Self-Care Matters
What is Self-care?
deliberate decision with
resulting actions taken by individuals to
address their own health and well-being
physical
mental
emotional
psychological
Self-care can be
ongoing (or long-term)
in-the-moment
awareness
response to immediate stressors.
Self-care starts with mindfulness
Mindfulness leads to self-awareness.
Mindfulness + Self-awareness lead to self-compassion
Self-compassion leads to affirming self-talk and
Healthy self-talk leads to setting healthy boundaries.
Having healthy boundaries leads to time and space for mindfulness and self-care
Taking care of yourself develops resilience
Why Self-Care Matters
Nurses spend so much time caring for others that they often neglect their own well-being. Well, what happens when we do that? It leads to
Burnout - Constant fatigue and emotional exhaustion
Stress - Increased anxiety and decreased job (or life) satisfaction
Exhaustion - Long-term mental and physical strain
Talking about nursing, you hear about evidence-based practice. Well, there are increasing amounts of evidence that "when people increase their own well-being, they usually become more patient, cooperative and caring in their relationships" (Hanson, 2018, p.11). Is there a better ask for a human being? Especially for a nurse? No, this is exactly what we, as nurses, need.
How can you prioritize Self-Care?
Set and maintain healthy boundaries
Practice Mindfulness
Ensure adequate rest and recovery
Without taking care of yourself, you will not be able to care for others.
We need you... we need you healthy.
Self-care is critical!
Nurses, as a profession, are guilty of caring and giving of themselves so much that they suffer exhaustion, moral distress and mental illness (depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation).There is no better time to begin self-care practice than right now.
When in the middle of a crisis is not the time to prepare for a crisis. You must prepare BEFORE it in order to be successful. A healthy nurse needs time and reflection to develop a solid self-care practice.
Self-care is a lifelong practice.
Self-care is about the mind as much as it is about the body. It is not about attending a workshop or taking a class - it is a daily decision.
"In a profession marked by burnout, high attrition rates, empathy fatigue, and moral distress, self-care is simply imperative."
~ Dorrie K Fontaine, Tim Cunningham, and Natalie May
The more you practice self-care, the more it helps protect you against stressors you face.
