On taking care of myself in 2011

Yesterday, as I was on the 99 B-Line enroute to Richmond, I saw a familiar face on the bus: Diana Ericson, widow to the late Dr. Richard Ericson, a well-renowned scholar of criminology. As soon as I saw her, the words she spoke at her husband’s eulogy in 2007 came back to me immediately. Actually, they almost never leave me. During the eulogy program, Diana gave a beautiful speech where she talked about the need for academics and scholars to take care of themselves.

In 2007, I wrote:

Academia, as many other professions, can really take a toll on individuals. Professors are expected to do research, teach, write, participate in academic life, train and mentor graduate students, write grants to fund their research, sometimes even manage the funds for those research projects, and volunteer their time in many ways, shapes and forms.

Burnout in academia takes many shapes and forms. Often times, doctoral candidates and tenure-track assistant professors take on so much work that their stress overpowers them. One strategy to cope with academic burnout, I would argue, is to cultivate friendships and relationships.

It was thus very fitting to hear Diana emphasize that young scholars (and also seasoned professors) should be careful and have a balanced life. Often times academic fatigue leads promising researchers and teachers in a downward spiral. That’s true for many other professions, but I seriously believe that academia is greatly undervalued.

As I wrote recently, I wake up every morning at 4:45am to ensure I get enough exercise, to go to the gym and put in enough effort to build cardiovascular strength and resistance and maintain the energy levels I need to do four things simultaneously (teaching, research, consulting and social media, juggling and attending events). While I think I’ve been reasonably good at taking care of myself and not burn out, in 2011 my promise to myself is to put myself first before I put anyone else.

For all the self-absorbedness that my online personality may portray (which I hope is not that much), I’m actually much more focused on doing good for others than on taking care of myself. I volunteer my time, organize charitable and community events, try to build community and I’m always keen to help other people. Since I was a child, I was used to thinking of the wellbeing of others before I worried about myself. My parents thought I was on the way to becoming a medical doctor precisely for that reason.

But I recognize (and even more so now) that I am no use to anybody if I’m sick or overwhelmed or exhausted. So, while in 2010 I promised to focus on my own growth, in 2011 I promise myself to take care of myself first before I take care of others. Which means, as I indicated before, saying NO substantially more often.

And thanks, Diana Ericson for reminding me that, as an academic, I need to take care of myself. That my own priority should be me, not anyone else.

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