How to prioritise self care?

I think that some of our expectations of how we feel we should behave are culturally based. Touching on your airplane and oxygen mask...adult first, then child..is a good one. As you say, your head "gets" it, but your heart doesn't. In the past, the San (bushmen), tribe of Southern Africa were hunter gatherers is a very sparsely watered environment...vegetation and wildlife included. When an animal was brought down by arrows or spears, the young men ate first, then the younger women, then the children, then the old. We in modern western society might react in horror. However their experience over thousands of years told them that if the hunting men were not up to strength, speed and stamina, the rest of the family group would die along with them. So they ate first. If the younger women died, so would the children and the old ones. You get the picture. The family members who provide for and nurture the rest have to be strong. You are stronger than you know, but at the moment, you are depleted. It is not selfish to take care of yourself, mind, body and soul. But you already know that in your head, your heart just has to catch up. Hugs...Ally.