Self Care for Counselors

We’re about to share 9 tips for self care for school counselors. Make sure you listen or watch our podcast on this same topic.

I’m finna be real. Can you handle it? You’re about to get a glimpse into my life, and it may not be pretty. So proceed at your own risk. Several things have happened recently to make me realize the importance of self care for counselors.

This week has had a little bit of everything thrown at me. It’s just life, really. I’m not sure if that makes it better or worse. I’m definitely glad there are no major problems, but sometimes not having a big reason as to why I’m feeling so out of sorts makes me feel like I don’t have an excuse to be feeling this way. In this job sometimes it does seem as though we pour into the cups of others. It’s very rewarding UNTIL we become thirsty and there’s nothing left in our pitcher to pour into our own cup. That’s where self care strategies come into play.

How I Realized the Importance of Self Care Strategies

Yesterday morning… I couldn’t find an outfit to wear. My pants that I wanted to wear weren’t where I thought they were, and then I couldn’t find a shirt to wear with my other pants. My house now looks like I’m preparing for the arrival of Marie Kondo. For those of you who don’t know who I’m talking about, she helps people tidy up by asking them to take every article of clothing out of drawers and closets, put them in one room, and go through them individually to determine whether they are worth keeping or not. If she’s in the area, could someone please tell her I’m ready for her!

To top it off, I was eating everything I could find yesterday. I was stress eating some homemade rock candy from Christmas when I broke my two front teeth. You can’t tell it, but I can feel it on the back of them. So now I’m overcome with anxiety just thinking about my dental appointment that I am now using President’s Day, my day off, for.

The point of this is: self care is good for everyone. But counselor self care is essential.

I’m not sure about your counselor education program, but mine preached counselor self care, counselor self care, counselor self care! I’m getting it now. So I’ve made a list of some great self care ideas that I can think of.

Self Care Tips

1.) Call a friend- Find someone you can talk to. Each afternoon Kim and I talk on the phone during our quick commutes home. We decompress and share our days. That helps tremendously just getting out some of the day’s troubles!

#2: Creative Juices Are Flowing

2.) Find a creative outlet- Kim and I love creating products for our classes and our store. Plus, I feel like, through these resources, we’re helping other counselors and teachers. That’s a rush of energy to me! Maybe your creative outlet is painting or writing. Give it a try and see if it becomes therapeutic for you.

Self Care Tip #3: Read a Book

3.) Read a book- I’m reading several non-fiction business or self help related books right now, but I put all of those on hold to read a fiction story that I could get lost in. If you aren’t sure what to read, then join Goodreads.com. You can join different groups that share your reading interests, or go check out this amazing website called, whatshouldireadnext.com. You type a book or author you enjoy, and it finds similar books for you to read! Amazing! I love reading them on my phone. Did you know that using the Libby app you can connect your library card and rent a book from your local library for 2 weeks at a time?! Game changer!

#4: A Night Out

4.) A Night Out with Friends- I know I need to do this, but when I get down and out I don’t want to do this. I’d rather just stay at home in my yoga pants and sweatshirt. But a night laughing with friends is definitely therapeutic!

Self Care Tip #5: Exercise

5.) Exercise- I haven’t done this all week, so that could be part of my problem! Take a quick walk outside, or find an exercise video on youtube. You’ll feel better once those endorphins start flowing!

#6: Take a Bath

6.) Take a bath- Sometimes I forget how very relaxing this can be!

Counselor Self Care Tip #7: Journal

7.) Gratefulness journal- Sometimes, maybe not as often as I wish I could, I write great things that happened that day on my calendar. That way, during weeks like this, I can go back and remember the good things that happened recently. They don’t have to be huge things. One day, for example, my assistant principal said, “You handled that perfectly,” when a situation between a teacher and student came up. Just remembering that affirmation sometimes reminds me that I can do this job.

#8: Hire a Counselor

8.) Hire a counselor- Don’t be afraid to talk to a counselor for real. We shouldn’t feel awkward about it. Would you want someone to feel awkward about coming to talk to you?

Counselor Self Care Tip #9: Talk with Your Doctor about Medication

9.) Medication- Only you and a doctor can decide if you would benefit from medication. If your doctor feels as though it is something that will help you, then take it! In some cases it can be a temporary reset. But only you and your doctor can determine if it’s the route for you.

Just writing this blog entry has provided enough self-care for this counselor to relieve some of my stress. I feel as though I can tackle whatever the rest of the week throws at me. (Spoiler alert, it’s Friday).