Self-knowledge

How do I respond to an obligation?

On your physical or mental to-do list today there will be things you have to/want to do for yourself and things that you have to/want to do for other people. It is often useful to look down your list at the things that are routinely left undone – are these tasks for other people or yourself?

If you regularly prioritise both equally it is likely that your resilience is pretty high – that you satisfy your own needs as well as those of others around you. If you consistently put the needs of others ahead of yourself, it may reduce your resilience. It is important, to reprioritise where possible and satisfying your own needs, particular for larger tasks, that will make a difference to you professionally or create enough time and space to do things that you know will be resilience building.

This extends to all types of commitments as you may find yourself able to keep obligations to yourself to run, walk outside and resist the sugary snacks at the counter when you are feeling resilient which are equally important commitments you’ve made to yourself.