Beyond the Oxygen Mask: The Urgent Job of Self-Maintenance

For years, we've leaned on the "oxygen mask" analogy to describe self-care: put your own mask on first before helping others. It’s a powerful image, one that resonates deeply in moments of crisis.

But here’s the thing—self-care isn’t just about survival in emergencies. If the only time we think about taking care of ourselves is when we’re gasping for air, we’ve already waited too long.

We are in an era of blowing up and rewriting the narrative around self-care.

It’s no longer just a crisis response—it’s an everyday practice. It’s not just a tool to keep us from burning out; it’s the foundation that allows us to show up as better helpers, healers, customer service providers, parents, leaders, and humans.

Self-care is not an afterthought.

It’s not a luxury.

It is your most important job.

Beyond Crisis: The Everyday Reality of Self-Care

Our healthcare system is designed to help us when we’re in crisis. We seek support when we’re struggling, breaking down, or at the point where we can no longer function.

But what about prevention?

What about vitality?

What about thriving instead of just surviving?

Imagine if we approached self-care the way we approach dental hygiene.

We don’t wait until we have a mouth full of cavities before brushing our teeth. We don’t see flossing as an indulgence—it’s just something we do to maintain health.

Now, what if we treated nervous system regulation, emotional maintenance, and mental well-being the same way? Not as a reactive measure, but as a daily, non-negotiable part of life?

A New Narrative: The Garden vs. The Fire Extinguisher

Let’s move beyond the oxygen mask. Instead, let’s think of self-care as a garden.

A well-tended garden thrives—it provides nourishment, beauty, and sustainability. If you wait until the plants are wilted and the soil is dry, you’re constantly in a cycle of rescue, trying to revive something that’s already struggling.

But if you water it consistently, tend to the soil, and nurture it along the way, it flourishes.

Compare that to how many of us treat self-care today: like a fire extinguisher.

We break the glass only when flames are already spreading. While it’s crucial to have those emergency measures, it’s equally vital to prevent the fire in the first place.

The Broadmind Self-Care Stack: A Structured Approach to Thriving

At Broadmind, we believe that self-care isn’t just a vague concept—it’s a structured, actionable practice.

That’s why we created The Self-Care Stack, a model designed to simplify and guide your approach to well-being.

The Stack focuses on four core areas:

* Body Care:?Physical movement, hydration, sleep, and nutrition. These are the foundational elements that keep your body operating efficiently.

* Nervous System Care:?Tools to regulate your stress response, such as breathwork, grounding exercises, and pacing your energy throughout the day.

* Emotional Care:?Creating space to process emotions, setting boundaries, and recognizing when you need support or connection.

* Social Care:?Prioritizing relationships, fostering meaningful connections, and ensuring you have a community that supports your well-being. Healthy interactions with others are just as essential as personal reflection and self-regulation.

By consistently working on all four areas, self-care becomes an integrated part of your life—not something you only turn to in moments of crisis.

At Broadmind, we believe that self-care isn’t just a vague concept—it’s a structured, actionable practice.

That’s why we created?The Self-Care Stack, a model designed to simplify and guide your approach to well-being. The Stack focuses on three core areas:

* Body Care:?Physical movement, hydration, sleep, and nutrition. These are the foundational elements that keep your body operating efficiently.

* Nervous System Care:?Tools to regulate your stress response, such as breathwork, grounding exercises, and pacing your energy throughout the day.

* Emotional Care:?Creating space to process emotions, setting boundaries, and recognizing when you need support or connection.

By consistently working on all three areas, self-care becomes an integrated part of your life—not something you only turn to in moments of crisis.

The Shift: Making Self-Care Non-Negotiable

What does it look like to embrace self-care as an everyday essential rather than an emergency measure?

* Body Maintenance:?Movement, hydration, sleep—things that keep your body functioning, not just when it’s run down, but as a regular practice.

* Nervous System Work:?Recognizing stress signals before they turn into burnout. Deep breathing, grounding techniques, moments of pause throughout the day.

* Emotional Care:?Checking in with yourself like you would a friend. Processing feelings before they overflow, building support systems, setting boundaries that protect your energy.

* Mindset & Connection:?Shifting from "I’ll take care of myself when I have time" to "Self-care is part of how I show up for others." Prioritizing friendships, joy, and mental stimulation as part of well-being.

The Reality: Self-Care is the Job

You can’t pour from an empty cup, and you shouldn’t have to wait until your cup is bone dry before refilling it.

You are your best resource.

The best customer service professionals, the most effective caregivers, the most present leaders all have one thing in common: they take care of themselves first.

So let’s rewrite the story.

Let’s move from crisis response to daily practice.

Let’s trade the fire extinguisher for a garden hose.

Because when we make self-care a way of life, we don’t just survive—we thrive.

"Self-care isn’t just an emergency brake—it’s your steering wheel that helps you stay on the road and?gets you from point A to point B (whatever point B is for you)."

— Sherry Lachine