SELF Care is Not SELFISH

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After working a long week of 40-50-60 hours, you, an EMS worker, are looking forward to going fishing. You deserve to go fishing. Hey, you earned it. You’re going fishing! Then something comes up. Your spouse needs your help on the Saturday of the fishing trip. They need your help. Fair enough. I mean you’re gone most of the time. Your rotating shift means they must handle a lot of stuff, and now your spouse expects you to help them.

But you need to go fishing. It is this fishing trip you have been looking forward to all week. It’s this fishing trip that has kept you working so hard all week long, and it’s been a while since you have been able to go. So, you go fishing. It makes perfect sense that your spouse feels abandoned. They may even become angry. After all, to them you have refused to help them when they need you and go fishing instead. 

Now, in our example, we used fishing as a metaphor, however you can see the trap. EMS providers try to balance when to and when not to be selfish to be able to continue to do what you do. Yet,

The Truth is Self-Care is Not Selfish

The Trouble is the Need for Self-Care is Not Recognized

As an EMS provider, you need to have a full understanding of the need for self-care. Whether it is a spa day, a fishing trip or attending a ball game, the need to decompress is very real and needs careful consideration in the equations of life and family. If one does not understand the psychological and emotional needs within us, how can we relate that to others, so they understand?

Therefore, Dear EMS Heroes,

Please,

Consider Your Need to Self-Reflect

Try to Understand Your Need for Self-Care

Learn to Communicate These Needs to Others  

Share Your Emotional Self Care Needs with Your Spouse

-and-

Don’t Burn Out.

We Need You.