How are you honouring your needs?
I’ve recently returned home after a very overdue week’s holiday in Singapore. It was rescheduled trip that was originally booked for May 2020 – no prizes for guessing why it was postponed!
It was my first holiday in 17 years of being in business, where I took no work. Except for a quick five-minute check of emails each morning, and some catch-ups with work friends, I was blissfully work-free.
I’d forgotten what it was like to have a holiday like that.
Being self-employed means it can be easy to put the needs of others first – clients, staff, contractors, suppliers.
Other people’s deadlines, priorities and requirements.
Now don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love working for myself.
However, as most self-employed people know, it can be very easy to forget to honour your own needs.
Psychologist Dr Sonya Friedman says, “The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others.”
How can you set your own standard so you’re honouring your needs?
Identify your priorities – currently mine include my health, family and friends, and work. When I was on holiday, my core priority was to enjoy myself and not do any work.
Set boundaries so your priorities don’t get overtaken by other people’s needs and wants – these can be around time, people, money, place, and more. Setting boundaries – and clearly communicating them – is an essential part of setting your own standard. My holiday boundaries included letting the relevant people know in advance that I would be away, putting an out of office reply on my email, and turning my phone to silent.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it – this might be help at home, at work, to deal with a difficult situation. When asking for help, be specific. Saying “I need help” is not going to be enough. Be clear about what you need and when.
What could you do to honour your needs right now?
