​I've got the 'burnout' t-shirt - and it wasn't fun. In fact, I've done it more than once over the past 25 years. One common trait among Passionate World Changers is putting our need to make a bigger difference in the world ahead of looking after ourselves. But self-care isn't selfish - it's essential.

You're no use to anyone if you're exhausted and making yourself ill. Looking after your health - topping up your inner batteries with something other than caffeine and sugar - need to become part of our daily routine.

"But I don't have the time!" is the lament I hear so often on this one - and I know I've used it myself. And I'm doing a podcast episode on how to find the time for self-care, soon. But here's the thing:

If you don't make the time for self-care, your body will give you the time.

Even the early stages of burnout are pretty unpleasant. Your body gives you early warning signs and if you ignore them, it can pull the rug from under you.

For me, one of my signs that I need to get back on the 'self-care isn't selfish' train is a migraine. If I have pushed myself too hard, with too much travel, too many events, and too much 'people-time', then my body gives me a 2-day migraine, to force me to stop. 'Pushing on through' is no longer an option. But if I pace myself and top up my batteries regularly, that doesn't happen.

So I'm curious: how does this look for you? Are you getting a good balance between giving to others and giving to yourself? Or are you over-giving? Is it time to turn that around?

Here are some of my favourite ways to top up my self-care batteries - and none of them takes more than a few minutes:

Does the thought of going out to a party after a networking event fill you with excitement or a heavy sense of dread?

Where you get your energy from is essential to understand, when you're looking at how to top up your batteries. 

If you can't wait to get out and spend time with people, even at the end of a long day, then you're likely to be running an extroverted entrepreneur preference.

If spending quiet time with loved-ones, hiding on your own to read a book, spending calm time in nature or other solitary activities boost your energy levels, then you're probably running an introverted entrepreneur preference. It doesn't mean you're shy. But it does mean you probably need to consciously 'spend' your 'people-energy' in a way that extroverts might never understand!

Here's my quiz to find out which preference you're running, so you can build the right strategies into your 'self-care isn't selfish' action plan:

Here's where to find a complete list of my articles, videos and podcasts on mindfulness, self-care, topping up your batteries, yoga and looking after your energy levels.