“In the event of an emergency…secure your own mask first before helping others.”

I use those words from a Delta flight attendant speech at the beginning of my life/work balance workshop. It’s a great analogy really. We are of no real use to others if we’re not taking care of ourselves. Whether I’m speaking to a corporate audience or a faith-based group, participants all agree with that one.

I know, I know. In theory,a weekend or week-long retreat in a gorgeous setting sounds amazing. In practice, taking care of ourselves is very difficult. Life is crazy! Schedules are far too busy. How do we make it happen?

Some simple suggestions:

1. Be intentional – Set an appointment on your calendar for a weekend, a day – heck, even for a couple of hours. Once the appointment is set, don’t let anything (shy of an emergency) keep you from honoring your commitment.
2. Have an agenda – If you’re not participating in a group retreat, you’ll need an agenda to make sure your time isn’t eaten away. Think about what you want to realistically accomplish and how much time you have. Write out your plan and then stick with it. If you’re in a formal retreat/conference setting, take advantage of all there is to offer! Having said that, read on.
3. Be flexible – Sometimes the best things happen while you’re on the way to where you think you’re going. You may have a certain agenda in mind, but be willing to flow with the Spirit. If you need to skip a session in order to have more introspection, don’t stress about it. If you need to attend the same breakout session twice, go for it. Find what works for you.
4. Take some iron – Having another person (or several people) around can enhance your time away. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Nuff said.
5. Grant permission – Give yourself permission to get what you need from your retreat experience. Be true to yourself. Do you need joy? Laugh. Do you need to deal with some tough issues? Cry. Whatever the case, be open.

A couple of times each year, I make it a priority to attend a ladies retreat that absolutely feeds my soul. I’m surrounded by like-minded people who challenge me to fulfill my high calling. I recharge my batteries and renew my relationship with God in ways that don’t typically happen with a normal/day-to-day routine. When I return to family/work, I have a renewed sense of purpose and, at least for a while, have a little more patience and grace with others. What about you?

When was the last time you’ve been on a retreat? What did you learn about yourself? about others? about life? about God? Do you need to secure your own mask first?

Thanks to Chris Cree for the blog idea!