“The truth is rarely pure and never simple” – Oscar Wilde
I am not a doctor. I will leave that title and the responsibilities tied to it for others. I am not a naturopath or dietician. I do not claim that my self-care ideas have any in depth research to support my claims.
I am a front line support worker and I am proud of it. It is a skilled trade that most can not do. Most doctors, most therapists, most managers can not do what front line workers do.
In front line work a person is often asked to deal with a lot of changes. Changes in routines, work plans, people they are supporting happen all the time.
Changes in co-workers, schedules, diets, workplaces and management, change is what we deal with and it what we need to be ready for.
The way of the support worker is to embrace change.
Being ready to deal with changes can be taxing on the mind and body. It takes work to be ready for the ever-changing world of front line work.
I often think this work is like sailing across the ocean. You have to be ready to change with the wind. You need to work hard in the storms and rest when the wind rests. You have to rely on your team to do their parts and focus on doing your own work.
It is certain that you will make some mistakes and I make them all the time. What I am learning is how to learn from those mistakes and how to deal with the emotions that come up from the work we do.
There are no magic pills or miracle tips that will make a bad day good or stress melt away. There are simply practices.
A practice is something that has no immediate effect but has a very profound effect over long-term usage. Like meditation, breathing and stretching, the more and longer you do them, the better their effects become.
There are more self-help practices then I could ever imagine. Thousands of books and websites outlining techniques to help a person become calmer, wiser and more focused are available if you wish to do some personal research on these subjects.
I love to practice breathing techniques and meditation. I also practice writing, as I wish to share threw the art of the written word.
I have met people who practice weight lifting or exercise to help them with the stresses of the job. People have practiced cooking, laughter, political skills, music, dance and so much more.
What have you found to be helpful in your work? What practice has brought you calmness or support after a stressful day?