tHE IMPORTANCE OF THE OXYGEN MASK

Dear ‘formidable’ friends,

I hope this message finds you well. In the coming blog series, I want to delve into concepts or tips that helped me recover from burnout and manage my stress.

This week I want to talk to you about the “Oxygen Mask Theory” . You might have heard this analogy before, but it's worth revisiting and applying to our daily lives, especially when it comes to self-care. For me it was a real eye opener when it comes to not feeling guilty to prioritize “me time” or “self-care”.

The Oxygen Mask Theory comes from the safety instructions we hear every time we board an airplane: "Put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others." This principle is essential for our well-being. Just as you wouldn't be able to help someone else if you run out of oxygen, you can't effectively support others if you don't take care of yourself first.

In essence, what this means is that self-care isn't just a luxury—it's a necessity. When you prioritize self-care, you're replenishing your physical, emotional, and mental resources. This is especially important if you're experiencing burnout or trying to recover from it. The key is to find activities that are sustainable and enjoyable for you.

For example, before my own experience with burnout, I used to jog regularly. However, during my recovery, I found jogging to be too strenuous. Instead, I turned to lighter activities that I enjoyed and had the energy for, like mindful walking, horse riding and yoga. It's crucial to choose something that you love doing and that feels manageable.

Taking time for yourself, forces you to look inward and reconnect with your body, mind or heart. Self-care helps pay attention to what happens inside of us .When you're experiencing burnout, as I already stated before, it can feel like a big dark cloud in your brain or like your brain is on fire. Self-care helps to clear that cloud and calm the fire. When you engage in enjoyable activities, your brain releases hormones like dopamine and endorphins. These hormones help reduce stress, boost your mood, and promote a sense of well-being.

Self-care also helps lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, which can be elevated during periods of burnout. By regularly practicing self-care, you create a positive feedback loop that can help you manage stress more effectively, replenish your energy and recover more quickly from burnout.

So this is quite easy in fact, choose a daily self-care activity for yourself that you love…..and just incorporate it in your daily routine so that you can become your ‘formidable’ self again! You got this!
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I recommend to read the great book of K. Lawrence “Your Oxygen Mask First”.
Buy it here.