My Life In Order
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Contact

Put Your Mask on First

11/30/2020

0 Comments

 
If you've ever flown, you've heard the airline safety demonstration about putting your own oxygen mask on before helping others if the cabin pressure were to drop in the plane.  Fortunately, I've never had to make the decision between myself or my child getting an oxygen mask first, but I think my instinct (like many parents) would be to help my child first.  When I think about it intellectually, I understand that hypoxia, or a deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the brain, can cause many issues including confusion to the point of being unable to help others or even yourself.  In the moment, though, it's hard to think intellectually, and that's why flight attendants remind us every time we fly!

In the same way that prioritizing our own oxygen supply is critical for saving the lives of those around us in a hypothetical plane crash, it is necessary to prioritize caring for yourself so that you can better care for your loved ones.  Self-care can mean different things to different people from a massage to an hour alone to reading a book.  Self-care can sometimes feel like an indulgence that we shouldn't desire when, in fact, it's something we should not ignore. 

In his article, Dr. Matthew Glowiak from Southern New Hampshire University said, "In a society in which people are expected to work long hours and pass on vacation days, there is an underlying belief that we must always be productive – which can ultimately take away from opportunities for self-care. But by taking some time out to engage in self-care, you may relieve the pressures of everyday life and reset yourself to get back to a healthy point where productivity is once again maximized." 


As I was researching for this post, something so obvious began to emerge from my own experience.  These days when I hear the word mask, I don't think of oxygen masks on a plane, but instead I think of the homemade cloth masks that I've made over the past several months to help protect my family and those around us from the COVID-19 pandemic.  Very early on in the first lock down, I purchased a basic sewing machine.  I had to have my 7th grader teach me how to use it since he'd recently taken Family and Consumer Sciences in school.  I remember scavenging for old t-shirts and scrap fabric that I could use to make masks.  This was back when you couldn't find pre-made cloth masks and the disposable ones had all been bought up.  Because of my lack of sewing skills, it took me hours to make just one mask, but I made enough for my whole family (in the event that we'd actually leave the house!) 

​Over time and with practice, my sewing skills and access to fabric and thread improved enough that I was able to begin making more masks.  I made masks for my husband, two sons, some friends, and then more for the kids.  I was wearing and washing, wearing and washing the three masks I had (two made for me by a friend and one that I'd made myself.) I bought fabric to make myself more, but whenever I got the sewing machine out, I ended up making masks for other people and put my own masks at the bottom of the priority list.
Picture
Only today when I was thinking about the parallels between putting on your own oxygen mask first and the importance of self-care did it hit me that I need to make myself some masks!  I'm the one in the family that spends the most time away from the house due to my job, but yet, everyone else has more masks than me.   Once I have enough masks, I will feel more secure, less frustrated and spend less time laundering my small supply of masks.  

There are selfish people in this world, but many of us think of others before ourselves.   It's time to begin looking at self-care as a way to help others.  Perimeter Health Care in Georgia explains on their website that, "Self-care encourages you to maintain a healthy relationship with yourself so that you can transmit the good feelings to others. You cannot give to others what you don't have yourself."

Consider these easy ways to care for yourself:
  • Get enough sleep
  • Take time to prepare healthy food
  • Engage your mind through reading or taking a class
  • Enrich your life through creative pursuits such as art or music
  • Move your body to improve energy and health
  • Connect with friends and develop relationships
  • Participate in religious or spiritual services or activities
  • Relax so you can recharge your batteries!

Even though the metaphor of oxygen masks meant actual masks in my life, it can mean anything in yours.  Choose at least one way to care for yourself this week because if you continue to give to others without caring for yourself, the less you are going to have to give.  Put your mask on first!

Sources
Glowiak, Matthew. “What Is Self-Care and Why Is It Important For You?” Southern New Hampshire University, 14 Apr. 2020, www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/2020/04/what-is-self-care. 

Coffey, Helen. “Hypoxia Definition - Why Adults SHOULD Do Their Oxygen Mask BEFORE a Child's on a Flight.” Express.co.uk, Express.co.uk, 24 Jan. 2017, www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/758140/hypoxia-definition-flight-mask. 

“The Importance of Self-Care.” Perimeter Healthcare, 2020, www.perimeterhealthcare.com/about/news/the-importance-of-self-care/. 




0 Comments
    Follow


    Author

    A woman with many roles in life who knows the necessity of keeping things in order!

    Categories

    All
    Book Review
    Boundaries
    Change
    Confidence
    Crafts
    DIY
    Goal Setting
    Habits
    Housework
    Mindset
    My Life In Laughter
    Organization
    Parenting
    Planning
    Productivity
    Self Care
    Self-Care
    Support System
    Time Management

    Archives

    August 2021
    July 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017

    RSS Feed

*Blog posts may contains affiliate links. That means that if you click on a link and buy something, I may get a portion of the sale at no cost to you. 
Privacy Policy and Opt Out of Cookies
MY LIFE IN ORDER, LLC
​2021 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Live Chat Support ×

Connecting

You: ::content::
::agent_name:: ::content::
::content::
::content::