Are you Depleted?

Sometimes we don’t recognize the signs of depletion when we are caring for others and living in our chaotic world of responsibilities. Being aware of your signs can help you care for yourself and establish boundaries around people and things that take you away from yourself. What are your signs? Here is a quiz to help you find out.

1. A child asks you an innocent question- for the 10th time in a row. You:

   1. Recognize their sweet innocence and gently inform them that the answer is not going to change, but only after offering a developmentally appropriate explanation.

   2. Firmly tell them to stop asking for the 10th time.

   3. Snap at them to be quiet

2. Your boss calls you into work at the last minute. You:

   1. Acknowledge the importance of the situation, but take careful consideration of your physical and emotional needs. You agree only to what you can handle in good health.

   2. Consider your own need to recharge, but accept anyway out of fear of being disliked or letting down your boss.

   3. Immediately agree to do it and then spend the next week complaining about the situation and your boss to your coworkers, friends, and family.

3. You go shopping with your sister. You:

   1. Both share your own versions of self-expression

   2. Show her what styles you are considering, but wait for her opinion before making your final purchasing decision.

   3. Only choose what she says is currently in fashion because you are not confident in your own self-expression.

4. How is your energy level today? Let’s check in with your physiology and assess your adrenal health”

   1. You woke up fee well-rested and ready to go!

   2. When 4 p.m. rolls around, you plan to grab a large frozen coffee.

   3. You feel stressed and fatigued, and cannot seem to find a healthy way out of this negative feedback loop.

5. You are working on your spiritual self, and you are not loving everybody. What do you do?

   1. Remind yourself that it’s okay to accept your feelings! You don’t waste your energy directing negativity towards anyone; instead, you channel it out in a healthy way by refocusing it on your healthy relationships.

   2. Spend an hour crying out your hurt feelings, and then give yourself a hug for honoring your emotions. In your journal, you write a mantra about welcoming healthy relationships. You start saving up some compassion, strength, and wisdom for your future self, who will know how to stand tall and be assertive when faced with difficult situations and relationships.

   3. You blame yourself and don’t have the energy to think of changes you could make in the future.

Mostly A’s: What you’re doing is working! You have a good sense of your needs and enough fuel to act with self-compassion.

Mostly B’s: You know how to refuel, but don’t quite have enough in your tank to stay on course. You are beginning to feel depleted. It’s time to spend more time and energy for yourself.

Mostly C’s: Time to focus on YOURSELF! You are depleted and not acting in your own self-interest. Remember that you are worthy of compassion and fiercely set the intention to increase compassion for yourself. Identify opportunities to take more time and energy for yourself, and act on them this week.