How a Tiny Interruption Reveals the Truth About Your Well-Being
There you are—shoulders tense, coffee cooling, 73 tabs open in your mental browser. You’re locked in. Focused. Deadlines, meetings, dinner plans, that email you forgot to send—it’s all happening at once.
Then someone taps you on the shoulder.
“Hey… do you have a paperclip?”
And in that micro-moment, before your logical brain can respond, your body screams:
“ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?!”
Welcome to the Paperclip Test for Self-care—a deceptively simple way to measure how much gas you have left in your emotional tank. And if that tiny request makes you want to combust, it’s time to pause, breathe, and rethink how you’re taking care of yourself.
Let’s dive in.
The Frontline of Life
Life isn’t a literal battlefield (thankfully), but it can feel like one. For those of us juggling high-stress roles, caring for families, or managing relentless expectations, even the smallest interruption can feel like someone dropped a grenade on your desk.
In that hyper-focused state, a paperclip isn’t a paperclip—it’s a threat to your fragile sense of control. Your reaction, though seemingly irrational, is a flashing red alert:
🔴 You’re running on empty.
This is where self-care steps in—not as a luxury, but as a lifeline.
What Is Self-Care, Really?
Self-care is one of those buzzwords we toss around without really grasping its depth. It’s not just spa days and scented candles (though those count too). It’s any intentional action that fills your tank, centers your nervous system, and gives you the inner space to respond—not react.
Think of self-care like a reserve generator. When your day goes off the rails (and it will), self-care is what keeps the lights on inside.
Self-care might look like:
- A 10-minute mindfulness break before your next Zoom marathon.
- Dancing in your kitchen to early 2000s pop because it just feels good.
- Saying “no” to that extra project, guilt-free.
- Clearing your space because chaos outside feeds chaos inside.
- Journaling the mess out of your head so you can sleep at night.
- A hot bath where nobody asks you for anything.
For one of Adele’s clients, cleaning was her ultimate act of self-love. For others, it might be yoga, painting, or simply doing absolutely nothing. The only rule? It has to refill you.
The True Measure of Self-Care
Here’s the thing: You don’t need a therapist to tell you how well you’re doing with self-care. You just need a paperclip.
Imagine someone interrupts your chaotic day with a tiny ask. How do you respond?
- If your jaw tightens and your inner monologue goes full savage, chances are… your tank is low.
- If you can pause, smile (even slightly), and respond with grace? You’re doing okay. You’ve got margin. You’ve got emotional oxygen.
Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s what allows you to show up as yourself—not the snapped, snappy version that even you don’t like.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
In a world where being “busy” is a badge of honor and burnout is worn like war paint, we need to redefine strength. True resilience isn’t about pushing through—it’s about knowing when to pull back.
Self-care isn’t what you do when you’re done with everything else. It’s what allows you to do everything else.
So, What’s in Your Tank Right Now?
If you’re honest, how would you respond to a paperclip request in the middle of your most demanding day?
If your inner answer sounds a bit… murdery, that’s okay. It’s not a failure—it’s feedback.
👉 Take it as your cue. Not to shame yourself, but to shift. To choose one small thing—just one—that gives back to you. And if you’re not even sure what that is anymore, don’t worry.
Start here: Book a free Clarity Call with our team. We’ll help you rediscover what self-care means for you—not Pinterest, not Instagram—you.
Because the next time someone asks for a paperclip, we want your answer to come from a place of power… not pressure.
Stay curious, stay kind to yourself—your nervous system will thank you.
