As a Social Worker, I have come to understand the importance of self-care. As a Social Worker, we tend to forget about ourselves and focus on helping our patients. However, what some do not realize is that in order to help clients we first have to help ourselves. This mean take time away from work, society, politics, etc.. We have to allow ourselves to make sure we are able to function physically, mentally, and spiritually. For instance, there is a saying that reminds me to make sure I am putting myself first and making sure that I am doing okay. That saying is, “How can you love someone when you don’t love yourself.” This saying is telling me that in order for me to help, love, care, or forgive someone else, I first have to do that for myself. I can’t expect others to take my advice or my help if I’m not willing to do the same for myself. There is another saying that I believe helps everyone understand self-care and it’s what the pilots and fight attendance tell the passages. “Put your mask on first!” If you run out of oxygen first then you are no longer available to help others put theirs on. You must check on yourself first in order to check on others.

My self-care involves me including this list in every month. These days allow me to 1. put myself first, 2. do things I enjoy, 3. forget about my problems/stress, 4. allows me to take a breather, and 5. everything on this list is what makes me happy.

• 1 Lunch Date with a Friend
• 24 hours no social media
• 1 Day Outdoors
• 1 Night Out with Friends
• 1 Date Night (even with just myself)
• 1 Breakfast Meetup with Friends
• 1 Movie Night
• 1 Day Serving Others
• 1 Day Completely by Myself

Quotes:

“How can you love someone when you don’t love yourself.”

“Put your mask on first!”