Take Time for Yourself

In the “Stepping Up” articles, I have urged you and tried to motivate you to take time to do something extra for your fire department and other people. However, I think it’s also really important to take time for yourself. I don’t need to tell you that if you are not healthy, well trained, reasonably satisfied, and moderately happy, your value to your fire department and other people is limited.

 

I know from personal experience that I cannot do a good job when I am sick, tired, not quite ready, worried about my own goals, or unhappy. Most of us can deal with one or two of these things and still do a satisfactory job. You will be busy with many other things, such as special projects, committee work, taking extra classes or training, and studying for promotions. Some of you may choose to work on a college degree. Despite these demands, we need to plan for, schedule, and do a variety of activities to maintain a balance in our personal and professional lives. Here are some suggestions that might work for you and your family.  

The Family Budget: One firefighter sat down with her partner and budgeted money to attend fire service training or classes that were useful and appealing. Naturally, this firefighter took advantage of training and educational reimbursements offered by her fire department, but the couple’s personal fund was for training that her fire department did not pay for. The couple felt that investing in the firefighter’s professional development was beneficial to their family. After a few years, the money became a routine item in their budget and did not seem like an “extra” expense. A few years later, the benefits of the additional training started to pay off.

 

Consider how such extra training fits into the totality of your career. I didn’t attend the Fire Department Instructors Conference until I was a chief. I could have made better use of some of that training when I was a firefighter or company officer.

 

Unexpected Overtime: One lieutenant explained that he put all of his unexpected overtime pay into a little fund to pay for fire service books, training, or classes that he wanted. The lieutenant explained that throughout the year he would earn an hour or two of overtime for staying past his shift when someone was late or called in sick or that he would get called in for a meeting or when additional staffing was needed during a multiple alarm. He saved all of that overtime pay and used it in the following year to pay for books, training, or classes for himself.

 

Family Time: There are lots of books and articles on time management, especially in the work environment. Some firefighters laugh at the concept of time management because they believe that as soon as “the bell hits” or “the tones go out” and you respond to a call, the effort for planning has been wasted. Using time-management techniques and having a plan or schedule is a good thing. The trick at work is to “schedule” time for calls, that is, anticipate an average amount of time for calls that will cut into the time needed to complete other work.

 

You might apply time management techniques at home. You probably have a schedule on your computer, phone, or kitchen calendar. If your partner or spouse has a career or if you have children, you may not have a lot of flexibility, so time management becomes even more important. Maybe you can schedule the days you sign up to work overtime or trades. Perhaps you can schedule tasks that are not time sensitive for the days following your work shift. If you are not tired, the tasks get done. If you are tired, you can get some rest. What’s important here is to plan time for rest, if necessary, and schedule time for your family and friends. It is easier said than done, but the effort is worthwhile. Blocking out that time on your calendar makes you less likely to say yes to things that will overload your schedule.

 

I have made the mistake of not saying no and allowing people to “pass” their work on to me because I have a certain skill set. Sometimes, there was value in doing this; many times, it was at the expense of my family and friends. If you do this too much, it can cause you to develop negative feelings about the work. You end up doing extra work without extra pay or recognition while others are doing only what is required of them. Remember to be fair to yourself so that your extra efforts are personally rewarding. Some sacrifice is beneficial to you and your organization; you must be realistic about how much is too much.

 

Family Treasures: One thing that I learned from my wife is the value of a small memento or photograph. Make sure you take advantage of opportunities for your family and close friends to visit you at work. Although work is not everything, it is a huge part of your life, especially for a firefighter. It would be a shame if your family did not get to see that part of your life. Perhaps they can visit you at the fire station or at a training event.

 

I have a few photos of my family at work and various fire department events. My favorite photo is of my mom, dad, and my two daughters with me at Fire Station 8 in Seattle. My wife took that photo more than 18 years ago. It’s a typical family photo. My mom passed away six years ago, my daughters grew up, and I am now retired. A copy of that photo is in a little frame in our living room. I can’t begin to tell you how precious that photo is to me–a reminder of some very happy times.

 

When I worked on shift in a fire station, I purchased those blank journal books and carried a page in my work bag. Most nights before I’d go to sleep at the fire station, I would “write to” one of my daughters. This diary of sorts just talks about all the stuff that was going on at the time. It is not all about work events. I would write about the little things they would say and do as they were growing up and how that fit in with my work as a firefighter and the rest of our family activities. Some day, when I pass on, they will each have a book memorializing a couple of years of our lives.

 

I hope you find some of these suggestions useful in stepping up to help yourself, your family, and your friends. Plan your work time and your off-duty time so that you enrich both your personal and professional life.