If I asked you whether you cared about your clients, I am sure that you would say “yes!”, you probably care about your colleagues and it is very likely that you care about your friends and family. But do you care about yourself?

It is easy to SAY we care about ourselves but in practice do you take the time to regularly and routinely “self-care”? Your personal health and wellness may depend on it!

Self-care involves putting on your ‘life jacket’, which is essential if you are going to survive in your chosen career. If you work in the human service industry, then it does not take long to realise that you get tired very quickly. It can be physically and emotionally draining, and there is a high risk of getting stressed and burnt out. Sadly, too many great professionals in this sector get tired, unmotivated or disillusioned because they have not been able to care for themselves.

Some of the different ways that might help you to self-care at work include

• Creating a comfortable office or tea room
• Making yourself a healthy lunch and sitting away from your desk to eat it
• Taking a relaxing walk at lunch time
• Moving away from the computer regularly to rest your eyes
• Using self-talk to maintain a positive attitude
• Keeping things in perspective
• Making time for self-reflection
• Nurturing your creativity and initiative
• Setting clear personal and professional boundaries

You can read more tips in my free Practice Guide.

Most importantly, do not wait until you are stressed and burnt-out to find help. Make sure you have a good circle of friends and family around you all the time and value the support you receive from them.