Self Care
The work we do as CASA Advocates can take a toll on our emotional well-being. Working with families and kids who have experienced trauma can lead an Advocate to experiencing compassion fatigue.
It is important to dedicate time to ourselves, and address our emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual needs.
Here are some ideas for Self Care:
Physical Self Care
- Drink plenty of water.
- Exercise. Stretch.
- Get a massage.
- Dance, swim, walk, run, or do some kind of fun physical activity.
- Get enough sleep.
- Take a bubble bath.
- Take a day trip or mini-vacation.
Emotional Self Care
- Spend time with people you enjoy.
- Praise yourself.
- Practice self-love (Finish this sentence: “I love myself because I….”).
- Re-read your favorite book or re-watch your favorite movie.
- Find things that make you laugh.
- Keep a gratitude journal.
Mental Self Care
- Self-reflect.
- Write in a journal.
- Learn to say “no” when you need to.
- Make peace with your flaws.
- Challenge your negative thinking.
- Reward yourself for completing tasks.
- Don’t stress about what you can’t do – focus on the small wins.
- Don’t get caught up trying to “fix” everything.
Spiritual Self Care
- Meditate.
- Spend time with nature.
- Find a spiritual connection or community.
- Pray.
- Define your values.
- Be aware of non-material aspects of life.
Professional Self Care
- Take breaks – when you write reports, in between interviews, etc.
- Take time to connect with other CASAs.
- Make quiet time to complete tasks.
- Balance your day to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
- De-clutter your work space.
- Seek regular supervision and consultation with Peer Coordinators.
- Participate in peer support groups.
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