These blind spots can really hamper our self-care efforts. That is why it is so important to become fully aware of them. Here, we’ll look at some of the most common blind spots you may discover when working on self-care.

You avoid conflict

A lot of people hate conflict, but sometimes it is needed to resolve situations. If you tend to avoid conflict, it means you’ll often do or say things you don’t necessarily agree with. This is a common blind spot that can really derail your self-care efforts.

The trouble is, when you give in to others just to avoid conflict, it reduces your credibility. You’ll also find you are frequently miserable due to not standing firm in your own beliefs and values. So, if your blind spot is avoiding conflict, it’s important to address it.

Not letting toxic people go

Do you have toxic people in your life you just can’t seem to let go of? Whether it is a friend, partner, or family member, associating with toxic people is going to really hurt your self-development.

If you learn to let toxic people go, it’s going to significantly improve your life. You’ll be happier and much more able to make positive changes in your life. It’s hard to remain positive in life when you are surrounded by negativity. So, assess the relationships in your life and if there is a toxic person around you, work on distancing yourself and instead surround yourself with positive role models.

You are continually late

Frequently running late might not sound like a problematic blind spot in self-care. However, it could be negatively impacting various aspects of your life. When you are known for being late, it lowers your trustworthiness. This can negatively impact your personal relationships, as well as lead to issues at work.

In terms of self-care, this trait can make it harder to stick to certain changes you make. For example, you may find it more difficult to stick to a schedule you set yourself.

Impatience

If you tend to be an impatient person, you may find self-care more challenging. This is because you won’t necessarily see any results overnight. It takes time to adopt new habits and see the benefits of self-care. So, if you’re impatient, you might give up before you’ve experienced the benefits of your hard work.

When you are impatient, it makes you frustrated when you don’t see instant results. So, working on becoming more patient as you start your self-care journey is essential if you want to keep it up.

These are some of the most common blind spots you’ll experience when working on self-care. Identifying your blind spots will help you to reduce the challenges of self-care and make you much more likely to succeed with any changes you make.

To help you optimize and/or increase your self-care fill in each section of this self-care assessment sheet to give you an idea of what you need to work on, to feel better yourself and to be there for others.

For each of the following, rate how well you rate on each item. Use the number-system with 1 being poor and 5 being the best. Write your score in the line by the item. Then total up the numbers in each section and put it on the total score line by the section title.

Physical Self-Care – Total Score ________

___ I exercise 3-5 times a week.

___ I eat 3 healthy meals daily.

___ I eat healthy snacks.

___ I follow a healthy sleep routine.

___ I avoid eating at fast food restaurants.

___ I visit my family doctor regularly.

___ I visit my dentist regularly.

___ I drink water for better hydration.

___ I incorporate weights in my exercises.

___ I take medications as prescribed.

I want/need to build/enhance these qualities:

__________________________________    _________________________________

__________________________________    _________________________________

Mental Self-Care – Total Score ________

___ I write in a journal regularly.

___ I keep up with current news & events.

___ I play cognitive games that challenge me.

___ I engage in at least one hobby a week.

___ I listen to relaxing music.

___ I call or write to keep in touch with people I care for.

___ I volunteer regularly.

___ I visit places that I enjoy at least twice a week.

___ I learn to do something new each week.

___ I practice self-compassion and acceptance.

I want/need to build/enhance these qualities:

__________________________________    _________________________________

__________________________________    _________________________________

Emotional Self-Care – Total Score ________

___ I journal about things that bother/worry me.

___ I talk about troubling thoughts with a trusted friend.

___ I make it a point to be kind to others.

___ I don’t take hurtful things to heart.

___ I listen to upbeat or sad music as needed.

___ I watch inspiring or funny movies/shows to cheer up.

___ I don’t allow my anger or frustration to affect others.

___ I read the news or books to keep my thoughts in perspective.

___ I tell people what I really think, in appropriate way.

___ I effectively limit the time I spend with toxic people.

I want/need to build/enhance these qualities:

