I recently had the pleasure of facilitating a couple of workshops called Self-Care to Self-Awareness with people working on the frontline in social services with clients who need high quality care and support. The dedicated workshop participants have chosen this career because they want to make a difference in people’s lives. They believe their clients deserve a better life. However in caring for these vulnerable and often challenging clients, in a climate of unprecedented financial cuts over the past number of years, they are often ‘guilty’ of neglecting their own well-being. I use the word ‘guilty’ purposefully and with compassion here, because in these cases people are committing an offence or doing wrong against themselves and what their mind, body and soul is often crying out for.

It’s not just people working in the caring professions that find it hard to look after themselves and put their needs first (at least some of the time). Parents, carers, teachers, managers, entrepreneurs, athletes, bankers, builders, students, researchers, Doctors etc…. I don’t think it matters what your profession, formal or informal, it can be hard to find time to look after yourself in today’s busy, constantly ‘turned on’ society.

Continue reading Self-Care: Whose Job is it Anyway?