In Case of Emergency
I know you have heard it before, either when you have been traveling on an airplane or maybe in a movie. It’s where they explain the ‘plan’, in case something should happen to go wrong.
If something goes wrong with the cabin pressure, the oxygen masks will drop from the overhead compartment. They show you what to do if this happens, then they explain that you should always put your oxygen mask on first before helping someone else with their mask. Which is sound advice if you want to continue breathing. So basically, you should take care of yourself first, in case of emergency, before you can even begin to help other people. Makes sense!
But what if there ISN’T an emergency? Are you still willing to take care of yourself first before helping someone else? I’m not saying being totally selfish and not help people at all, but I am saying that take care of yourself before helping others can be a good thing.
When you aren’t feeling well, maybe laid up with the stomach flu or that cough that just keeps hanging on, it makes sense to take a step back and take care of yourself by resting, drinking lots of fluids, etc.
Do you do the same thing when you are stressed out, tired, emotionally or physically drained or burned out? Do you take a step back and take care of yourself then? Or do you trudge on thinking that ‘if only’ you could get this done or that done, then you’ll feel better or less tired or less stressed?
In this case—-YOU ARE THE EMERGENCY! You can’t pour from an empty cup. You can’t help anyone else if you are so burned out or stressed out that you have no energy to do so. When there is nothing left, you can only take care of yourself! The question is: how are you going to do that?
The emergency is real and you have to put your oxygen mask on before you can help anyone else. The problem is that you probably don’t see the state of emergency that you are in and there will most likely be all sorts of things vying for your attention. Your job, your kids, your spouse…the list can be endless of things that ‘need’ your attention. So then it becomes a choice—-which will you do? Take care of yourself or cave to all the pressures that are vying for your attention????
So here’s the tricky part–what if, by taking care of the emergency, which is you, you can then have more energy, more patience and be more productive? Do you think that is possible?
Yes, it’s true…by taking care of yourself first in the times of stress or burn out those other things can happen also! And why is that? Because you are taking time out from all the stressors of life for even just a little bit and recharging your batteries.
So what things can you do to help take care of yourself during those times:
- Massage–By unplugging from the world for even a 1/2 hour, you can recharge your batteries of your life tremendously. There are so many benefits, you would be amazed!
- Read a book–yep, I know that sounds crazy because you think you don’t have time for that, but you can lose yourself in the pages of a book and ‘escape’ for just little bit.
- Turn off your phone, IPod, IPad or any electronic gadget (this includes the TV)–I know you are already thinking of who needs to talk to you or vice versa or who will need to contact you…you’re thinking I can’t turn off my phone!!!!! Yet, that very same phone or gadget causes a tremendous amount of stress because of the very nature of you being accessible 24/7/365. Remember the days of no cell phones, only landlines, and no answering machine or anything of that nature? People actually survived not being accessible all the time and they survived for decades.
- Find a hobby you enjoy–be it woodworking, crocheting, coloring, photography–whatever helps you stay present and in the moment is always a good choice! Believe it or not, you do have the time!
This is only a small sampling of things that you could do. Aren’t you worth the time? Yes, you are! I believe it! However, are you willing to believe it too?
MY CHALLENGE TO YOU: Take a moment, right now, and make a list of things that you find enjoyable or something that helps you with your stress. After you make your list, post it somewhere you can see it so when you are in ’emergency mode’ it will be readily accessible and you will be able to take care of yourself regardless of the emergency.