Anyone else just utterly exhausted? And utterly exhilarated? On the same day.

Are you too experiencing anger & joy in the space of a few minutes?

Go ahead, nod your head, call out “oh yeah!,” and sigh in deep identification. No one that doesn’t already love you and know you really well can see or hear you anyway. We are all (at least) socially distancing.

At least, you better be.

There have been so many words shared about self-care; some from companies selling products and people selling services, and many more from the people who see us and love us and want the best for us. We are most likely spending more time talking and thinking about self-care than we ever. As a global career coach, self-care has been a topic in many client relationships, but it has never been—stress never—the topic of most importance for most of my clients at the same time.

We are in this pandemic and this way of life for much longer than we expected and we must be able to not only survive and sustain but shift towards sustain and succeed as well as (I may hope!) sustain and thrive.

And this is where the socialized maverick steps into bright focus. Because baths and creams and new towels cannot cut it on the self-care more than six months into this mess.

We must step into our power for “winning capabilities and strategic” so that we can “utilize power” as we built balance, growth, and connection.

On my LinkedIn page I’ve been sharing examples of self-care, many of them unique to me. In return I have been receiving examples of self-care from others, many of them inspiring and unique to each person. Below is a list of possibilities, mixed up for confidentially.

· Take a random picture each day and build an online “My Pandemic” book

· Reach out to someone you spoke to more than 12 months ago

· Write a blog

· Scream therapy

· Send a care package to a local hospital, urgent care, senior center

· Make a sign with a positive message and stick it into your yard/window

· Go camping

· Take Facebook & Twitter & Instagram off your phone

· Drink your favorite drink and savor it silently

· Nap

· Drink more water

· Join a protest for equality and action

· Build a fire

· Color / paint

· Watch Star Trek

· Update your cheers / celebration file

· Cry

· Watch your favorite movie

· Get rid of your TV

· Read a challenging book

· Read a fun book

· Re-read a book

· Stop reading

· Dance in your kitchen

· Go grocery shopping for someone else

· Be a wine ninja

· Quit drinking

· Nap again

What about you – how is self-care for you these days? Pop a comment below.