Put Your Own Oxygen Mask on First
If you’ve ever been on a plane you know the drill. The flight attendant is telling you about what to do if the oxygen mask comes down and reminds you, “If you are traveling with a small child or someone who need’s your assistance, put your own oxygen mask on first.” It makes sense, doesn’t it? If you are gasping for air you certainly can’t be of assistance to anyone else.
It is a metaphor that I use with clients frequently. As women we are famous for taking care of others and putting ourselves last on our to-do lists. It is still amazing to me that we forget to take care of ourselves. I have to ask myself as much as I ask my clients, “What did you do today to take care of yourself?” As professional women, women in leadership positions, and women business owners, we have a to-do list that never ends – it just rolls over to the next morning. If you are last on that list you will never get to yourself.
In order to be effective in your position, to be the best you can be for your family, your friends, your clients, your employees, your company, your constituency, your board members, your community, your beloved pet or anyone else on your list – you have to put your own oxygen mask on first.
Here are some tips for taking care of yourself:
Get enough rest and sleep – We all seem to have times in our lives when there just isn’t enough time for sleep – any new mother will tell you all about it! However, it is important to get restorative and restful sleep as much as you can. Establish a routine of going to sleep and getting up at the same time each day. Have wind down time before you go to sleep – have a cup of herbal tea or take an aromatic bath.
Make time for friendships – You need connections with others, especially others outside of the work environment and with whom you have a satisfying and healthy relationship.
Laugh a lot – There is healing in laughter and play. Make it a daily part of your life to have some fun.
Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet – What we eat is a lifestyle choice. Make and eat good food and eat it sitting down and as often as possible, with family and/or friends.
Get out into nature – Enjoy the simple pleasures of fresh air and the beauty of the outdoors. Go for a hike, a swim, a picnic. Yes – take time to smell the roses – literally.
Be in touch with your body and make time for fitness – Find simple and enjoyable ways of staying fit. Take time to be in relationship with your physical being.
Have a spiritual life – Take time to meditate or pray on a regular basis. Make it a point to be in stillness within yourself in whatever way is comfortable for you.
Be grateful – The daily practice of listing what you are grateful for goes a long way to creating and sustaining a positive attitude.
Do something nice for yourself everyday. Buy yourself a flower, a nice card, tell yourself how much you appreciate yourself. Yes, this is corny – and as women we want and need to surround ourselves with beauty and positive feelings and we don’t have to wait for anyone else to do that for us.
Take a deep breath of that oxygen and go out into the world well cared for.
