Background of the Challenge

My tenure as a project manager at a construction firm was the tipping point that left me feeling overwhelmed. The year 2021 was particularly challenging, prompting me to transition to freelance project management and digital marketing. It took me two months to heal from the emotional toll I experienced. Recognizing the need to move forward, I committed to a self-care challenge aimed at enhancing my portfolio and prioritizing my well-being.

The objectives of my challenge included:

Self-Care Goals:

• Get eight hours of sleep daily, from midnight to 8 AM.
• Engage in daily exercise and follow a comprehensive skincare routine.
• Incorporate meditation and mindfulness practices into my routine.

Reading and Writing Goals:

• Read at least one book each week and post a review on focus.cc weekly.
• Write on Medium at least once or twice a week, ideally every day.

Learning Goals:

• Revisit a forgotten hobby and consistently develop my social media presence around it.
• Use Duolingo every day to learn a new language, reviewing my studies twice weekly.

I successfully accomplished all these objectives.

What Did I Learn?

The key takeaway was understanding what self-care truly entails. After reflecting on this throughout the month, I concluded that essential self-care includes:

• Adequate sleep
• Healthy eating
• Regular exercise
• Daily meditation

While I value relaxing baths and skincare rituals, I realized that the essentials of self-care can be achieved without significant financial investment.

What Were My Gains?

Improved Sleep:

I experienced a marked improvement in my health and physique (yes, it truly does help with body shape!). My cognitive functions also enhanced, benefiting both my creativity and work performance.

Meditation:

This practice helped me attain a serene state of mind that I had lost in 2021. It enabled me to identify the obstacles hindering my success and to confront the darker aspects of my life that had lingered for too long.

Regular Writing:

My writing efforts resulted in a more robust portfolio and greater visibility. I began earning more through my writings, providing a significant boost to my confidence and helping me manage my expenses.

Diverse Reading:

I expanded my reading horizons beyond management and technology topics, which had previously limited my perspective. This month allowed me to explore various subjects, igniting my creativity and offering me a sense of relaxation.

Enhanced Time Management:

During this month, I refined the schedule I had developed during the 2021 lockdown. This framework became the backbone of my self-care challenge, revealing my efficiency to a degree I hadn't recognized before.

I also wrote an article detailing my management skills; feel free to check it out for insights on self-care.