“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence,

it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” –Audre Lorde

As I’m writing this the theme song from “Girl Meets World”

is playing on my iPod- “Take on the World”- that’s the plan!

So. I work in a Diabetes non-profit. I have T1D. I’m an introvert. I have anxiety, OCD, and ADHD. I have perfectionist style and view-point tendencies. A large percentage of my friends have T1D. I’m involved in the DOC and write a T1D Blog.

And the above statements (but other reasons too) are why I care about Self-Care and created Self-Made-Boundaries for myself- most of which stem from lessons I learned the hard way or statements that people keep throwing my way (out of concern and love). I’m also forcing myself to do this because I struggle with Self-Care and Boundaries, and I want to do it all.

Things that I am constantly reminding myself to do or push myself to do (or that I have finally gotten into a better habit of doing!

Number 1- Besides diabetes management (of course)…

the rest of my “diabetes life” is 8ish-6ish M-F.

What does that mean? If you wonder why I might be “MIA” or don’t respond right away, here’s why.

• At CDN, typically I’m working from 9-5. But stuff comes up of course- conferences, the retreat, calls/meetings (which balance out).
• That ADHD life gets me “in the zone” sometimes and I don’t want to stop working at 5. I have to remind myself that you can get back in the zone later.
• Before 9 and after 5 is roughly when I am active on social media and work on my blog.
• Because so much of my social media is Diabetes- I stay away from it after 6ish and avoid it on the weekends.
• Of course there are exceptions.
• I don’t blog on the weekends or late at night (unless I’m too inspired to focus on anything else).
• If I get a text, phone call, or message on social media and it is diabetes related… I usually wait to respond until a workday- especially if it is CDN related. And I usually ask for an email in place of it.
• I don’t read a lot of Diabetes related things outside of work.
• I try and limit my Diabetes non-profit involvement to these hours as well.
• Same goes for emails after hours- I do my best not to constantly check it.

Number 2 – I try and tune in and actually listen to my emotions.

• DSMA Chats- I don’t participate if I feel like I’ve had too much Diabetes.
• I stay away from blogging if I feel like I’ve had too much- Diabetes, Mental Health, and life wise. If I get an idea, I write it out and leave it for later.
• If I need a brain break…. I take it.
• I let myself feel.
• If I feel overwhelmed I don’t “adult” or “real life.” Yes, I ignore my responsibilities (for a moment).

Number 3– I have a ton of T1D friends,

but we don’t actually constantly talk about Diabetes- shocker right?

Yes- T1D sparked the connections, but isn’t the center of our friendship.

Number 4- As an Introvert…

• I do my best to avoid human contact for an entire day at least once per week- I have had some time spans where I can’t do this- and I definitely feel it- but I make sure to catch up later.
• I also try my best to have minimal human contact for about 20 minutes per day.
• Even though I am new to Boston and want to meet new people…. If I feel like I’ve had enough people time… I don’t socialize.

Number 5- SELF-CARE!!

I make sure I do stuff I enjoy and that make me feel rejuvenated.

Number 6- I’m getting better at setting boundaries, saying no, and asking for help.

Number 7- Ideas and goals are great- but I don’t have to tackle them all at once.

Things I still struggle with and why I force boundaries and self-care on my self.

Number 1- I struggle with the idea that I cannot do it all.

Number 2- It is okay if I don’t cross of everything on my to do list. And it is okay to move things on my calendar.

Number 3- I’m only 22 and just graduated from college- I shouldn’t expect myself to have my life together.

 Number 4- I feel guilty about saying no.

Number 5- I have a mental health diagnosis. I need to remember that.

Number 6- Diabetes can add a bump in the road-

it sucks sometimes.

It is okay for me to pause and say I don’t feel well.

Number 7- I actually hate asking for help.

Number 8- I am a perfectionist and don’t give myself enough credit.

I guess it’s important to recognize the things I struggle with? Only way to address and fix it. But you know what truly helps? Just about everyone in my life has been on board with my boundaries and self-care and how strict I am trying to stick with it. It also helps that I feel very secure where I am in life. Finally it most definitiely helps that I am no longer in college…. No more 7 days per week from 7AM-Midhmight because of school, work, internships, what I was involved, trying to be social, etc. (main reason why I am loving the “real world.”)

I’ve felt burned out before… and that feeling returning scares me.

So proactive is the plan, and I feel it’s going well.

Hey you! Yes, you! 

Let’s connect on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram (maybe even 2 or all of those!). 

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We’ll both be glad you did! -Mindy