Self-Care
September 2020
Self-care means giving the best of us rather than what is left of us.
Self-care is often viewed as indulgent or unnecessary, but if we want to deliver compassionate care to our patients it is imperative. Caring for ourselves is defined in different ways by different people, and that is as is should be. No matter how it is defined, self-care does need to be deliberate. Many times, the weight of the work we do is downplayed. Administrators and Managers want to do outstanding work for patients and employees; Doctors and Nurses want to provide great patient care. Social Workers and Chaplains want to deliver care that is meaningful at the end of life. Bereavement Specialists sit with grief. CNA’s carefully deliver intimate services to patients and families. Each of these tasks bring us into the lives of those who are facing extremely challenging circumstances. But do each of us realize that caring for us makes us even better able to do these things? Jack Kornfield said, “If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete”.
So, does a massage or the nail salon do the trick? Maybe, but likely we need to look deeper to achieve real self-care that translates into better workers, spouses, parents, children…humans. Self-care is a personal matter and relates to what you do at work and outside of work to look after your holistic wellbeing so that you can meet your professional and personal commitments. It can include continuing to grow professionally by consultation and collaboration with supervisors and peers. It could be reading professional journals or taking classes. It is always maintaining strict boundaries with patients and their families.
- Some physical aspects of self-care are the well-worn, eat right/exercise/sleep. Others include going for a walk at lunch time, taking your sick leave or taking some time between visits to mourn the loss of a long-term patient.
- Caring for our psychological selves might include keeping a reflective journal or engaging in a hobby. We can build relaxation into our day and spend time with friends and family. These activities help us to feel clear-headed and able to intellectually engage in our work.
- Emotional self-care is allowing ourselves to safely experience our full range of emotions. We can do this with supportive friendships, note 3 good things we did each day, meet with a social group, and talk to friends about how we are coping with life work balance.
- Spiritual self-care involves having a sense of perspective beyond the day-to-day of life. It can mean engaging in meditation, nature walks, attending religious services, practicing yoga, or any number of things that allows us to see life as bigger than we are.
- Maintaining healthy, supportive relationships and ensuring that we have relationships that are in no way connected to work, is relational self-care. This can mean attending (maybe virtually) events with family and prioritizing close relationships. It also means arriving and leaving work on time.
Our mission demands we care for ourselves in such a way as to be fully present with our clients and enhance the quality of their lives. We are to surround them with love, embracing them with the best in physical, emotional, and spiritual care. To fully fulfill the mission of Arkansas Hospice, we must present our best physical, emotional, and spiritual selves every day. It is only by taking care of ourselves that we are fully able to do this.
Many of our patients and families have had even more difficulties because of COVID-19. So too, have we. We need to be aware of how the pandemic is affecting us at every level. We can use the resources available. We can be courageous enough to meet challenges and ask for help when we need it. We need to be aware that by taking good care of ourselves, we are helping our patients, staff, family, and friends. WE DO GOOD WORK! By caring for ourselves, we can do it better and longer.
And remember, “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” ~ Anne Lamot
For some ideas on self-care, check these out.
Be Well…
Arkansas Hospice Employee Wellness Council (EWC) Keeping you Well – Mind, Body, & Spirit
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