There’s a reason flight attendants tell you to put on your oxygen mask first. It’s literally life or death. Take care of yourself so that you can then take care of others.  

And this gem of a recommendation applies to living in general.

Humans, like most mammals, are hardwired to nurture, to care for and to protect others.  Selflessness is an admirable trait and one that I believe necessary in order to cultivate peace, love and happiness in our society. But there has to be balance.

My point? Be sure to take care of yourself. Finding time to do things that spark joy in your life and help you be mentally and physically well should be a huge priority. 

We are absolutely no help to one another if we are burned out, exhausted, mentally drained or playing the “woe is me” card.  I know that you can think of times when you’ve seen this in other people–maybe even yourself. But it has to stop.

The obvious reason to take care of yourself is to be physically and mentally fit to contribute to our culture, our economy and the wellness of others. A second reason is that if we want the people we care about to live happy, healthy and purposeful lives, then we need to lead by example.