“In case there is a loss in cabin pressure, yellow oxygen masks will deploy from the ceiling compartment located above you. To secure, pull the mask towards you, secure the elastic strap to your head, and fasten it so it covers your mouth and nose. Breathe normally. Even if the bag does not inflate, please keep in mind that oxygen is flowing. Please make sure to secure your own mask before assisting others.”
We have all heard this before on airplane flights but many people are unaware of how important this little (read: important) reminder is to our day-to-day lives. I use this analogy quite a bit in my coaching sessions. I remind clients that they must take care of themselves so that they can best help themselves and others. Self Care is the oxygen that will enable them to move forward. Without it we panic, feel overwhelmed and pass out or burn out. It is a very important and simple concept that everyone needs, but not everyone implements into their lives.
If you are an entrepreneur and you lack a self-care routine (ie: oxygen mask), you are also of no effective use to your business, clients, and employees. You will lose the motivation to work towards your goals and vision. You will become resentful. Creating a self-care routine/plan is the first step you should take before scheduling and implementing any goal or lifestyle design plan.
Self Care is different for everyone. Some people meditate, some play Sudoku, some listen to music. Self Care is very individualized and important for balance. Without self-care, you go-go-go and then crash and potentially get ill physically and/or mentally. Self Care is the “preventative maintenance” of your health, spirit, and life. When clients have a lot of stress and overwhelm, the first question I ask is “How is your self-care going?” Overwhelm is normally an indicator that self-care is either non-existent and/or is no longer working for them. Your personal self-care routines and plans may change from time to time.
In order for self-care to be most effective and beneficial, it needs to be consistent. I often talk about self-care time as sacred and non-negotiable. Do you consistently renew yourself with activities that you enjoy? Do you sleep regularly? Do you eat well and balanced? There are many different aspects of a self-care plan. I view anything that “fills your tank or fuels your passion” as a piece of self-care. The other piece to consistency is how does your self-care fit into your routine? Is it scheduled? Are you committed to it? In my personal professional opinion, self-care needs to be set or scheduled into your system before you start to strategize your goals and ideal lifestyle design. Your self-care will be pushed back over and over again and then you will fizzle out if you don’t schedule it and make it a priority.
Before you burn out, what are you going to do today that allows you to rest, gaining renewal and relaxation (guilt-free) so you can charge on with more energy and focus through your life? Take a breath and keep in mind that oxygen is flowing as long as you remember to breathe and make your self-care a priority.
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Kat...that title and picture are worth 1,000 words. 🙂
Thanks for the reminder!