How to Destroy Your Stress and Reclaim Your Life With The ‘Oxygen Rule’

Do you take better care of your phone than you do yourself?

Life and business happens so fast, we often forget to put ourselves first.

The more work obsessed we become, the more personal time we cut away for sake of our jobs. While this might create the illusion of efficiency, the reality is that doing this destroys our productivity and success in the long run and causes us to feel burnt out.

Renowned author and business consultant Alan Weiss offers a solution to this problem. He calls it the ‘Oxygen Mask Principle,’ referring to the need to put on your own oxygen mask on in an emergency airplane situation before helping others. The idea is simple and sustainable. In order to be your best, most productive self, you must honor your needs as an individual first.

Or, as Arianna Huffington put it, “We take better care of our smartphones than we do ourselves. We know when the battery is depleted, and charge it.”

We often forget about the most important part of business and life: our own health. Here are a few way you can put stop the vicious burnout cycle using the ‘Oxygen Rule.’

Turn off for the day

Turning off for the day is a challenge for busy entrepreneurs and driven employees, but learning to leave work at work is a crucial first step to keep from getting burnt out and taking care of your mental health.

In one survey, researchers found 80 percent of employees work additional hours from home, where they clock in around seven extra hours per week. That’s nearly a whole business day. While putting in a little overtime here and there might not hurt, research has shown that consistently working overtime can increase your risk for developing depression and high levels of stress.

Turning off email push notifications when you get home can be helpful. Relax or do something for yourself that challenges and fulfills you. If you learn to enjoy a relaxing evening at home, you’ll return to work refreshed, energized, and ready to tackle anything that comes your way.

Don’t eat lunch at your desk

With 62 percent of workers eating lunch at their office desk, aka “al desko,” I’m sure many of you, myself included, are guilty of this one. In an attempt to squeeze in a few more emails or finish a project, we sacrifice our only personal time during business hours.

While our intentions might be pure, the reality is that people who step away from work during their lunch break actually end up being more creative and productive in the long run, according to research. It gives us a chance to clear and recharge our minds. Socializing with coworkers during lunch can also increase productivity and job satisfaction. So take that lunch break. You’ll keep burnout at bay and be more innovation too.

Use your vacation days

Business people are so swamped that vacations often get put on the back burner. In fact, according to a study by Project Time Off, 55 percent of Americans don’t use their vacation days. We make the excuse of being too busy, or we think no one else can do our job. Whatever the reason, this practice isn’t worth it. Project Time Off found that 91 percent of employers believe vacations boost productivity and job satisfaction.

If you’re hesitant to take long periods of time off, try scheduling a couple months in advance to give yourself or your employer time to determine how your work will be covered so you can go on vacation guilt free. If short bursts of time off is more your style, extending your weekend a day or two can do you a world of good also.

Learn to say ‘no’

This is a hard one, but learning how to say no to people when you cannot or do not want to do something is an essential part of taking care of yourself. If you say yes to everyone out of fear of being disliked, you’ll quickly find yourself exhausted and left with little mental energy to focus on your work and your own important priorities.

The Mayo Clinic sees the benefits of saying no as a form of stress management. They say, “When you say no to a new commitment, you’re honoring your existing obligations and ensuring that you’ll be able to devote high-quality time to them.”

Don’t neglect time for yourself

Shark Tank entrepreneur Damond John spends almost every weekend catching bass at his lakeside cabin. And he’s after something more than a big catch, because studies show that spending time alone is vital for recharging your batteries.

Many of us make the mistake of spending our limited free time with friends or family. While time with loved ones is important, you’re never truly recharging if you’re constantly expending your energy in a social environment. So even if it’s just for ten minutes, you should pencil in some time to pamper just yourself daily.

Bottomline:

Make self care non-negotiable. By following the ‘Oxygen Rule,’ you’ll invest in your business by investing in yourself.