__________________________________    _________________________________

__________________________________    _________________________________

Social Self-Care – Total Score ________

___  I schedule one-on-one time each person in my immediate family.

___ I participate in community events regularly.

___  I am part of several community groups.

___  I encourage my family and friends to try new things.

___  I check on my friends/family regularly.

___  I tell my friends and family why I appreciate them.

___  I effectively balance the time I need for myself and with others.

___  I ask for help when needed.

___  I offer help when I see another’s unfulfilled need.

___  I make new people feel welcome and valued.

I want/need to build/enhance these qualities:

__________________________________    _________________________________

__________________________________    _________________________________

Business Self-Care

___  I arrive/begin work on time.

___  I work with a peer-support group.

___  I work with others a team-player.

___  I compliment others on their work.

___  I follow the rules/instructions set for my job.

___  I read industry-related information regularly.

___  I regularly build and enhance my job skills.

___  I keep my desk/office clean and organized.

___  I take time off only when needed.

___  I take 15-minute breaks as needed.

I want/need to build/enhance these qualities:

__________________________________    _________________________________

__________________________________    _________________________________

Here, we’ll look at how a lack of self-care can lead to an unhappy life. You will also learn some of the signs to watch out for that you need more self-care in your life.

You’ll feel stressed and exhausted

When you aren’t taking care of yourself, you’ll often feel stressed and exhausted. This in turn can lead to burnout and a feeling of resentment. For example, it could be that you are exhausted from taking care of everyone else’s needs. Over time, if you don’t factor in self-care, you could end up resenting your loved ones.

When you are constantly exhausted and stressed out, it’s impossible to maintain a positive outlook. Self-care helps to combat stress and it also boosts your energy levels.

Personal hygiene suffers

A side effect of not following a self-care routine, is that your personal hygiene could suffer. This is especially true for those experiencing depression. When you are depressed or low, self-care is the last thing on your mind. In severe cases, you could spend days in bed, failing to do even basic self-care tasks such as taking a shower or brushing your teeth.

The trouble is, failing to take care of yourself leads you to feel even worse. So, maintaining self-care is crucial for your mental health and personal hygiene.

You’ll seek unhealthy enjoyment

Another thing that tends to happen when you lack self-care, is you’ll seek unhealthy enjoyment. It could be overindulging in junk food because it makes you feel better. Or you could turn to alcohol or drugs to escape.

When you start turning to unhealthy habits for comfort, it’s going to lead to additional issues. You’ll also feel unhappier, particularly if you drink in excess. Alcohol is a depressant which can leave you feeling a lot worse than you started.

Weight gain

Many people who don’t take care of themselves, experience some level of weight gain. The more weight you gain, the unhappier you are going to be. It can be difficult to lose weight, so focus on self-care to help you to avoid this potential challenge.

You never feel good enough

Self-care is something you do because you are worth it. Therefore, if you fail to take care of yourself, you can end up feeling like you are never good enough. As you are constantly tired and juggling life’s responsibilities, you may feel like you are a failure, or you simply don’t measure up to others.

These are just some of the things that can happen when you don’t follow a self-care routine. The effects can be severe, causing you to lead an unhappy and unfulfilled life. So, if you’re looking to lead a happier life, now is the time to start focusing on your needs and making self-care a priority.

Who you are is not always who you want to be. Life in general can have a helping hand in the production that people now see as you. Your environment, the neighborhood, the lack of having not enough or being spoiled and having too much that you don’t have to work for, can all mess us up as adults. As now wise adults we have to sit down and ask ourselves the hard questions. We have to look in the mirror and figure out exactly who we are and why we are like we are, and are we truly happy with it. For some of us we are over compensating for things we did not get as kids, trying to fulfill a void. Some of us are spoiled and just have to get what we want when we want. Either way it is a serious problem that needs to be fixed.
Why are you this way? Environment, upbringing, etc.,
Who do people say you are? (How do you think they view you?)
List and explain
Grandparents
Parents
Spouse/Dates
Kids
Boss, Co-Workers, or if you are the boss your workers.
Friends
Organizations (Leadership groups, etc….)