Self-Care Strategies
Build Your Resilience and Work-Life Balance
Remember that stress is an essential part of daily living - it is our early-warning protection system!
Remember - managing stress is a 'practice' which takes practice, patience and perspective towards yourself and others.
- Identify the source(s) of your of stress
- Understand the effects of stress on you
- Practice giving yourself empathy
- Build your compassionate voice.
- Practice self-care that is guilt-free, free of criticism and blaming thoughts.
- Observe, notice and control your physical symptoms of stress and anxiety.
- Assert yourself to get your needs met.
- Get enough sleep, nutritious food and physical activity.
- Build you health support system - @ work / home
- Ensure peer support
- Schedule time - for low-impact debriefing opportunities with colleagues, supervisor (avoid dumping on each other)
- Talk to a counsellor or therapist
- Track your progress - with self-assessments, feedback
- Ensure firm, professional boundaries - ASK before you share details of a difficult story and RECEIVE consent.
- Pause, collect your thoughts and emotions before responding / acting / reacting
- Be careful with sharing details (i.e., be aware of time and place - particularly coffee shops, hallways, public places)
- Have an end-of-day ritual - leave work / stress at the office
- Be kind to yourself - seek opportunities for self-care, relaxation and enjoyment.
- Turn off / over your mobile devices
- Go for a walk - even 10 minutes will clear your mind and refresh your body and soul
- Find a buddy - hang out, do fun stuff
- Make a personal mission statement - and live it to the fullest (i.e., My life will be lived with kindness and authenticity.)
- Create a plan for action....
Remember - managing stress is a 'practice' which takes practice, patience and perspective towards yourself and others.
