“You can’t pour from an empty cup.” For caregivers, prioritising self-care to ensure they can “sustainably” care for others is essential. In a recent virtual fireside chat, Michelle Acciavatti, Managing Director and Midwest Region Leader at WTW; Susan Imler, Global Communications Leader at Swiss Re; and Elana Meyers Taylor, five-time Olympic medalist and the most decorated Black athlete in the history of the Winter Olympics, shared practical advice and tips. The discussion, moderated by Christina Roll, Senior Casualty Risk Consultant at AXA XL, focused on three main areas:
1. Give yourself GRACE
A key theme throughout the conversation was the concept of GRACE: Go with your strengths; be Ready and realistic about your expectations; Adjust your standards; Choose your non-negotiables; and Embrace a blend, not a balance. Allow others to help you when you need it. Take breaks when you need them. Eat that piece of pie if you’ve had a bad day! Remember that when the unexpected happens and life throws you for a loop, YOU are still important and self-care is possible – find something to laugh at, allow yourself to cry, take the shower but forget the makeup, do something you know you can do to feel like you’re in control of something.
2. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good or good enough
Remove “should” and “could” from your vocabulary and thinking. Know that it’s OK to not be able to hold it all together. Some days it really is OK to just pick one thing you can get done for yourself – get regular sleep, stay hydrated by keeping a water bottle with you, stay fueled by keeping snacks on hand, take a five-minute walk instead of that 60-minute class at the gym. Be practical with what you and your family can and cannot do – keeping up with the neighbor isn’t needed. You can have everything you want, you just can’t have it all at once!
3. Do the best YOU can do
Whether that’s with your fitness, nutrition, time management – set your own bar, and don’t feel you have to compete with everyone else. Find something that will make YOU happy – devotionals, coffee breaks, sitting outside in nature – and take a few minutes each day for that activity so that you can get done what you need to get done. Don’t feel guilty when personal items like dance recitals, ball games or doctor appointments take priority, treat them just as important as the work obligations: put them on the calendar, make it known, let colleagues know these are expectations not just for you but for your team.