Self-Care Plan
Reflections on Self-care:
As the field of social work evolves and continuously aims to integrate new research into its practices, it has become evident that the act of self-care is crucial to the health of any and all professionals who do work with agencies and clients. While the world has increased in its knowledge of what self-care encompasses and how important it is to incorporate it into one’s life, the social work profession puts a drastic emphasis on self-care practices, explaining to all practicing individuals that it is vital for workers to be investing in their personal, self-care activities each week.
Throughout the course of my time pursuing an education which will help me to be a competent, practicing social worker, I have realized the genuine need to integrate self-care into my life. Research about self-care has provided individuals with vast explanations as to what constitutes as self-care. Activities which are done by us and for us in order to protect and take care of our well-being can be considered acts of self-care. Many self-care activities can fall under the categories of physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, social, and sensory. In order to be a competent and healthy social worker, I have compiled a list of activities for each of these categories which I personally enjoy, and which are accessible to me daily. It is my goal to do an action from each category every week. This will provide my brain, body, and soul with healing and rejuvenation so that I might continue to do good work.
PHYSICAL
☐ Go for a long run by the river
☐ Visit a dog park
☐ Hike one of the trails close by with a friend
☐ Go for a bike ride downtown
☐ Walk around the North Shore area and take in the pleasant vibes of outside
EMOTIONAL
☐ Journal or write poetry about what is going on in life right now
☐ Reflect on the past years by looking at old pictures
☐ Read over letters from friends and family
☐ Write down your strengths or the things you are thankful for right now
☐ Go to a location which is nostalgic and reflect on the positive feelings it brings you
INTELLECTUAL
☐ Read a mystery story
☐ Discuss an abstract theory or topic with a friend who is also interested
☐ Explore a new reddit or online forum thread about an interesting topic
☐ Listen to a podcast about psychology, technology, or the social world
☐ Play a complicated board or card game with friends
SPIRITUAL
☐ Read a devotional which is relevant to what you are going through
☐ Read Bible verses and highlight which ones stand out to you
☐ Study a story you have not looked deeply into yet
☐ Listen to worship music and connect with God through the sounds
☐ Spend an hour in prayer and thanksgiving
SOCIAL
☐ Have dinner out with a group of friends
☐ Have coffee at your parent’s house
☐ Call up a family member who lives far away
☐ Talk to your roommates and have quality conversations with them
☐ Go on a walk with someone you have not seen in a week
SENSORY
☐ Dim the lights and light candles in a room with no sounds
☐ Listen to a relaxing, therapeutic video, including Nature Sounds, Live Acoustic Guitar, and ASMR Sounds
☐ Work on making abstract watercolor paintings
☐ Go on a drive up Lookout or Signal Mountain as the sun is setting
☐ Play music with a keyboard