At THRIVE Beyond the To-Do List: A Self-Care Workshop for Busy Lives, facilitated by Alison Smith, The Thrive Designer, participants were invited to challenge the traditional notion of self-care—and what emerged was far more nuanced than expected.
Through small group discussions, participants explored a variety of everyday activities and worked to categorize them as either “self-care” or “not self-care.” What initially seemed like a straightforward exercise quickly evolved into deeper, more meaningful conversations. Many discovered that self-care isn’t always black and white—there’s often a fine line, and context matters.
A key takeaway was that self-care is highly personal. Not everyone agreed on which activities qualified, highlighting that individuals respond differently based on their preferences, past experiences, and emotional associations. What feels restorative and energizing to one person might feel like a chore to another. For many, an activity needed to bring some level of joy, satisfaction, or gratification to truly be considered self-care.
Participants also explored the idea that intention plays a critical role. Some activities sparked discussion because, while they might not feel enjoyable in the moment, they contribute to an outcome that supports overall well-being. For example, working out may not always feel like self-care during the effort itself, but the resulting endorphins, improved health, and sense of accomplishment often make it a meaningful form of self-care in the bigger picture. This led to an important realization: self-care can be goal-oriented. The journey may not always feel indulgent or relaxing, but if the end result supports mental, physical, or emotional well-being, it still holds value as self-care.
To help ground these insights, Alison introduced two simple but powerful questions for participants to regularly ask themselves:
- How am I doing?
- What do I need?
Participants were then encouraged to take this reflection a step further by visualizing their well-being on a continuum from -10 to +10. In this framework, -10 represents burnout or survival mode, while +10 reflects a state of resilience or thriving. This approach helped shift the mindset away from all-or-nothing thinking and toward incremental progress.
Rather than focusing on large, overwhelming changes, the emphasis was on identifying small, manageable ways to move just +1 at a time. These micro-adjustments can be simple but impactful. For example, something as basic as intentionally drinking enough water throughout the day can become a moment of self-care—a brief pause to take a sip, reset, and refocus. That small act creates space to move slightly closer to resilience.
Alison also guided participants through an exercise to map their typical week along this continuum. By reflecting on where each day falls, participants gained insight into patterns within their routines. What does your week reveal? Where are the high and low points? What factors are within your control to change—and what are not? This exercise encouraged both awareness and realistic decision-making around energy, capacity, and priorities.
Participants left the workshop with actionable strategies centered on small, intentional shifts. Rather than defaulting to stereotypical ideas of self-care like bubble baths, they were challenged to rethink what self-care truly looks like in their own lives—and how consistent, thoughtful actions can gradually move the needle toward greater resilience and well-being.
The overarching takeaway: self-care isn’t another task to add to the to-do list—it’s a practice of awareness, intention, and steady progress toward thriving.