Fabulous Find Friday: Self Care

Each week I will be selecting an item for Fabulous Find Friday.

This Friday's Fabulous Find is Self Care.

Summer break has been the perfect wake-up call for me that I am in need of more self care. At the end of the school year, I was feeling pretty burned out and overextended. There were a lot of things I was trying to accomplish before the end of the school year.  I have felt a huge wave of relief since I have finished the school year.  I miss school, especially the students, but the break has been a welcome one!

I finally have time to think about things that are not related to work.  I really did not realized how caught up in my work I was until I have had a break from it. I feel so much more relaxed and able to focus.  For my own personal self care I have been spending time with friends and family, exercising more, reading, finding new recipes to cook, and just enjoying the freedom of not having a schedule (the joy of being in education).

So, what is self care? Basically, self care is any activity to promote mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Self care can be just about anything, as long as you find it to be relaxing, enjoyable, or fun! Self care allows you to restore your energy and excitement for your work as a counselor.  Self care also allows you to be more present with your students/clients and with people in your personal life.

Some ideas of things you can do for self care are:
  • Read
  • Play or enjoy sports
  • Cook
  • Exercise
  • Watch a movie
  • Travel
  • Sleep
  • Meditate
  • Enjoy or create humor
  • Garden
  • Relaxation Exercises
  • Enjoy or create art
  • Enjoy or create music
  • or anything else you find to be enjoyable!
Self care does not have to take a long time. There are things you can do, even briefly, to help you feel refreshed during your day.  When I am at work and feeling stressed or overextended, I take a break for self care. Sometimes, I will call a colleague and talk about what is going on to get consultation. Other times, when it is something in the moment, I do something that will relax me.  I focus on my breathing, think of a way to reframe the situation, or find humor in it. If I feel like I had a particularly trying day, I plan to do something later in the day that will make me feel refreshed, such as spending time with family or friends, calling a friend, taking time to cook a meal, watching a movie, or doing something fun.

Everyone finds different things to be enjoyable or relaxing.  In order for you to feel refreshed you have to do something that works for you.

What do you do for self care? Share your ideas below as comments or email me!

Do you have a Fabulous Find that you Fancy? If you have a suggestion for a Fabulous Find, comment below or email me and I will try it out! Your Fabulous Find may be Featured on a Future Friday, Friends! ;)

Danielle is a K-12 Certified School Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, and blogger at School Counselor Blog, a place where school counselors share innovative ideas, creative lesson plans, and quality resources.  Contact Danielle via email, follow her on twitter, and become a fan of the School Counselor Blog Facebook Page.

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