As a health professionals, we spend a lot of time caring for others. This challenging work builds us up and is incredibly rewarding. It’s also hard. Listening to and treating others’ issues, can take a toll on us. We are all susceptible to vicarious trauma and let’s be honest, we are witnessing and working with more trauma than we have before. Sometimes it is hard to slow down and look at the ways being a helping professionals effects us. We are often so focused on helping others, that we neglect to take care of ourselves. COVID-19 has certainly made this more challenging. Now is the time to start ramping up our self-care practices. Below, you can find a list of suggestions to prioritize self-care. You can also check out this article from the American Psychological Association to learn more about the importance of practicing self care during this challenging time.

Self-Care Strategies:

Start Small: You do not have to commit an hour to self-care. We live busy lives and taking an hour for ourselves, on a daily basis, is not always feasible. Pull up your calendar and decide how much time you can realistically commit to self-care and start there. Even five minutes of walking, deep breathing, or reading a book can make an improvement. Once you commit to five minutes, it will be much easier to commit to more and more time for yourself.
Build a Routine: Schedule your self-care practices. Put them on your calendar and treat them like an appointment you have made a commitment too. If you prioritize it and schedule it, you will be more likely to follow through.
Accountability: Ask a friend, colleague, or family member to help you stay accountable. Let’s be honest, no one like to let people down. If we know someone is going to be checking up on us, we are more likely to follow through. Finding a self-care buddy can be a great way to help each other stay accountable.
Pick an Activity You’re Actually Interested in: If you have no interest in meditation, don’t pick it. Let yourself off the hook for not liking some of the self-care practices you recommend to your clients and patients. Everyone is different. Find the self-care practice that works best for you.
Consult: Having a group of colleagues to consult with and vent to is incredibly helpful. When we create a safe space to share the hardships of our work, we let our vulnerability bring us together. Ask your colleagues if they want to find a time to talk as a group. You may be surprised by how many people will want to join you.
Dedicate Your Practice to Yourself: As helping professionals, we spend a lot of time giving to others. We love this, it builds up and makes us feel good. It can also be emotionally draining. It can leave us feeling like we have little left for ourselves. If you start your self-care routine with an intention of creating time, space, and energy for yourself, you will likely feel more cared for, less drained, and more energized. Don’t forget, you deserve self-care too.