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The most important lesson I learned through the course readings and in my current role is how silently burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary trauma may accumulate, particularly when helping students deal with their own difficult emotional issues. It made clear how important it is to put self-care first and set up sound emotional boundaries in order to stay totally present and productive for students who depend on us for direction. Someone shared with me years ago "that you can't pour from empty cup" and I have remembered this message and often remind myself of this when it's time for a reset.

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In the helping profession maintaining the emotional strength and resiliency required to provide others with effective support requires self-care. By taking care of ourselves, we can avoid burnout and continue to be totally present and involved in helping others overcome their obstacles.

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Making time for regular exercise, such as yoga or walking, is a useful self-care technique I use to keep my energy levels up and lower my stress levels. Setting limits on work hours and emphasizing a good work-life balance also guarantees that I have personal time to rejuvenate, which eventually enables me to be more present and helpful to the people I serve.