When I say the words, ‘self care’ what comes to mind for you? What are you doing about ‘self care?’
Over the past several months, the first thing I have asked friends, colleagues and those leading significant work is; “What do you do for self care?” Many have stumble through answers to say something like this; ‘Oh I/we mean to do something about that;’ or ‘We are trying to get a day off’, or ‘We plan to have a holiday, but haven’t found the time yet’.
No one gets a medal for burning out. Where did the idea come from that ‘busy’ was the only acceptable state to be in. ‘How are you?’ Busy! Busy does not equate to fruitfulness. The dictionary defines busy to mean; ‘to have a great deal to do.’ If we have a ‘great deal’ to do, maybe we are doing way too much or we are not being wise with our time or energy and therefore can find ourselves in a state of burnout.
To truly live as God intended us to live, ‘life to the full,’ (John 10:10), we must take care of ourselves to be the ‘best me’ we can be. This is not only for ourselves to benefit, but it is also so we can pour out our best to others from a healthy vessel.
If you have flown in an airplane, you would be familiar with the drill; ‘In case there is a loss in cabin pressure, yellow oxygen masks will deploy from the ceiling compartment located above you. Please secure your own mask before assisting others around you’. Why do they say this? The answer is simple. If we are not fully functional ourselves, breathing properly, we will not have the strength to help others traveling with us. It is no different in any area of our life. To be fully effective for others, we need to make sure we are ‘self caring’ in whatever form that needs to be for you.
Q: What do you need to do, to become the best you going forward?
Take time now to make a list of what you need to do to be the best you. Here are some examples for you to begin your list.
- Plan a specific time off during the week just to recharge. What recharges you?
- Streamline the things you do. What can you delegate to others?
- Put a holiday in your calendar at the beginning of the year. Don’t wait until the calendar tells you what to do.
- Filtering. What do you need to filter out of your life that is depleting you? You need to fill that gap with something that will develop and fill you up.
Q: Who are the safe people in your life to help you move from being overloaded to having a more balanced life?
Self care must include, safe people in your life. More on that, in the next blog.
CHOOSE TODAY TO START SELF CARING SO THAT YOU CAN BE THE BEST YOU FOR YOURSELF AND OTHERS.
QUOTE: An empty tank will take you exactly nowhere. Take time to refuel. Anon.
DESTINED FOR PURPOSE 