“No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk in the path.”
Mahatma Ghandi
When you are in an airplane, as the attendants review the safety procedures should the plane lose cabin pressure, have you ever noticed that you’re instructed to put on your air mask first before helping others to secure theirs? You can’t help others if you’re unconscious! The same is true in our everyday lives. To take care of our loved ones, we must put ourselves FIRST. We cannot give love and care if our own resources are depleted. Be sure to put YOUR needs at the top of the to-do list. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you develop your priority list.
- Make time to rest. Sleep is important to recharging your body. Turn off the electronics 30 minutes prior to bed time, so your brain can calm itself.
- Make time for your hobbies. When you develop the family calendar, don’t just put in the kids’ activities. The parents’ activities and hobbies need to be scheduled as well. Don’t have a hobby? GET ONE! Find something that brings you happiness. By interacting with adults with similar interests, you can gain energy from people and activities that bring you joy.
- Set boundaries. It is okay to say NO. By not committing to things you don’t want to do or don’t have the time to do, you will free up time for your needs.
- Prioritize. You can’t get everything done all at once. Start with the most important items on your list (and that should be yourself), then chip away on items that are less urgent or important. Things have a way of getting done, so don’t sweat the small stuff.
“No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk in the path.”
Mahatma Ghandi
When you are in an airplane, as the attendants review the safety procedures should the plane lose cabin pressure, have you ever noticed that you’re instructed to put on your air mask first before helping others to secure theirs? You can’t help others if you’re unconscious! The same is true in our everyday lives. To take care of our loved ones, we must put ourselves FIRST. We cannot give love and care if our own resources are depleted. Be sure to put YOUR needs at the top of the to-do list. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you develop your priority list.
- Make time to rest. Sleep is important to recharging your body. Turn off the electronics 30 minutes prior to bed time, so your brain can calm itself.
- Make time for your hobbies. When you develop the family calendar, don’t just put in the kids’ activities. The parents’ activities and hobbies need to be scheduled as well. Don’t have a hobby? GET ONE! Find something that brings you happiness. By interacting with adults with similar interests, you can gain energy from people and activities that bring you joy.
- Set boundaries. It is okay to say NO. By not committing to things you don’t want to do or don’t have the time to do, you will free up time for your needs.
- Prioritize. You can’t get everything done all at once. Start with the most important items on your list (and that should be yourself), then chip away on items that are less urgent or important. Things have a way of getting done, so don’t sweat the small stuff.
