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Upon reviewing the resources related to self-care, one of my takeaways was recognizing the symptoms of burnout and compassion fatigue. I think we often mistake feeling tired or irritable from our day-to-day busy schedules, but as a professional counselor, it is important to be aware that we can be experiencing overall burnout or compassion fatigue due to our line of work.

Another takeaway was the concept of secondary trauma. It is so important to reflect on experiences we help our clients walk through to "clean out" how it may in turn also effect us as the helping professionals.

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I have worked in Education for the past 17 years. I really learned the importance of self-care when I moved into the role of school counselor. Some days can be heavier than others depending on situations that arise when meeting with students. If I do not practice self-care, especially after a heavier day, I find myself irritable, tired, and impatient. At times, I can experience anxiety or depression too. I value leading and educating others, so I think it is also important to practice self-care to advocate for my profession and to advocate/normalize the importance of mental and emotional health.

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I have developed several practices to care for myself mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

1. Consistent yoga practice - I love the practice of yoga, and I am also a yoga instructor. I ALWAYS feel my best when I am consistently practicing. It relieves stress and anxiety.

2. Running - I find it helpful to maintain a structured training program aimed toward running goals in the near and distant future.

3. Worship - I can see that I am a better person when I am spiritually fed through attending church, listening to messages via podcast, and immersing myself in worship music and prayer time.

4. The outdoors - One of my favorite daily routines is walking my dog. I walk her in the morning before I get ready for my day and in the evening. The fresh air, sunshine, movement, and cute company always lift my spirits.

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Closing out a class

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Daily walks are even more fun at the beach