Doing physical stuff is a huge part of our self care and has many benefits. It’s not just your health -heart, lungs,muscles etc, it actually changes the chemistry in our bodies by releasing endorphins and dopamine. These are Mother Nature’s happy drugs - all natural and cheap.

It can be as intense or laid back as you want it too. Rock climbing and bungy jumping might be great for some while others do yoga, or go for a walk. It depends on your interests, skill level and capacity.

Other ideas - hiking, camping, swimming, a night of dancing, gardening, going to a museum - the list is endless. Find something you like or want to try and just go for it. Your body will thank you!

People in the helping professions are thrill seekers whether we admit it or not. Why else would we agree to ride alongside our client’s emotional roller coasters, making sure that everyone keeps their hands inside the ride. Following along on all those highs and lows does take a toll on our own emotional state and can bleed into other areas. When you are helping someone to cope with anger, helplessness, anxiety, fear etc. it can affect how we interact with others.

Taking the time to talk through all the negative emotions you take on everyday with your supervisor is a good start.

Also doing positive things with people you care about is important to compartmentalise the nasty stuff and put it into perspective. Playing with your kids, hanging out with mates, going on a spa day with girlfriends or even having a chilled bbq at home can help

Mental Self Care is about slowing down from time to time, taking stock of where you are at and adjusting the balance of what you are doing. Burnout and Compassion Fatigue are real occupational hazards and unless you are constantly vigilant, you don’t see it coming until you are already experiencing their effects.

Things to think about - reducing, sharing or altering case loads to include less complex cases, including passion projects that inspire you, mindfulness, colouring, strategically using leave to space out breaks. All of these are examples of ways to help give your brain a break.

One of the good things that did come out of the Pandemic is that it helped people to understand better how stress, isolation and anxiety affects the way you do your job and look for ways to self care your mind too, not just your body.

Spiritual Self Care is the rock you cling to in a stormy sea. For some this may be religion or faith that plays out by going to Church or following a higher power. For others it may be as simple as standing barefoot in the grass “feeling” the Earth beneath you.

Being in the park, listening to the Tui or Kererū, sitting on the beach hearing and seeing the rhythm of the waves, laying on the ground at night staring up at the stars might spark something inside.

Spiritual self care is the toughest to explain though. It’s different for everyone and no one can tell you where to seek it. You have to take the time to be still, empty your mind of chaos, listen to your surroundings and “hear” what you are connecting to. That connection helps us to find our place within the world around us and draw strength or protection from it. It doesn’t have to be any “woowoo” kind of stuff. It can be something as ordinary as closing your eyes, breathing deep and finding joy in listening to kids playing in the backyard, or being mesmerised by a chuckling stream and feeling like it’s good to be in the world, even if for only a moment.