SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital - Mt. Vernon issued the following announcement on Sept. 20.
You’ve heard the analogy before – put your own oxygen mask on before helping others. But what does this really mean? It doesn’t mean leave others to fend for themselves, it simply means that if you don’t take care of yourself first, you won’t be able to take care of others.
This doesn’t mean you’re selfish, it means you understand that you won’t have the energy or mental stamina to nurture those around you if you’re burned out. When you’re burned out and tired, you can’t appreciate even the small things in life, much less the big ones.
Being overworked and stressed can affect every aspect of our lives, and even make us physically ill. And taking stress home to our families and our friends can often be transferred to them. That's not healthy for anyone.
Tips to recharge and refresh:
Reflect on the day. Acknowledge one aspect that was difficult, and let it go.
Congratulate yourself. Consider three things that went well and give yourself a pat on the back.
Switch your attention to home. Leave work at work and be truly present with your family and friends.
Play. Play basketball with your kids. Play board games with your husband. Play trivia with your friends. Whatever play means to you, do it.
Set boundaries. If you’re feeling overcommitted, exhausted or stressed, let yourself say no to things to rest and recharge.
Shed the guilt of taking time for yourself. Know that you need to take care of you to take care of those you love, and don’t let guilt stop you from having a quiet moment to yourself, getting a pedicure, or seeing a movie alone.
Sleep. Few things make us feel better and more refreshed than a good night’s sleep. Make sure you’re going to bed at a decent hour and giving yourself time to get at least 7 hours of sleep a night.
Original source can be found here.
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