When you fly on an airplane, the flight attendant will inform you that in the event of an emergency, you must put on your own oxygen mask before attempting to help anyone else. The reason being, if you don’t have oxygen yourself, you will run out of air and will not be of help to anyone. The same concept applies when taking care of your own physical and mental well-being. It is good to be mindful of others and to be selfless at times, however, there must be a healthy balance in life. Whenever I begin to feel exhausted, frustrated or “burned out,” I have to ask myself, “What I am doing to take care of myself?” Often when I feel this way, I have neglected the things that re-energize me and help me feel well and calm. When I’m doing a good job of taking care of myself, I have much more to give to others.

In the fast paced life we live, it is easy to neglect our own self-care. However, with a mindful effort, we can incorporate the practice of self-care into our daily lives. The things we do to recharge can even be simple, five minute tasks such as taking time to sit and breathe deeply, call a friend we’ve been wanting to talk to or take a walk around the block. Sometimes it is necessary to schedule these things into the day and make them a priority. If it is difficult for you to make it a priority, you might ask yourself why. Often, people have a desire to please others or they feel guilty taking time for themselves. If this is the case or you can’t identify why you are neglecting your own needs, it may be worth exploring with a professional counselor to figure out why and develop a plan to begin taking care of yourself. When your “oxygen” needs are met, your mind will be clear and  you will be better able to recognize and respond to the needs of others.