Test: What’s your personal mood booster?

If you have a tendency to put other people’s needs before your own – or to treat yourself as if you don’t have needs at all – it’s easy for self-care to slip down your list of priorities, and low mood can often be the first sign. You may be well aware of this pattern, and know what you need to do to protect your mood, but still struggle to prioritise the basics such as quality sleep, regular exercise and eating well.

A red flag for you that your mood is taking a dip can be behaviour that’s out of character, such as getting irritated more easily than usual, opting out of social events or feeling disconnected from people you care about. When we feel like this, it’s often easier to respond with self-criticism than compassion, and overlook that what we need right now is better self-care.

Remind yourself that upgrading your self-care supports your capacity to thrive and manage all aspects of your life, including caring for others. If you feel guilty at the prospect of taking time out to do yoga, go for a walk or simply spend time relaxing, that’s a sure sign you really need to do it, not least to protect your mood. It’s time to listen to yourself – all the wisdom you need is there.