough to fill our needs, or end up missing our refill entirely. As a society that is deeply influenced by social media, we are often bombarded with messages that either trivialize the importance of self-care or favor messaging that reinforces a culture that glorifies running on empty.

This will look different from person to person and can present as an accumulation of expectations, tasks, or responsibilities that may initially bring us joy, but without healthy boundaries, could potentially leave us with limited capacity to recognize and act on feelings of strain or burnout. However, across diverse lived experiences, the idea of self-care and the attainability of setting measurable boundaries will differ – and that’s okay.

While at this moment the concept of taking time for yourself may feel daunting, it is important to remember that you are not alone and that by taking small steps forward you are not neglecting your responsibilities but instead choosing to prioritize your needs!

It is okay to:

• Take a day off

• Finish your lunch during lunchtime

• Close your laptop during days off

• Be honest with friends and family about your needs

• Ask for help

• Not have all the answers

• Have some good days and some bad

• Be frustrated with circumstances out of your control

• Feel vulnerable

• Take time to honour the experience of loss or grief

• Take time away from a situation

• Set boundaries and make your limits clear

• Process life changes on a timeline that feels right to you

• Feel love for your loved ones but need some time to yourself