My largest takeaway from reviewing the self-care resources is seeing the industry grow, acknowledge, accept, and normalize practitioners' self-care needs. It is great to see the industry value the importance of having the space to practice self-care so counselors can thrive in the profession.

Sierra Moore:

While all educators are experiencing higher levels of stress and anxiety regarding their careers, school counselors are typically on the front line. They are the ones that usually have to jump in and help in the high-crisis situations. It is crucial to maintain self-care to avoid burnout or compassion fatigue. 

Linda Valdez:

Counselors are making a difference in society. One of the biggest take-away is acknowledging self-care. If we are not taking care of our mental health, then we cannot service the people who need our support. We have to keep our minds and bodies healthy so that we can focus on the importance of our roles as counselors.

Martha Nevarez:

The counseling profession is faced with the responsibility of addressing the needs of others, often overlooking their own mental well-being. It is essential for counselors to prioritize self-care and develop strategies to improve their mental health. Learning how to balance work and personal life and establish boundaries is essential for the counseling profession and can reduce and prevent burnout.

Being aware of your self-care needs and making it part of your work routine is vital as a helping professional. It is normal to experience burnout or high levels of stress occasionally throughout your career, it is what you do about it that is important. Taking the time to do things you enjoy, stepping away, decompressing, and conducting self-assessments are crucial to avoiding long-term burnout and ultimately continuing to be the best you, that you can be. 

1. Making "me-time" away from my work and family roles to focus on activities and exercise that fill my soul helps replenish my "work tank." Establishing routines and boundaries around these engagements ensures I am making space for my reset. These activities include nature walks with my dog, spending time at the barn with my horse, and exercising.

   
   

2. Spending quality time with my family is another way to fill my "personal tank," so I am recharged to move into my upcoming work week. Being with people I love and feel comfortable with helps me relax and re-engage with my students/clients.

Sierra Moore:

1. Get enough sleep—Sleep is crucial to quality mental health. When you are physically tired, you can become mentally tired much quicker. 

   
   

2. Spend time with family- Spending time with family can help alleviate the stressors that occur at work and make you feel better naturally. 

   My self-care strategies can be done fairly easily but they are crucial to success. I do not function well with little sleep and when I am sleep-deprived, I can always tell my mental health is being affected. Ensuring I get 7-8 hours of sleep nightly at minimum will help make sure I am taking care of myself mentally and physically. Spending time with my family is easily my favorite thing to do, it doesn't matter what we do, as long as we're together it helps me feel tremendously better. 

Linda Valdez:

1. Breathing Strategies:

   When I feel overwhelmed and stressed, I practice breathing strategies. I find a quiet, comfortable place to sit down and use breathing techniques to help calm my body.

Examples:

• 4-7-8 Breathing

• Box Breathing

• Belly Breathing

  
  

2. Nature Walks:

   When you are feeling anxious or stressed, take the time to go on a nature walk. It helps me connect with nature spiritually. I like to use some of my senses (smell, hear, and see) to connect my body and mind with nature.

   Example:

   Mindful Photo Walk- Take a breath and take a picture. Appreciate nature by capturing an important picture of something you connected with. (Linda Valdez)

Martha Nevarez:

1. Incorporating boundaries between work and personal life—Learning how to step away from work is important for my mental health. I need to set aside time for my family and personal life. I understand that work will be there the next day, but events and experiences with my loved ones cannot be replaced.

   
   

2. Take time for physical and mental health—improving my physical health affects my mental well-being. I need to take care of my physical health, like taking a walk outside, drinking more water, and getting enough sleep. I am usually tired, so I need to make sure I step away from what I am doing and get in bed to ensure I get enough sleep.