With everything going on in the world right now, I understand why at times it feels hard to take breaks away from work. However, we all have to take a step back from time to time.

​​I used to think taking care of myself was selfish. Speaking from experience, prioritizing everyone else’s needs over your own is unsustainable in the long run. I’m now firmly convinced that the best way to care for others is by taking care of yourself first. Don’t put it on others to make you happy and fulfilled. When your cup fills over, you’ll have plenty to put back into other people.

With that said, my weekly calendar is pretty demanding, both personally and professionally speaking. During the week there are drop-offs and pick-ups from my daughter’s daycare. Jenn does some too, yet as a married unit, especially with children, there is a lot to coordinate. Add in pandemic considerations, and now every decision has a dozen angles to weigh.

Last week, Jenn and I had tentative plans to go away. However, the thought of packing and traveling was exhausting. This isn’t normally the case, but it had been a hectic few weeks, and I just wanted to rest, unwind, clean, and organize. Instead, Jenn took Vivian to visit her folks in New Jersey. It worked out great. They were able to spend some quality time together, and I was gifted a weekend of solitude. That may sound weird to some, but it made me feel clear and balanced.

They got back Monday night right at bedtime, and Tuesday morning I was planning to quickly drop Viv off at daycare, come back, and write this leadership letter, and do yoga with Jenn. However, that morning Vivian asked me to take her to “practice golf”. I had work to do, yet this was not a normal request. 

I decided to pivot and accommodate her request. She proceeded to get dressed on her own and pack all the things she needed. It’s fun to start explaining to her the rules and how each golf club is a tool and we use them differently. That said, I think she’s mostly into it because she likes riding in the golf cart. She had a limited attention span that morning, but unbelievably, she drained an 8-foot putt.

I share this story to demonstrate a couple of things. First, because I took the weekend to myself, I had the energy and motivation to take Viv to do something she wanted even though I “didn’t really have the time”; I had to reschedule and move things around later in the week. Secondly, because I prioritized time with my daughter over my work, I was able to share a really nice experience and memory with her. One of our core values at MindTeam Solutions is:

“Family, friends, and self-care as a balance to professional demands.”

You’re not always going to have the option to blow off work for a couple of hours to play with your kid. That said, make sure your priorities are aligned with your values. Take a step back and consider what you really want. When you’re feeling drained, it’s an indicator that you need to take care of yourself. Time management is one thing. Energy management is another.

• When was the last time you stepped away to think and plan?
• Have you prioritized work too often over yourself or your family?
• How might you approach this decision differently in the future?

Think about it and take some time for yourself if you haven’t. If this is something you struggle with, read one of my past articles on how to use whitespace for rest and planning your strategy.