We’re updating a previously published blog about self-care during quarantine and the pandemic. Now, with rising prices and inflation, self-care is just as important. All around us, we are facing the rising costs of everything, from food to household items, and big-ticket items that are further out of reach, such as vacations and housing. You deserve a break from the everyday stresses of life to relax and de-stress. You need some self-care by personality type.
Why self-care by personality type? Some people by nature feel that taking a break is a sign of laziness, while others are concerned about how their self-care impacts the people around them. To figure out which self-care routine is best for you, let’s look at which personality type you are, then what type of self-care is best for you.
Self-Driven High Achiever
The self-driven hard worker runs on never-ending, rechargeable batteries. They will forget to eat while they pursue a goal for the day and wave off sleep to get a head start on their next goal. These people are leader types who like to get straight to the point in a conversation because they don’t have time to waste while they pursue their next achievement.
The high achiever enjoys the finer things in life, desiring a lifestyle of luxury and wealth as an ultimate goal. They are also drawn to successful people and want to be like the successful people they admire. If they are on vacation or playing a game or sport, they tend to be competitive and need to set an objective for the activity. They can be extremely focused.
Taking a moment for self-care is most challenging for the self-driven, high achiever. They will ask questions such as, “How does watching this movie help me reach my goals?” Or, “If I take a walk now, I could get some fresh air and use that time to brainstorm what I need to do for my project! What a great use of time!”
Unfortunately, these hard workers could burn out and suffer from health and relationship problems. They need to take a much-needed break to eat a proper meal and spend time with friends or family. Having a little fun will not result in disaster or an episode of laziness, which is difficult for them to accept.
Devoted Humanitarian
The humanitarian puts friends and family first. Their objectives in life and career revolve around what they can do for the people they care about and humankind in general. They tend to be shy, quiet, risk-averse introverts.
They will work harder if it means their paycheck will cover the cost of hockey practice and uniforms for their child, or ensure that their parents have a nicer place to live. They will gladly contribute funds or their time for a cause, such as rescuing a stray dog. They tend to be selfless.
Self-care can be a challenge for these humanitarians. They are so focused on giving and caring for others that they sacrifice their own time, well-being, or finances for another person. They need to try to put themselves first occasionally to avoid burnout.
Instead of taking on more housework, for example, they should take the day off themselves and not feel guilty about it. Even if family members don’t show appreciation for what a humanitarian does, these selfless types can give themselves a well-deserved time off.
Detail-Oriented Analyst
Logical and systematic describes people with this personality type. They tend to overanalyze and are critical of many aspects of their lives. Unlike the high achiever or enthusiast, who will take risks, the analyst needs to know all the facts up front before making a decision.
They love details and keep meticulous records. They can be very tidy and organized and they feel safest when they can anticipate their future. If you want to know the pros and cons of a big decision, the analyst can advise you.
Detail-oriented analysts will take the time to pamper themselves or take a vacation if they know that everything is under control and carefully planned out. They will take the night off after planning out their day for tomorrow. They will try out a new spa treatment or yoga class if they have researched it first for health benefits, pricing, and activities.
You can count on the analyst to thoroughly research your vacation destination, to plan out activities, schedules, and prices. It may intimidate them a bit at first but encourage an analyst to leap into something new without knowing what they are getting into. Ask them to join you for a night about town and tell them your destination will be a pleasant surprise. A little adventure can be fun!
Big-Picture Enthusiast
The big-picture enthusiast is highly social and loves being around people. They are the life of the party and the team member whom coworkers consider most amicable. However, they are sloppy with details and struggle to stay focused, especially if a task isn’t fun. Their biggest motivator is fun. Suggest something exciting and they will enthusiastically jump in and try it out, often without weighing the consequences.
Enthusiasts enjoy life, but they too need time for self-care. They need to set goals and check in to make sure that these goals are achieved. Did they reach their income goal for the month? Did they complete all the steps to get some important paperwork started? Otherwise, their disorganization and lack of focus could result in stress or disaster down the road.
Self-care includes checking in and making sure they’ve done all the steps needed if they want to buy a house. Or if they want to get from their current job to their ultimate career goal. Self-care includes having serious conversations with their significant other and asking if the relationship is healthy or if there are issues they need to deal with.
Taking the time to ground themselves in these less exciting aspects of life is important. Otherwise, enthusiasts may find themselves missing out on important deadlines or stressed out and dealing with the aftermath of bad decisions because they didn’t do enough research. Enjoying life is good, but everything needs balance.
Key Takeaways
No one is exactly 100 percent one of these personality types. You could be predominately one of these types when you’re working and another when you aren’t. You could be a combination of any of these types, like a combination of multiple flavors. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each type will help you focus on what you can do for your well-being.
What self-care will you work on this week?
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Vanya Wryter Consulting Services 