? Engagement, Pt. 3 - The Self ?

Now more than ever, it has become paramount for people to learn the art of work-life balance. Unfortunately, those of us in America live within a capitalist society that wires us to believe in the idea of working all the time and sleeping the least amount possible.

Studies show that there are various health outcomes related to the amount of sleep we get, and y'all know me: Doc Savant always be on the move! To be honest, I spent 12 of the 16 weeks of our Fall 2022 semester living out of my carry-on bag and I was at the airport so much that I built a first-name rapport with the TSA agents.

Believe me, this is not a flex. People say they 'love to travel' and glorify the experience of being on flights...but ask my good friend Jen Fry, PhD (she/her) -- it ain't all sunshine and rainbows. Furthermore, the hustle and bustle of life can cause us to lose ourselves--and we must continually stay engaged with our inner-selves to make sure that we don't become a caricature of ourselves in the midst of chasing the cheese. Prosperity can be beautiful, but it can also be an unimaginably lonely space if you lose yourself in the process...and I am here to provide some tips to avoid that (and stay engaged with 'the self').

Here are 10 things to remember when doing a self-assessment:

1. Be honest with yourself - Take a beat to breathe, assess your body, and check in spirituality. Are you okay?
2. Check in with your village - There are people who really care about you and when the times get tough, be sure to check in with them. When was the last time you had a chance to check in with your friends? Your family? Check in.
3. Set boundaries - Aside from the village, many of us wake up every day and realize that our days are not really 'ours' once we get to work. That said, it is important to set boundaries for yourself, your village, your friends, your job, etc. to ensure that you keep the balance. Not to say you should be 'blocking people,' but to say healthy boundaries are essential to longevity.
4. Prioritize the small things - Indulging in minute tasks that recharge you are paramount to longevity. Happiness doesn't have to be complicated, it can be as simple as getting three meals & proper hydration every day.
5. Practice self-care via your skincare routine - Life can get hectic and the calendar invites can stack up, but remember that something as simple as your skincare routine can help to provide a sense of control and normalcy. It also helps to maintain the balance you love and walk around with the glow of your natural skin!
6. Take a walk - A good, ol' fashioned walk. It will help to free your mind and provide some clarity.
7. Journaling - Buy a journal, notebook, or even use the notes app on your phone. Keep a written account of the ups and downs, and allow your journal to be a space where you can both engage with your thoughts and process your progress!
8. Take time to reflect - A simple moment of thinking about where you have been and how far you have come could be the spark you need to keep going on the tough days. Take time to remember what you love. Who you love. Why you love. All of that is important!
9. Set a date with yourself - Regardless of how busy you are, set aside times during the day to simple be alone and relax. My personal favorite? I place that time on my calendar using different titles, and take the time to just reconnect with myself.
10. Be mindful - I personally use the Calm app, but there are various forms of mindfulness that you can incorporate to re-center and make sense of your emotions.

Though this is just a short list, trust me: staying tuned in with oneself is one of the most important parts of the process. Admittedly, I have lost myself a few times along this journey and I don't think there is anything wrong with that. I take it as a time to learn more about what makes me tick, what balances me out, and even what throws me off. We can only be better people if we continually challenge ourselves to be better, and that means we have to continually dig deeper and figure out who we are at the core. Staying engaged with our inner-selves is the only way that we can make that continued progress.

Please comment below or share some tactics that you use to stay engaged with your inner-self. What do you do for self-love? Share below!

Would love to hear from everyone! We in this together!

Peace, love, and SVO!

-Dr. Savant ??

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