“You can’t pour from an empty cup” – here are three easy ways to show yourself some self-care.”

If you work in the field of care then you may be guilty of failing to look after yourself from time to time. If your life is dedicated to helping others then it’s possible that you see time for yourself as selfish. But, as the old adage goes, “you can’t pour from an empty cup”. Balancing your work and caring responsibilities with time for yourself is critical. At Ashdale, we promote the importance of self care and aim to support our staff in a number of ways. Here, we’ll look at three simple ways that we can care for ourselves as we care for others.

Set aside time for yourself

This one sounds so simple but is anything but: the most important thing you can do is give yourself time. Not time to do chores or run errands or help a friend, but to take a moment for yourself. Treat this like another part of your to-do list if it helps, but allocate time in your schedule to offer yourself some well-deserved TLC. Have a relaxing cup of tea, go for a walk, have a bath, whatever it is that makes you feel good but make sure this time is dedicated to you (and a quick cuppa between chores doesn’t count!).

Breathe

Working in social care, it’s likely that your life can be busy and stressful at times. Breath triggers a response in the body that releases stress and promotes calm. There are a number of breathing techniques that can bring you a moment of calm in an otherwise hectic day. Try the following right now and see if it gives you a little moment of peace:

  • Breath in for a count of four
  • Hold for a count of seven
  • Breath out for a count of eight

This technique aims to reduce anxiety and stress and can even help you to fall asleep quicker at night.

Get organised

An endless, haphazard list of chores is stressful, there’s no getting around it. Getting organised, while it may sound dull, is actually an important form of self-care that can lead to reduced stress levels, better habits and more confidence. It also means you’ll be more productive and efficient when you are working with others. Invest in a diary or calendar, write down all important events and have a clear out of anything you don’t need or isn’t working for you – chances are, you don’t need those old receipts at the bottom of your bag anyway!

Why is self-care so important?

The benefits of self-care are many and varied – lower stress, of course, but also better physical health, enhanced mood and less risk of burnout. Caring for others isn’t always easy but the job is so much harder when you’re exhausted and not showing yourself enough love.

Taking care of yourself is so vital. Take this as your sign to prioritise your own self-care and refill that cup!

If you’re interested in a career with Ashdale Care or you want to know more about how we take care of our people, get in touch with us today.