2+ things I’m doing for self-care this summer

Hey, there beloved,

How the hey are you? What’s on your mind and your plate lately?

I’m trying to be more proactive about self-care (it’s a bit nontraditional) and thought it might give you some ideas for yourself!

Let’s back it up…

Recently while making the 18+ hour drive back home from time with family, our GPS kept warning us, “You’re driving into an area with an extreme heat warning.”

i.e. Do you really want to go this way? Are you crazy?

… yes, that’s my home!

Here’s the deal…

While I’m 99% confident that we’re where we need to be, I don’t really dig the desert… especially the summers, which are brutal from June to October.

… which got me thinking: “What can sustainably help me get out of the funk? After all, this is gonna be months of scorching heat.”

And while you may not be feeling the summer bummers, Reader (yay for you!), I thought you might get a kick out of what “practical personality self-care” can look like.

2 Practical personality self-care ideas I’m using

When you know your personality preferences (in my case that’s Extroversion, Intuition, Feeling, Judging – ENFJ), you’ve got a veritable toolkit to help you decide how to make the most of your time and energy – no matter your season of life.

Here’s what I’ve been doing…

1) Build in learning pockets (like books, podcasts, challenges, reading emails, etc.) that get me thinking and keep me growing, in particular personal development.

As an idealist (iNtuitive Feeling – NF), learning more about myself, and others, and how to become the best version of myself as God’s beloved is endlessly energizing.

This summer I’ve picked up a more in-depth Bible study guide, gobs of coaching books, and leaning into parenting mentors.

–> What’s a topic that gets YOU excited? Consider building in time for that.

2) Get out the door with Little Man by 7 a.m. (ideally earlier) most days for some quality time exploring and playing – before the heat drives us inside for A/C and popsicles.

Obviously, since I have a little kid, outdoor time is a must, but I’ve also realized that since I lead with extroversion, I need a change of scenery. For me, that can be as simple as changing up which park we go to each day – even if it’s the same handful of parks – or playing in the backyard. That variety is energizing.

–> What tends to give YOU energy? What’s a simple pivot that you can make to have more of that?

Did you find this helpful? Would you like some personalized self-care tips for yourself? If so, hit reply with what’s on your mind.

P.S. If you’re interested in discovering your unique personality type and uncovering your unique strategies for self-care, let’s talk!