I’m responding to Beth Herman’s revealing article “8 Days a week” on work-life balance (Feb. 27). One of my roles as a performance consultant is helping professionals develop strategies for work-life balance. Recently, this has become a frequent request.

Much like how most travelers ignore the preflight safety instructions upon boarding a plane, most professionals today ignore the importance of work-life balance. There is sound reasoning behind the airline’s preflight instruction to “put on your own oxygen mask before helping those around you.” If you pass out from lack of oxygen, you can’t help anyone else.

That is an apt metaphor for work-life balance.

To effectively achieve work-life balance, you have to put yourself first; not your job or your customer. Do not mistake putting yourself first with being selfish. By putting yourself first, you are actually being selfless. In the quest for quality customer care, many neglect the most important aspect of being able to effectively do so: quality self-care. If you do not care for yourself, you cannot successfully care for others. By taking the time to care for yourself, you become more effective in performing your job.

Flat is the new “up” in this economy and employees are expected to do more, better, faster, and with less. While this may be the case, you cannot win the game if you’re sidelined with injury.

My advice is to find your oxygen mask.

John Brubaker, Lewiston