My very first car was a 1995 Chevy S-10 pick-up truck.  I was in college at the time, knew nothing about cars except that I needed one, and my friend was selling his.  We exchanged cash for car title, and I felt glad that I had a way to get to school from my apartment a few towns over, about 20 miles away.

One morning shortly thereafter, I was driving to class, running a little bit late, and I noticed the fuel gauge was low.  I didn’t worry too much about it.  I knew from my experience driving my parents’ cars that once the “you’re low on gas” alert light came on, I still had about 20 miles to find a gas station before I was in dire straits, and no such light had appeared.  I decided I would deal with it later, put my foot on the gas pedal, and sang along to the radio.

But then something very strange happened: the car started to slow down.  I was confused – my foot was on the pedal, but I was still decelerating.  I illuminated my right turn signal, checked for other cars, and guided mine onto the highway shoulder.  That’s how I learned that 1995 Chevy S-10 pickup trucks do not have a light to tell you when you’re low on fuel.  And, as it transpires, fuel is something a car needs in order to run.

About six months later, I was talking to my parents about my car, and they asked when I’d had my last oil change.  I looked at them quizzically.  “What’s that?”  It turns out that although I couldn’t put my finger on any particular deficit my car was suffering from a lack of this maintenance, it was something that would help my car function better and last longer.

A car is a machine.  Its primary function is to transport you safely from your point of origin to your destination, but it also has other functions, which may include:

  • producing air conditioning to create a higher level of comfort
  • emitting media (radio or podcasts for you, or perhaps video for your backseat passengers) to entertain its inhabitants
  • being fuel efficient so that you are spending less money on gas and being kind to the environment
  • having up-to-date airbags to protect you in case of a collision

In order to serve these functions, it needs a number of things such as:

  • gasoline (as I learned the hard way), or electricity if you happen to own a Leaf or Tesla
  • regular oil changes
  • full tires
  • clean air filters
  • a functioning battery
  • transmission fluid

…and dozens more.

Some of these things (gasoline, a functioning battery) are important in an immediate sense.  Without it, the car will simply cease to run.  And other things (fresh oil, clean air filters) will help it function better over time.  But they’re all important!

 

Applying this principle

We, as humans, are not machines.  We are sentient beings, subject not only to the functioning of our parts, but also to our emotions, environments, histories, relationships, families of origins, and inner worlds.  But like a machine, we require regular maintenance to ensure that we are running in top condition.  But for the sake of making a point about self-care, let’s play a game:

If you were a machine, what kind of machine would you be?

What would your output be?  Like a car has many functions, it is likely that you do too.  Some of your desired outputs may include:

  • high work performance
  • strong and connected relationships with loved ones
  • the physical product resulting from a creative hobby
  • wholehearted, fun-loving, and successful children
  • improving the world around you

…or anything else that is well-aligned with your values and goals!

 

So then, much like your car needs fuel and clean oil, there are things you need to provide to “The (your-name-here) Machine” so that it functions at full capacity.  For example, The Jennie Steinberg Machine, which produces, among other things: therapeutic support for clients, interesting and creatively written blog articles, and loving and meaningful relationships with friends and family, is at its best when it has, at minimum:

  • a healthy diet consisting of whole, unprocessed foods
  • daily exercise and meditation
  • 7-9 hours of sleep per night
  • a clean home
  • regular interactions with friends and family
  • the opportunity to sing regularly
  • various creative outlets

In other words, if I don’t have these things, it becomes much harder for me to perform my desired functions.  If I feel sluggish because I’ve eaten or slept poorly, I know I won’t be at my best when I see my clients – and as a result of this, they won’t have the best therapy session they could that day.  If I don’t engage in regular interactions with friends and family, I’ll feel disconnected and not be able to be there for loved ones in need.

When you consider it from this perspective, burnout can be extremely damaging – not only to yourself, but to those who are counting on you – and self-care is a selfless thing to engage in.

How about you?  What are your outputs, and what do you need in order to function at your best?  If you’re struggling to identify some of the things that will help you function at maximum capacity, check out my list of 100 self-care strategies to fit your lifestyle.